Medical Laboratory Technologist chez Potomac Healthcare Solutions

Medical Laboratory Technologist

Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

Position Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works under clinical supervision of the technical supervisor who outlines priorities, objectives and policies.
• Responsible for understanding and following The Joint Commission (TJC) and the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) standards. 
• Must not have color blindness/defective color vision. 
• Responsible for all blood product collection (including automated procedures), processing (blood unit manufacturing), testing verification, labeling, and shipping procedures, deglycerolization of frozen blood and all phases of laboratory testing in the areas of specialized chemistry, immunohematology, and serology. 
• Perform a full range of automated and non-automated laboratory procedures in the areas of chemistry, urinalysis, hematology, serology, bacteriology, and immunohematology according to established protocols. 
• Determine the suitability of specimens for analysis. Prepare specimens for analysis and ensure that the physiologic state of the properties is maintained. 
• Responsible for the quality control of blood and blood products manufactured at the blood center. Ensures strict compliance with the quality plan performing quality work consistent with approved standards. Finds ways to improve the quality of work. Initiates corrective actions when noncompliance is identified and prepares required documentation to meet regulatory requirements. 
• Maintains neatness and cleanliness of work area. Ensures equipment is in proper working condition. Takes safety and infection control training as required. Ensures programs are compliant with established standards and regulations. 
• Conducts complex procedures/studies and examinations which require advanced theoretical knowledge, specialized experience, and scientific competence. Consults with the Blood Program Officer and Quality Control Coordinator concerning FDA inspections, findings, and corrective actions.
• Establishes, reviews and updates quality control procedures regarding test procedures and instruments to ensure accuracy and reliability of test results. Evaluates test reports to determine if reports are credible and if additional tests are needed to verify findings in the event of unusual or abnormal results. Develops, reviews, and modifies standard operating procedures for all tests, instruments, and systems. 
• Monitors testing procedures against current technology/military requirements and modifies or adapts procedures to improve quality and efficiency. Monitors quality control results, validations, calibrations, maintenance, and function checks of instruments. Validates technical software computer systems. Develops, implements, and monitors blood center's quality improvement program to provide safe blood products through all stages of analysis. Develops quality assurance indicators based on current issues or identified problems from specific studies. Performs in-depth studies of the quality and appropriateness of tests performed and reports findings of current issues to the quality improvement committee. Responsible for complying with regulations of the Army, Department of Defense, Center for Disease Control (CDC), OSHA, EPA, FDA Joint Commission (JC), the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the Department of Defense Clinical Laboratory Improvement Program (CLIP), the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) and other regulatory agencies. Responsible to prepare for accreditation with regulatory agencies (CLIP, CAP, JC, FDA, etc). Initiates corrective actions for all deficiencies and new requirements. 
• Searches professional pathology and clinical laboratory journals to keep alert for new discoveries in the field of laboratory medicine, diagnostic and technologic advances. Maintains current knowledge of tests and instrumentation available. Responsible for setting-up, validating and writing protocols for newly procured tests and instruments. Responsible for complying with the Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) and "Universal Precautions" to prevent and reduce exposure to infectious agents. 
• Assists in the established donor recruitment practices unique to local donor base to maintain adequate number of donors to support mission requirements. Reports questionable cases concerning donor acceptance, deferment, or rejection. Assists in determining donor eligibility by performing donor medical screening to include donor vital signs and hemoglobin determinations Assists in the training/instruction of assigned laboratory personnel in appropriate procedures, techniques, and instrumentation for use at the Blood Donor Center. Ensure all blood collection, processing and testing are in accordance with various regulations and guidelines (ie, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, Code of Federal Regulations, College of American Pathologists (CAP), American Association of Blood Bank (AABB) standards, standard operating procedures (SOPs), The Joint Commission (TJC), instrument manuals, manufacturer’s package inserts, etc.), and statement of major duties, knowledge, skills, abilities, responsibilities, physical and performance requirements of this position and its organizational relationships.
• Performs donor prerequisite assessment including detailed medical histories, physical examinations, laboratory testing on hematology analyzers, venous access and determining overall blood donor (allogeneic, autologous, therapeutic, and apheresis) suitability. This assessment includes review of donation history, donation interval and an evaluation of the hemoglobin or complete blood count (CBC) and blood chemistries. Other assessments may include the effectiveness of previous therapeutic/apheresis procedures and medical or technical problems encountered. Evaluates and selects potential blood donors based on experience and clinical judgment. Carefully explains reasons for deferral to such donors. Documents diagnosis or unsuitable findings and initiates appropriate deferral/referral process. Using the health team approach makes appropriate referrals to the Medical Director or other medical specialists. A detailed explanation of phlebotomy/apheresis concepts, risks and a demonstration or overview of the procedure is given before the informed consent is obtained. 
• Performs full range of plateletpheresis and plasmapheresis procedures. Prepares collected units for processing, processes the units into red cells and plasma, labels all manufactured products, prepares products for storage/shipment, and distributes products as required. Inputs blood donor demographics as well as blood product information and test results into EBMS. Uses EBMS for tracking and management of blood products in all blood area systems. Performs in accordance with protocols and assists in maintaining conformity of staff with protocols. Performs follow-up care for donors displaying reactions. Contributes to blood drive set-up, teardown, canteen maintenance, quality control and record keeping. 
• Continually monitors and manages complications associated with whole blood and apheresis phlebotomies to include venous access problems, bleeding, circulatory changes (vasovagal responses), mechanical hemolysis by apheresis machine, respiratory distress, allergic reactions, citrate toxicity (parasthesias), tetany, and other side effects that may progress to a medical emergency. Consults the Medical Director or initiates emergency medical treatment as indicated by the severity of the complication. Must be able to institute basic CPR as needed. Performs full range of allogeneic, autologous, and therapeutic whole blood collection procedures. During therapeutic phlebotomies provides necessary care and items of instruction. Contributes to the care plan by communicating verbally with clinical staff nurses, physicians, and other health care disciplines in reference to patient needs and requirements. 
• Evaluates, recruits, schedules, and selects potential blood donors for autologous and allogeneic whole blood collections by applying medical criteria. Ensures infection control standards are applied. Interacts effectively with donor center and hospital staff, patients, and donors. Performs initial medical review of donor/patient records, ensuring complete and accurate documentation of procedure. Makes recommendations for improving yields, donor/patient comfort or technique if indicated. 
• Participates in mobile blood drives helping with assignment of work to ensure all stations are covered at all times so that donors are moved through efficiently. Processes blood into the appropriate components per SOP and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of products is maintained. Performs lot review and lot release of blood components to normally include the proper use and utilization of the computer system and review of electronically shipping documents. Coordinates with the government staff to ensure adequate availability of manpower required for review and the performance of lot release as there are supply deadlines that must be met. Performs and maintains the quarantine section for each component type. This includes coordinating and approving proper release or destruction procedures with appropriate documentation.
• Performs and maintains the Donor Deferrals IAW Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). Performs and maintains required electronic computer system donor merges, database modifications and software validations to include appropriate maintenance of documentation. Coordinates the donor lookback program to ensure all lookbacks are performed and reported in a timely manner to the government. Performs Quality Control and Preventive Maintenance daily and as required on equipment and instrumentation used. Checks and investigates unexpected or unusual results and unacceptable control values. Reviews all worksheets for accuracy, completeness, and validity of QC. Checks technical work performance of staff. 
• Perform a full range of clinical laboratory tests in any one or a combination of the following sections of the laboratory: hematology and blood bank. Determine the suitability of specimens for analysis. Prepare specimens for analysis and ensure that the physiologic state of the properties is maintained. Prepare reagents and primary reference materials as necessary. Calibrate, standardize, adjust, and maintain instruments. Verify correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks. Identify the cause of common problems and make simple repairs. Recognize and react to indicators of malfunction. Locate and implement corrections. Obtain analytical data, convert to a prescribed unit of reporting, as necessary, and correlate data to verify results. Conduct quality control procedures on equipment, reagents and products and maintain proper records for quality control and quality assurance reports. Prepare specimens for transport to MTF laboratory or for mail out. Prepare biological waste for proper disposal. 
• Performs all required equipment maintenance and calibration. Responsible for performing daily, weekly, and quarterly maintenance on all donor center equipment, to include apheresis equipment, automated analyzers, timers, centrifuges, thermometers, etc. Incumbent works with considerable independence within framework of guidelines previously established to carry out testing, setting priorities based on workload requirements, exercising sound judgment and interpretation. 
• Initiates work orders for repair of equipment or instrumentation resulting in unsatisfactory performance or QC values. Assists in the evaluation, modification or adaptation of new instrumentation, test system or reagent performance. Performs the monitoring of established protocols for correlation studies and pre-set troubleshooting procedures. Standardizes, performs and calculates results for various tests. Identifies unusual results or discrepancies and takes appropriate actions to make corrections and solve problems. 
• Maintains, revises, and assists in establishing SOPs for the donor center. Coordinates with the government to ensure these SOPs are in compliance with all applicable standards and regulations. Designs, revises, and prepares forms. Coordinates with supply technicians to ensure availability of adequate supplies to meet donor and patient procedural requirements. Coordinates with the training technician to ensure all staff members are adequately trained and the training appropriately documented on the competency assessment records IAW established protocol. Assists with the training of new technicians, technologists, MLT students and other special training projects. Assists in planning and scheduling work to accomplish mission requirements. Reviews work of subordinates to ensure performance is to established regulatory and local requirement. Manages statistical data for the center pertaining to donor information, blood collections, blood products and distributions. Collects all necessary information, updates, and manages statistical spreadsheets and databases, prepares summarized reports for referencing and submission to the government.
• Requires a working knowledge of the various information systems related to the automated equipment as well as the instrument error/malfunction code panels. Utilizes prescribed calibrators, reagents and controls as stated in the manufacturer guidelines and standard operating procedures. Performs preliminary steps for instrument setup, function verification and operation for instrumentation. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunctions to identify direct causes, whether technical (e.g., reagent or specimen) instrument, initiating the appropriate corrective action. Works with manufacturer technical services to identify and correct malfunctions. Evaluates and interprets results to determine if data is complete and valid and to recognize panic, abnormal and reactive values. 
• Uses seasoned judgment and cognitive skills to correlate manual and automated test results and/or correlate integrated test results from panels run for validity to various disease states. Uses independent judgment to analyze results to determine their adequacy for notification of donors of unusual results as well as the adequacy of the quality of the product when manufacturing of blood components. Reviews, edits and processes final results on the EBMS. Ensures an occurrence report is generated when any variance, planned or unplanned deviation from SOPs is performed. Ensures that equipment preventive maintenance is performed on a periodic basis or when required. Checks unexpected or unusual results, unacceptable control values, etc. 
• Rotates through various sections of the Blood Donor Center and on blood drives in remote locations. Independently performs standardized clinical laboratory tests and procedures appropriate to blood banking. 
• Work performed is covered in established standard operating procedure (SOP) and instructions. Maintains a professional attitude and communicates effectively with donors, patients, physicians, and fellow employees. 
• Performs a wide variety of blood donor collection procedures to include donor registration, medical interviews, donor screening and donor phlebotomy for both in-house and mobile site blood drives ensuring donors meet all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria and current manufacturing practices. 
• Required to staff mobile blood drives in a TDY capacity which may include weekends and holidays.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree. 
• Graduate from a medical technology program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP formerly CAHEA) or educational program acceptable to the American Medical Technologist (AMT). 
• One year of experience in a clinical laboratory within the last two years prior to contract execution, in any one or a combination of the following sections: hematology, chemistry, cytology, histology, urinalysis, serology, microbiology, and blood bank. 
• Certification/registration as Medical Laboratory Technologist or equivalent by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), AMT or other agency approved by the Assistant Secretary Defense (Health Affairs), ASD(HA).
• Maintain current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association, or the American Red Cross. 
• Must be a US Citizen.

Potomac Healthcare Solutions offers the following benefits:

• Medical Insurance with PPO and HSA Options (United Healthcare)
• Dental Insurance (Humana)*
• Vision Insurance (Humana)*
• 401(k) with Employer Match
• Health Savings Account with Employer Match
• Prescription Drug Program
• Employer Paid Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability (Mutual of Omaha)*
• Voluntary Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (Mutual of Omaha)*
• Relocation Assistance
• 10 Days Paid Time Off
• 11 Federal Holidays
• Continuing Education Assistance/License Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness Incentives and More

NOTE: *Effective the 1st day of the month following start date

About Potomac Healthcare Solutions:
 Potomac Healthcare Solutions is an award-winning, dynamic, and rapidly growing healthcare services company with a proven background in providing world-class health services for both government and commercial organizations. We are actively recruiting skilled, caring practitioners to support our rapidly growing program base and supported healthcare facilities. If you would like to be a part of a quality-driven organization and make a difference, we would like to talk to you!

If you do not find interest in this opportunity but know of someone who may, we kindly ask that you refer the individual to Potomac Healthcare Solutions by forwarding this job posting. 

Potomac Healthcare Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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