Laboratory Technician III - 35 hour/week - Days

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System
At Nebraska Methodist Health System we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. Its helping families grow by making each delivery special conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch going above and beyond for a patients needs or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary:

Location: Methodist Womens Hospital
Address: 707 N. 190th Plaza - Elkhorn NE

Work Schedule: 7 days on/7 days off. Wednesday-Tuesday 10 hours shifts. 6a-4:30p.

Benefits Eligibility: This position is eligible for full time benefits.

Provide technical and pre-analytic support services for all designated divisions of laboratory technical operations and outreach client support services. Laboratory Technician III duties include specimen evaluation and processing problem solving exception handling reporting IT knowledge of EMR and Interface supply maintenance and customer service.

Perform specimen accessioning splitting and sorting labeling and storage of specimens received into the laboratory. Perform data entry to assign a specific computer generated identification number with accuracy and in a timely manner. Pre-Analytical and Post-Analytical duties include the operation troubleshooting and daily maintenance of the Automation systems.

Must be able to communicate with hospital and clinic staff regarding specimen requirements ordering and miscellaneous requests. This also includes management of the outpatient orders. Must be able to contact clients Physicians nursing personnel and patients with specimen information such as specimen integrity volume test clarification and other exceptions. Must be willing to project a professional mage through inbound requests received by phone electronically in writing and in person. Provide a supportive link between customers and all the other departments of the Hospital.

Follow-up with customers on issues that cannot be resolved immediately. Must be able to multi-task and work in a high-paced environment as part of a team.

Ask your recruiter/hiring manager about the following incentives that may be available for this position:
Shift differentials & other financial incentives
Tuition assistance
Academic sponsorship with Methodist College
Free parking

Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

Proficient in Level II core duties and desire to move to a Level III.

• Must be proficient in Level II core duties.
• Required to cross train between departments of the laboratory and/or perform duties at Womens Hospital.
  • If unable to fulfill the shift requirement designated to cross train at Womens Hospital moving to a Level III may not be considered.
• Required to assist with the development of procedures and training documents.
• Demonstrate leadership and engagement by initiating and participating in special projects/process improvement.
• Consistently demonstrates outstanding problem solving skills; is able to manage complex problems.
• Availability to be on call.

Specimen Processing

• Process (i.e. centrifuge aliquot distribute store) patient specimens appropriately and in a safe manner to ensure accurate and timely test results by following section policies and procedures.
• Perform Laboratory Information System (LIS) and Electronic Health Record (EHR) computer functions accurately to complete daily tasks.
• Properly processes and distributes specimens following collection.
• Perform all specimen processing functions to receive and process specimens according to laboratory protocol including but not limited to: identification and preparation for the automation line and preparing specimens to be sent to the reference laboratories.
• Label specimens and order documents using proper patient identification techniques.
• Accurately enter patient information (i.e. demographics test orders test results) in the computer to ensure timely reports to caregivers.
• Compliant per Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines 100% of the time.
• Accommodates patient and laboratory needs by professionally responding to requests for flexibility in duties schedules and staffing.
• Maintain section materials supplies and equipment by following section policies.
• Prepares specimens for send out to reference laboratory.
  • Communicate with the reference laboratory in regard to proper specimen handling and exceptions.
  • Responsible for ordering and preparing specimens for shipment.

Pre-analytical and Post-Analytical Automation

• Maintains compliance with established processes: turnaround time expectations etc. while collecting or handling specimens orders and results.
• Operate equipment for which they have received applicable training and supervisor approval to perform.
• Prepares performs and documents select waived and non-waived testing according to standard operating procedures for which they have received applicable training and supervisor approval to perform.
• Performs routine maintenance and makes sure it is completed and documented 100% of the time.
• Responsible for operation and troubleshooting of the Automation line patient storage tracing and managing all exceptions and recover specimens from AOB.
• Accurately perform and evaluate appropriateness of patient specimens.
• Prioritize and organize work to facilitate the timely and accurate completion of multiple tasks simultaneously by assessing the urgency of the tasks and the time required to complete them.
• Identify problems and initiate immediate follow-up as necessary with the Technical Coordinator Section Leader or Medical Director(s) to ensure accurate timely laboratory services by using critical thinking skills and decisive judgment.
• Process send-out specimens to provide accurate transfer of information and maintain optimal specimen integrity.

Anatomic Pathology

• Properly identify label process and distribute specimens using standard protocol.
• Respond appropriately to internal and external customer needs and communicates any problems or issues to them.
• Assists with Pathology send outs assuring that the appropriate specimen is split between departments andthat appropriate demographic information is submitted with the specimen.
• At Womens Hospital accession specimens according to standard procedures in the LIS.
• Accommodates patient and laboratory needs by professional responses to requests for flexibility in duties schedules and staffing.

Client Services.

• Assist with training of new staff and MLS students.
• Perform blood drawing procedures including venipuncture and capillary collection and transporting specimens according to specimen requirements and standard protocol as necessary.
• Communicate any problems or issues with the client or patient care team.
• Assures continuity of service by assisting other phlebotomists or imaging and access registration to maintain overall customer satisfaction.
• Utilizes the LIS to monitor the appropriate test pending logs and communicate to the technical staff to ensure testing is not delayed.
• Reviews the daily discern lists for completed reports and scan any manual reports into the patients medical record.
• Manage client test results according to established procedures.
• Manage all outpatient orders and support all order questions from clients and imaging and access draw stations.
• Obtain verbal orders from providers according to SOP if no orders submitted to outpatient folder.
• Explains collection processes and procedures to patients clients and patients families.
• Answer incoming calls with professional courtesy and prompt response then follow-up as needed.
• Accommodates patient and laboratory needs by professionally responding to requests for flexibility in duties schedules and staffing.
• Call/page critical values to the provider and complete documentation of all calls in the electronic health record for all send out results.
• Utilize the EMR to efficiently complete add on tests requests or to confer with the provider if the add on tests can not be completed.
• Call all specimen rejection problems to the provider.
• Scan all manual requisitions into the patients EMR and maintain filing system for paperwork and all transfer lists and add on forms according to specific training guidelines.
• Fill and pack all supply orders for the outreach clients and communicate any questions about the order delays in shipping or back orders as required.

Laboratory Informatics and Interface

• Review and release patient laboratory orders in the EHR including add on requests phone calls from clients Physicians ED floor surgery and outpatients.
• Manage new providers that need to be added to Cerner and Care Evolve.
• Manage and merge duplicate MRNs in Cerner from Care Evolve clients.
• Manage the send out lists unlisted orders path check orders to make sure interface is transmitting correct information.
• Identify troubleshoot and resolve Care Evolve messages and identify errors.
  • Request for appropriate assistance when required.
• Involved in testing validation in response to computer updates.
• Responsible for combining duplicate MRN and encounters.
• Cerner and Care Evolve upgrade testing.

Communication and Education

• Document orientation training and education to ensure employee competence provide excellent services and meet accreditation requirements by effective verbal or written communication.
  • Organizational and department competencies are completed 100% of the time.
  • Evidence that new procedures and major procedure revisions are read and understood.
  • Assists in training new and existing staff including the review and completion of orientation checklists and skill/training checklists.
  • Supports the education of clinical laboratory scientist students.
• Communicates efficiently by answering telephones taking messages calling clients for test clarification and forwarding information or calls to appropriate staff.
  • Appropriate communication skill as directly observed by Service Leader or designee.
  • Phone calls are acted upon promptly and handled in a professional manner per the customer service protocol as directly observed.
  • Employee brings issues of concern directly to the appropriate Service Leader or designees attention as directly observed.

Schedule:

7 days on/7 days off. Wednesday-Tuesday 10 hours shifts. 6a-4:30p.

Job Description:

Job Requirements

Education

• High SchoolDiploma or General Education Development (G.E.D.) required.
• Additional college course work in healthcare field preferred.

Experience

• Demonstrated competency at Laboratory Technician II essential functions and cross-trained to effectively function in additional areas/locations.

or

• 1 year of relevant experience as a specimen processor in a clinical laboratory or physician office with demonstrated competency at Laboratory Technician II essential functions within 60 days required.

License/Certifications

• Current National certificate as Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) preferred.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Knowledge of computers.
• Some knowledge of HL7 interface preferred but not required.
• Able to organize and prioritize work demands and handle multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of specimen collection selection handling and storage activities preferred.
• Must exhibit good customer service skills.
• Able to handle stressful situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required.
• Ability to train/educate co-workers and students on laboratory processes and procedures to ensure competency.

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands

• Medium work exerting up to 50 pounds of force.

Physical Activity

• Not necessary for the position (0%):
  • Climbing
  • Crawling
  • Kneeling
• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
  • Balancing
  • Carrying
  • Crouching
  • Pulling/Pushing
  • Sitting
  • Stooping/bending
  • Twisting
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
  • Distinguish colors
  • Fingering/Touching
  • Grasping
  • Keyboarding/typing
  • Lifting
  • Reaching
  • Repetitive Motions
  • Speaking/talking
  • Standing
  • Walking
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
  • Hearing
  • Seeing/Visual

Job Hazards

• Not Related:
  • Explosives (pressurized gas)
  • Electrical Shock/Static
  • Radiation Alpha Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray Cat Scan Gamma Knife etc)
  • Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet visible light infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
  • Mechanical moving parts/vibrations
• Rare (1-33%):
  • Chemical agents (Toxic Corrosive Flammable Latex)
  • Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) (BBF)
  • Physical hazards (noise temperature lighting wet floors outdoors sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
• Occasionally (34%-66%): - Equipment/Machinery/Tools
• Note: Safety Officer can assist with identification of jab hazards.

About Methodist:

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa more than 30 clinic locations a nursing and allied health college and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891 service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance health education outreach to our diverse communities and populations and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex age national origin disability veteran status sexual orientation gender identity or any other classification protected by Federal state or local law.