Senior Milk Technician - Westchester Medical Center

Job Summary:

The successful candidate will work under the leadership of WMC milk bank director. Prepares and distributes human milk and formula to infants. This candidate will work alongside nurses and dietitians and help fulfill any special requests set out by the health care team.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in all aspects of the milk bank functioning in accordance with DOH regulations and standards. Verbalizes location of DOH regulations and Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) guidelines. Uses WMC Milk Bank policies and procedures in the process of pasteurization and milk bank practices.
  • Utilizes Timesless Milk Bank Management System (MBMS) for compiling donor documentation.
  • Assists and accepts raw milk donations. Weighs and organizes donated milk in volumes necessary for batches and enters information into MBMS. Prints and labels milk deposits with corresponding bar code labels.
  • Documents and maintains ongoing inventory of raw and pasteurized milk
  • Verbalizes understanding of pasteurizer and R/O water system. Assists in maintaining and record keeping of pasteurizer and milk storage equipment (freezers and refrigerator).
  • Participates in all aspects of milk pasteurization; plans thawing volumes and number of batches needed to pasteurize according to unit needs and raw milk inventory expiration dates. Initiates and completes thawing, pooling, batching and distribution documents. Mixes and pours milk; pasteurizes milk with HSC pasteurizer. Prints associated documents and files in milk folders.
  • Cleans and sanitizes milk room and equipment after pasteurization.
  • Assist in preparing pasteurized milk samples for microbiology. Documents results of testing in milk folders and enters results in excel tracking files.
  • Analyzes milk using Miris analyzer and documents results in milk tracking records.
  • Generates milk labels using MBMS. Labels all milk bottles and places in quarantine freezer with appropriate signage.
  • Releases milk batches based on microbiology results.
  • Communicates and plans with milk techs and Well Baby nursery staff regarding milk inventory and unit needs. Dispenses milk to NICU and Well Baby Nursery using MBMS as needed.
• Assist in ordering supplies for milk bank, pasteurization and analysis.
• Assist with lactoengineering of milk: freeze dry breast milk, cream extraction by centrifuge, fortifying breast milk using freeze dried (powder milk) and cream, prepare skim breast milk for selected patients.
• Prepares monthly reports of nutrient content of donor milk, volmes of milk, number of donors, and number of recipients.
• Prepares tissue reports: track the volume of donor milk and fortifier use for each patient and the associated batches, assist and prepare the annual tissue reports required by NYSDOH. All reporting to the NYSDOH will be created in coordination and reviewed with the WMC Tissue Officer.
• Attends Milk Bank Medical advisory Committee meetings.
• Enters billing for donor milk and tracks reimbursement: tracks weekly donor milk and fortifier use for each patient and submits to WMC Finance Department, obtains and present reimbursement data for each patient and insurance company.
• Participate actively in the milk bank monthly and ad hoc meetings, prepare and present the required reports.
• Assists in research projects for the milk bank.
• Assist in the process of WMC obtaining Baby Friendly Designation

Qualifications/Requirements:

Experience: 3 year experience as a Milk Technician required

Education:

Bachelor Degree required

Licenses / Certifications:

CLC (Certification in Lactation Counseling) preferred but not required

Other:

Excellent computer skills, specifically working with Excel and Word, attention to detail, good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team.

PI253918673