Lab Manager, Microbiology - Medcruit

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general direction of the Administrative Director, and in collaboration with the Chief of Laboratory Medicine and Section Medical Director, leads, manages, monitors, implements and supervises testing quality and compliance standards in the department of pathology & laboratory medicine and for affiliated community health centers (CHCs) as required. Manages a sub-specialty section for the Laboratory (Blood Bank and Transfusion Services, Central Receiving Area, Chemistry, Hematology, Phlebotomy). Ensures maintenance of standards that meet or exceed those required for College of American Pathologist (CAP) and The Joint Commission (TJC) accreditation and other external agencies (such as AABB, DPH). Champions RESPECT values.

Position: Laboratory Manager,

Department: Microbiology Lab

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Leadership

• Manages and leads a sub-specialty section of the Laboratory (including but not limited to one of the following: Blood Bank and Transfusion Services, Central Receiving Area, Chemistry, Hematology, Phlebotomy).
• Assumes full responsibility for all laboratory staff in their section and their actions
• Champions a laboratory and point-of-care environment that promotes quality and compliance for all laboratory related tests and services, to ensure patient and employee safety and satisfaction.
• Provides 24/7 call coverage.
• Contributes to and supports department Strategic Planning.
• Provides a technically sound environment to optimize the quality of laboratory services, including maintenance of equipment, evaluation of new equipment and test assays.
• Exhibits innovation in planning improvements, promoting new programs and problem solving in area of responsibility.
• Values and responds to customer feedback by taking corrective action or improving suboptimal services.
• In accordance with department expectations responds to emails in a timely manner.
• Exercises good judgment skills to effectively articulate organizational values and to foster a cooperative spirit among the staff with regard to people within and outside the department.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Takes full fiscal responsibility for section, including but not limited to: preparing and managing an operating budget, managing staffing expenses and overtime (OT), capital budget, analyzing billing codes, preparing return on investment business analysis, fully supporting the revenue integrity of the Laboratory including accurate charges, billing and collections. Continually audits test billing codes to ensure accuracy. Continually monitors overtime to achieve our goal of <1.8% OT.
• Contributes to departmental goals of improving cost effectiveness, optimization of resources and revenue enhancement.
• Updates all equipment maintenance and service agreements in collaboration with the Supply Chain department.

Quality, Compliance and Safety

• Ensures quality and compliance data is collected, analyzed, reviewed and disseminated in accordance with the requirements of accrediting agencies, particularly the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and our Patient Quality and Safety department.
• Ensures all STARS Incident Safety reports are followed up to completion in a timely manner. Informs Administrative Director in detail regarding STARS reports of level C or higher. Works with Quality and Compliance coordinator to prepare reports for Quality Improvement Program (QuIP) monthly reviews.
• Ensures ongoing compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies for department section (including but not limited to: CLIA, TJC, OSHA, DPH, HCFA, FDA, AABB, NCCLS).
• Participates in hospital-wide Quality Assurance Program as designed by regulatory agencies, by the Quality and Patient Safety Department or by the departmental/sectional Quality Assurance Policies.
• Participates in planning, data collection, monitoring evaluation and action on assigned projects within agreed upon time frames. This includes appropriate turnaround time studies and program logs as described in the departmental/sectional policy.
• Supports technical staff throughout the department in management of Quality Control and Quality Assurance data in accordance with the Quality Control Policies of the department.
• Maintains updated Policy and Procedure Manuals using the NCCLS format in compliance with regulatory agencies ensuring documentation of Supervisor and Medical Director review annually and at revision. Review performed according to schedule determined by the Manager and Medical Director.
• Ensures familiarity with and proper usage of all required safety equipment.
• Demonstrates a concern for patient safety and welfare and a commitment to the mission.
• Utilizes hospital's Values as the basis for decision making and to facilitate the division's hospital mission.
• Follows established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
• Ensures that the section enrolls in Proficiency Surveys appropriate for the scope of laboratory services. Analyzes the results and technical performance of these Proficiency Surveys in accordance with out Lab Medicine policies. Makes corrective action recommendations and implements corrective action as required.

Technical Expertise

• Utilizing scientific experience and expertise, provides appropriate guidance and/or resolution for problems (i.e., problems involving analytic instrumentation equipment, tests systems clinical correlation, therapeutic decision making, backup systems, and system performance).
• Plans, evaluates and implements new or different methodologies and technology that enhance or expand laboratory services.
• Reviews (monthly) documentation that all equipment and instrumentation are properly maintained and in good working order. Ensures that appropriate maintenance and service contracts are in place.
• Utilizing scientific experience and expertise, provides appropriate guidance and/or resolution for problems (i.e., problems involving analytic instrumentation equipment, tests systems clinical correlation, therapeutic decision making, backup systems, and system performance).

Human Resources

• Provides oversight for the interview process by coordinating candidate selection with input from hospital staff, such as Human Resources personnel, the Medical Director of the Laboratory Section, and the Technical Staff. Determines selection of the appropriate candidate to maintain desired staff in accordance with departmental specifications for the position(s) being considered.
• Recommends salary rates for new employees while maintaining intra-departmental fairness
• Provides oversight for the orientation of all testing personnel to ensure that they can effectively perform procedures in accordance with laboratory standards.
• Provides oversight of the counseling and disciplinary action process by coordinating activities with input from hospital staff, such as Human Resources personnel, the Medical Director of the Laboratory section, Technical Group Leader and other personnel as needed. Executes disciplinary action consistent with hospital and departmental policies and procedures. Documents as required.
• Embraces the Performance Management Process by providing on-going feed-back to staff and written annual evaluations.
• Establishes and documents a regimen for assuring the on-going proficiency of the technical staff on, at least, an annual basis. The program should include the following: technical procedures; Laboratory Information System; safety; and departmental policies.
• Provides continuing education opportunities to staff.
• Embraces and actively supports employee engagement, provides huddles and other forms of inter-departmental communication.
• Supports the department’s educational mission. Provides support and encouragement to Clinical Instructors, Technical Staff and Support Staff to actively participate in education (i.e., Medical Technology Program, Resident Training program, training of Fellows and Students as applicable).
• Works with other managers and supervisors to ensure the optimal utilization of the staff for the overall benefit of the department. Facilitates cross training and other programs involved in intersectional cooperation.
• Accurately documents staff attendance for payroll purposes and ensure compliance with hospital policy regarding time management.
• Demonstrates a commitment to continue self-development in management skills and scientific knowledge by attending at least one management and/or scientific workshop per year.
• Demonstrates reliability: follows hospital and departmental policies and procedures; demonstrates consistent attendance and punctuality at work and departmental meetings; and completes work assignments within assigned time frames.
• Effectively cooperates and communicates with staff, members of other hospital departments, and supervisor(s).
• Provides coordination and consolidation of laboratory job descriptions, updates as required.
• Assists in implementing a program for the orientation and competency testing of all testing personnel to ensure that they can effectively perform procedures in accordance with laboratory standards. The program should include the following: technical procedures; Laboratory Information Systems; safety; and departmental policies.

Communication

• Communicates with staff through scheduled regular meetings. Summarizes meeting minutes in the Laboratory Information System using mailbox function or informal minutes typed and posted in laboratory section. Participates in recommend leadership rounding
• Works with the Administrative Director, Medical Chief, Medical Directors and other managers to achieve common goals.
• Demonstrates willingness to accept instruction, guidance and/or feedback from staff, peers, or supervisor(s).
• Effectively communicates with the medical and nursing staff to ensure the highest quality of service to user departments, individuals and caregivers.
• Prepares and implements a customer service program at our laboratories. Values and responds to customer feedback by taking corrective action to improve suboptimal services.

Other

• Performs other duties as needed.
• Must adhere to all of our RESPECT behavioral standards.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB DESCRIPTION CHARACTERISTICS

EDUCATION:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Medical Technology or Clinical Laboratory Science which includes successful completion of a supervised course of clinical internship in an approved hospital laboratory, or a Bachelor’s degree in an applied science (for example Chemistry, Biology or Biochemistry).

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

Preferred:

• Certification by American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or National Credentialing Agency (NCA) or equivalent agency as a Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Technician, or specialty certification is preferred. Equivalent agency is defined as an agency that requires a degree in science from an accredited college or university with successful completion of an examination for certification. Such agencies include but are not limited to ASCP, NCA, American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), Health Education and Welfare (HEW), and American Society of Microbiologists (AMT).

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 5 years full time experience in specific area of charge.
• 3 years of supervisory experience in a clinical laboratory is required.
• In depth familiarity with requirements of accrediting agencies, particularly The Joint Commission and College of American Pathologists.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Outstanding organizational and interpersonal skills as well as strong leadership qualities so that they can effectively manage their area of charge.
• In-depth scientific understanding of the area of charge and must be knowledgeable about and able to perform all tasks delineated in the job description of Medical Technologist II.