Job Description

A Medical Technician is responsible for conducting laboratory tests which provide information to physicians for the diagnosis, prevention or treatment of diseases in patients.

Essential Functions:

• Promotes the mission, vision, and values of the organization. Exhibits and adheres to WMC’s Standards of Performance in all areas of job duties and responsibilities.
• Participates in hospital initiatives and in departmental goals set by the Laboratory Director and staff.
• Interacts professionally with laboratory management, laboratory personnel, physicians, hospital personnel, patients and customers to provide optimal patient care.
• Works well with other laboratory employees to maintain an environment of teamwork.
• Exercises all laboratory safety precautions and adheres OSHA and TOSHA safety regulations
• Positively identifies patients, labels specimens and enters results using two unique identifiers. Maintains working knowledge of laboratory policies and procedures.
• Maintains current knowledge and adheres to hospital policies and state, federal and other regulatory requirements
• Responds appropriately to tests with a priority of STAT, call results or timed specimens
• Responsible for training new employees and students as assigned.
• Performs high-complexity testing
• Notifies nursing and/or physician of critical lab values with complete documentation on report
• Assists for instrument calibrations, maintenance and troubleshooting problems.
• Performs quality control as outlined by departmental procedures.
• Reviews pending and outstanding reports and resolves outstanding specimens
• Other duties as needed/assigned.

Position Requirements:

Formal Education / Training:

· AS degree in Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science or equivalent

• Valid State of Tennessee Medical Technologist license

Workplace Experience:

• Laboratory experience preferred
• Meditech experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Knowledge of medical laboratory science

· Strong organizational skills and interpersonal skills

· Ability to determine appropriate course of action in more complex situations

· Ability to work independently, be attentive to detail and maintain a positive attitude

· Ability to manage multiple and simultaneous responsibilities and to prioritize scheduling of work

· Ability to maintain confidentiality of all medical, financial and legal information

· Ability to complete work assignments accurately and in a timely manner

· Ability to handle difficult situations involving patients, physicians, or others in a professional manner

· Strong computer skills

Physical and Environment Requirements:

• Exposure to blood and body fluids, infectious and contagious diseases, chemicals.
• Ability to communicate in English verbally and in writing.
• Ability to perform multi-functional tasks.
• Ability to read computer screen, distinguish color, hear phone and conduct interpersonal communications
• Ability to learn, reason and perform mathematical calculations related to job.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills.

• Requires light to moderate work with 40 pounds maximum weight to lift and carry.

• Manual dexterity and mobility in both hands; exposed to repetitive motion.
• Frequent reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

• Requires prolonged standing and walking
• Flexibility to shift schedule, work extra hours or overtime as needed by staffing deficits or high patient volumes

Key Results:

Works well with Management:

· Communicates potential issues/safety concerns in a timely manner

· Follows through on work assignments

· Communicates opportunities for improvement in a positive way

· Accepts reassignments as needed

Participates in departmental meetings and process improvement teams (laboratory or hospital, if applicable).

· In-services reviewed and signed before due date

Staff Mtg; In-services signed on time

All signed on time = 5

1 late = 4

2 late = 3

3 late = 2

>=/4 late = 1

Motivated – takes initiative for work that needs to be done

· Helps section head with instrument correlations/quality control range establishment.

· Performs maintenance without being asked or as assigned

· Follows through with incomplete report and documents on lead tech board without reminder

· Seeks out new tasks when work in area is done/caught up

· Floats to needed areas

Positively identifies patients and specimens

· 0 ID errors = 4

· 1 ID error = 3

· 2 ID errors = 2

>/= 3 ID errors = 1

Corrected reports that could affect outcome of patient kept to a minimum

· 0 Corrected Reports = 5

· 1 Corrected Report = 4

· 2 Corrected Reports = 3

· 3 Corrected Reports = 2

· >/=4 Corrected Reports = 1

Technical errors kept to a minimum (procedure not followed correctly – may affect patient care)

· 0 Technical Errors = 5

· 1 Technical Error = 4

· 2 Technical Errors = 3

· 3 Technical Errors = 2

· >/=4 Technical Errors = 1

Follows laboratory policies and procedures regarding:

· Testing

· Quality Control

· Instrument maintenance and troubleshooting

Turn Around Time within acceptable time criteria for ER patients. Average time from Received to Resulted:

· <10 minutes 5

· 10 – 11.9 minutes 4

· 12 -13.9 minutes 3

· 14 – 15.9 minutes 2

· >/=16 minutes 1

Follows Hospital and Laboratory Policies on the use of Electronic Devices:

· Cell phones kept on vibrate

· Phones/Electronic/Headphones devices used during break/meal times only

· Does not use personal phones in patient care areas

· Uses the hospital internet for work purposes only

Adheres to WMC Lab Attendance policy

· Tardies/Absences kept to a minimum

· Rarely misses time punches in API

· Submits requests for PTO within policy guidelines

· Does not take extended lunches

· Takes appropriate breaks as dictated by workload

No absences/tardies = 5

Attendance coaching = 4

PAD attendance = 3

MOA attendance = 2

DoD attendance = 1

Turns out accurate laboratory results

· Checks specimen integrity

· Uses critical thinking skills when reporting results

· Troubleshoots problems related to laboratory values

Keeps up to date on safety issues involving CAP, Joint Commission, OSHA, TOSHA and hospital/laboratory safety regulations.

Provides effective communication

· Communicates problems/issues/concerns to lead tech

· Communicates problems/issues/concerns at shift change to co-worker

· Communicates testing delays to appropriate personnel

· Reads e-mail and communication logs during each work day.