Medical Laboratory Scientist-Core Laboratory Evenings

Overview

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you ll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees.

Ready to join our quest for better?

The position is full-time and the hours are 2:30 p.m.

- 11:00 p.m. with rotating weekends and holidays. The Medical Laboratory Scientist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

A Medical Laboratory Scientist performs test procedures in a clinical laboratory and conveys the results to the physician or designee in an accurate and timely manner for the purpose of patient diagnosis and treatment.

• Post-test specimen storage:
  Stores specimens and related materials (blood, slides, tissues, etc.) according to protocols for location and duration; retrieves specimens when needed.
• Technical responsibilities:
  Performs all aspects of pre-analytic workflow appropriate for the specific laboratory section to ensure orders are entered correctly, specimens collected are appropriate for the test ordered and are correctly processed/transported.
• Verifies order where necessary; verifies non-patient information (e.g., collection time) according to established protocol; handles unresolved orders and troubleshoots where needed.
• Verifies with physicians and/or nurses prior to LIS order entry to resolve unclear, duplicate or otherwise ambiguous orders; verifies specimens for add-on tests are available and acceptable and generates add-on test orders.
• Recognizes when fraud and abuse compliance issues require adjustments to the test order.
• Collecting, receiving and processing of specimens:
  Verifies specimens are correctly and completely labeled upon receipt; evaluates specimens for appropriateness and takes necessary corrective action; documents unacceptable specimens and provides proper notifications as needed; prioritizes specimen processing based on established priorities; aliquots specimens according to established protocols.
• Performs all aspects of analytical testing appropriate for the specific laboratory section, following established written protocols and SOPs.
• Maintains test system integrity: performs preventive maintenance on instruments/equipment; verifies reagents and supplies meet defined criteria; ensures adequate inventory; notifies senior staff when minimum levels are encountered.
• Performs and records all necessary QC; evaluates QC results and takes corrective actions.
• Performs specimen preparation and transfers or ships specimens to approved testing locations according to SOPs.
• Performs tests and prioritizes testing based on assignment or priorities; follows age-specific protocols; coordinates workflow to accommodate STAT tests or fluctuations in workload; monitors daily workflow to meet service levels.
• Performs technical review and interpretation: reviews results for completeness and accuracy; provides interpretations and correlates with other patient data as necessary; performs visual interpretation as appropriate; recognizes unusual results and completes reflex testing or follow-up actions; follows notification protocols for critical values and abnormal results.
• Troubleshoots and solves problems: recognizes system performance issues and escalates as needed; follows up on unresolved problems; prints pending logs and ensures tests are completed or canceled when appropriate.
• Post-analytical responsibilities: performs post-analytical workflow to ensure accurate results are reported within established time frames; retains specimens appropriately; reports current status and ensures billing accuracy.
• Verifies and…