Laboratory Supervisor - External Referral Lab

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Duke University Health System Clinical Laboratories

Pursue your passion for caring and innovation as a team member in the state-of-the-art Duke Health laboratories. Duke Health laboratories are College of American Pathologists accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified. The multidisciplinary team is committed to serving the rare and complex testing needs of Duke Health patients by providing timely and accurate results, educating the next generation of laboratorians, scientists and physicians, and researching and developing the cutting-edge diagnostics of tomorrow.

General Description

Accountability for day-to-day routine pre and post analytical tasks required to determine acceptability of specimens, accuracy and approval of test orders, and adherence to regulations for shipping specimens to external laboratories using FedEx next day airbills. The activities of this laboratory are defined by either a single cost center and/or greater than 10 but less than 30 FTEs. Plans, coordinates, and directs pre and post analytical activities to assure sufficient quantities of supplies, reagents and qualified competent staff are available to meet the standards of care as appropriate for the patients served in a cost-effective manner.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsibility for the oversight of the day-to-day operations of the Referral Lab by providing supervision to ensure that employee workload is distributed fairly, ensuring that tasks being performed follow pre and post analytical procedures, manual billing determination is accurate, and reporting of results meets the test turnaround expectations.
• Demonstrate decision-making abilities in all aspects of performance
• Plan laboratory work schedules, evaluate work performed and handle laboratory procedural and personnel problems.
• Develop and implement workflow to ensure reliability of specimen quality, proper function of laboratory equipment, accurate documentation of quality control, preventive maintenance and compliance with federal regulations.
• Provide advanced problem solving, troubleshooting, interpretation/consultation, verification of specimen quality, accuracy of test orders, billing determinations and questions regarding reporting of results.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly reports reflecting volume of work, corrected reports, turnaround time, test rejection rates, FTE variance, expense variance overtime and process improvement projects that have been completed.
• Participate in the development of new medical laboratory procedures, revision of procedures, and procedure archival.
• Design appropriate work schedules for subordinate employees and plan daily work assignments to maintain an adequate staffing for the laboratory to function with efficiency and accuracy.
• Oversee and ensure that prepaid FedEx shipping costs are handled correctly and prepaid labels are available and being used by the employee to reduce cost.
• Maintain sufficient inventory of supplies, ensure maintenance and cleanliness of laboratory equipment for performance of duties, and ensure operation of standard laboratory equipment with budgetary guidelines.
• Monitor and evaluate trends, make appropriate recommendations for quality and process improvements.
• Engage with leadership regarding requests for new tests, external laboratory vendor requests, and interfaces. Communicate information to the Referral Lab employees.
• Supervise various personnel functions including, but not limited to counseling, corrective action, interviewing, hiring, and midyear/ end of year performance appraisals for direct reports.
• Interpret CMS billing rules for the determination of tests that are eligible for 3rd party billing. Supervise the Patient Account Associates who handle manual billing determination and resolution of claim edits.
• Monitor Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Safety, and Inspection Control practices to assure compliance with internal and external regulations.
• Utilize various laboratory and hospital information systems and software.
• Communicate in a professional and courteous manner with employees and other medical personnel as necessary to obtain information for laboratory records, explain procedures, clarify orders, and communicate status of testing.
• Interpret accrediting agencies' standards and translate requirements into policies and procedures; initiate corrective action as soon as deficiency is identified; complete checklist and other information sheets required and coordinate on-site CAP, Safety, and other inspections for the Referral Laboratory.
• Interpret CMS billing rules for the determination of tests that are eligible for 3rd party billing.
• Stay abreast of and execute latest technical and management developments to ensure the laboratory stays up to date and operates efficiently with the highest quality.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology or related field OR has met the minimal education and experience requirements as outlined by a nationally recognized Med Tech certifying body.
• Minimum educational or experience requirements may be modified on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the CLIA (linical Laboratory Improvement Amendment)director as long as minimal CLIA requirements are met by the employee for the tasks being performed.

Experience

5 years full time experience as a medical technologist in a clinical laboratory setting.

Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification

ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology), NCA or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of laboratory safety and infection control procedures and practices including standard precautions and hazardous chemical handling.
• Considerable knowledge of laboratory equipment, instrumentation and terminology
• Considerable knowledge of the clinical laboratory procedures *Considerable knowledge of regulatory agencies standards
• Ability to develop and refine procedures *Ability to maintain effective reporting procedures and control workflow
• Ability to make accurate observations and written reports of test results
• Ability to train, orient and evaluate the job performance of various laboratory personnel *Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees.
• Ability to maintain inventory control systems and make budgetary projections
• Ability to schedule adequate numbers of competent staff on a day to day basis

Distinguishing Characteristics

• Responsibility for day-to-day supervision and/or oversight of the laboratory operation and personnel performing testing and reporting test results.
• Formulate goals and/or recommend policy, assign objectives, and establish standards of practice.
• Provide direct supervision of all high complexity testing and maintain contact with laboratory at all times either with on site presence or via pager.
• Monitor testing to ensure that acceptable levels of analytic performance are maintained.
  
  
  
  • Check personnel to assure competence prior to test reporting
  • All aspects of Proficiency testing are properly followed, reviewed and remedial action is taken and documented following failures
  • Quality assurance and Quality Control programs are established, maintained and are effective in identifying problems.
  • Procedure manuals are available and have been reviewed annually by director, manager, supervisor or analytical specialist.
  
  
  
  

• Responsibilities delegated from the director or technical supervisor include:
  
  
  
  • Assure remedial action is taken and documented whenever tests systems deviate from established performance specifications
  • Review and document proficiency testing and follow up on outliers.
  • Ensure that patient testing results are not reported until corrective action has been taken and the test system is functioning properly
  • Participate in the annual evaluation, competency testing and documentation for all testing personnel
  • Receive, review and prepare technical reports reflecting volume of work, procedures utilized and test results; coordinate the preparation of reports and analyses setting forth progress, adverse trends and appropriate corrective action.
  • Assist in the annual validation of the Electronic Laboratory Manual.