Description Medical Laboratory ScientistRapides Regional Medical CenterShift: Full-Time, Mixed Shifts (7-10 hr. shifts) with rotating weekendsIntroductionLast year our HCA Healthcare colleagues invested over 156,000 hours volunteering in our communities. As a Medical Laboratory Scientist with Rapides Regional Medical Center you can be a part of an organization that is devoted to giving back!BenefitsRapides Regional Medical Center, offers a total rewards package that supports the health, life, career and retirement of our colleagues. The available plans and programs include:Comprehensive medical coverage that covers many common services at no cost or for a low copay. Plans include prescription drug and behavioral health coverage as well as free telemedicine services and free AirMed medical transportation.Additional options for dental and vision benefits, life and disability coverage, flexible spending accounts, supplemental health protection plans (accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity), auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, pet insurance and more.Free counseling services and resources for emotional, physical and financial wellbeing401(k) Plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay (based on years of service)Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 10% off HCA Healthcare stockFamily support through fertility and family building benefits with Progyny and adoption assistance.Referral services for child, elder and pet care, home and auto repair, event planning and moreConsumer discounts through Abenity and Consumer DiscountsRetirement readiness, rollover assistance services and preferred banking partnershipsEducation assistance (tuition, student loan, certification support, dependent scholarships)Colleague recognition programTime Away From Work Program (paid time off, paid family leave, long- and short-term disability coverage and leaves of absence)Employee Health Assistance Fund that offers free employee-only coverage to full-time and part-time colleagues based on income.Learn more about Employee BenefitsNote: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location.Would you like to unlock your potential with a leading healthcare provider dedicated to the growth and development of our colleagues Join the Rapides Regional Medical Center family! We will give you the tools and resources you need to succeed in our organization. We are looking for an enthusiastic Medical Laboratory Scientist to help us reach our goals. Unlock your potential!Job Summary and QualificationsConsistently verifies patient identification, specimen tubes, and orders to prevent errors.Demonstrates understanding by following all policies and procedures established by hospital and laboratory departments.Performs sample analysis in the areas of demonstrated competency.As required, performs routine patient procedures and follow-up, i.e. documentation of calling critical values, etc.Calibrates, standardizes, and maintains instrumentation following manufacturer or established procedures with appropriate documentation.Performs and documents quality control to ensure the proper functioning of instrumentation, reagents, and procedures. Any out of controls are addressed and documented appropriately.Evaluates, calculates, and validates tests results, quality control records, and/or electronic files.Coordinates with medical and professional staff in the dispersion and interpretation of data.Assists in the teaching and training of fellow employees and students performing laboratory tasks.Compliance with and documentation of all regulatory standards, policies, and procedures.Demonstrates good problem solving skills and judgement in dealing with troubleshooting of instrumentation and/or manual processes.Demonstrates competency and documents all QC, lot-to-lot, calibration, maintenance, and communication logs in an efficient and accurate manner.Demonstrates and consistently follows all aspects of policies and procedures for proficiency testing.Use good problem solving skills and judgment in dealing with problem situations.Uses judgment in utilizing supplies for patient testing in an efficient manner through good inventory practices striving to reduce outdating and waste of products and/or supplies.Participates in departmental meetings with suggestions and ideas on improving performance in daily tasks.Demonstrates willingness to improve performance in day to day activities by changing/modifying activities as directed by supervisor.Demonstrates flexibility needed for adequate staffing coverage in departmental areas as required by scheduling and productivity monitoring.Able to modify job duties and communicate with customers in an age appropriate manner.Appropriately assesses the patient’s pain and involves the patient in effective management of the pain using age appropriate interventions.Maintains positive professional interpersonal relationships with employees and all constituencies, encouraging communication as necessary for job performance. Discourages gossip and encourages normal tones when conversing with others in respect to co-workers.Willingly participates in evaluation of new equipment and/or testing methods.Demonstrates punctuality in arriving and departing from job at scheduled times, abides by hospital absenteeism/tardiness policy.Fulfills requirements for assigned interdepartmental positions; i.e. orders, pipettes, safety etc.Continually checks and resolves inconsistencies on all outstanding logs to ensure all specimens are accounted for and processed as quickly as possible.Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.Distinguishing Characteristics:Medical Laboratory Scientists may further their careers into positions that encompass these tasks as well as additional duties depending on their area of concentration:Support ServicesObtain basic knowledge of information systems and the laboratory. This may be through a vendor sponsored educational program if applicable.Responsible for maintaining compliance with all federal, state, and professional regulatory agencies involving both information system functions and hospital policies and procedures.Responsible for day to day management of the information systems including the clinical, billing and personal computer systems for all job related functions.Responsible for orientation of all new lab employees for information systems, compliance, and performance improvement.Serves as a CAP inspection team member.Ensures all aspects of the lab’s compliance program is implemented, monitored, and maintained on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.Oversees the complete ancillary testing process throughout the hospital. Encompasses but not limited to orientation, training, proficiency, quality control review, compliance to policies, and day to day activities involving point of care or near patient testing.Coordinates performance improvement programs for the laboratory and ensures all documentation is present for this process. Reviews data for trends and works closely with all staff and leadership on improvement opportunities.Serves as liaison for all outreach accounts including market facilities.Blood BankAs a technologist working in the Blood Bank department, you are additionally responsible for the following duties/tasks:Strives to reduce outdating and wastage of blood products through good inventory control practices.Use good problem solving skills and judgment dealing with antibody situations.Show diligence in following up on blood stored in surgery or Rhogam.Demonstrate knowledge of the indications for transfusion and follow appropriate action before release of products that do not meet criteria.Demonstrate knowledge of the Quality Systems in place for good blood bank practices.Chemistry and HematologyAs a technologist working in the Chemistry or Hematology departments, you are additionally responsible for the following duties/tasks:Meet the needs for instrument rotations, but flexible to adapt to the needs of other rotations and coworkers.Maintains competency and actively involved in blood gas collection and analysis for Chemistry rotations.Maintains competency and actively involved in assisting with bone marrow aspirations and processing of slides for Hematology rotations.MicrobiologyAs a technologist working in the Microbiology department, you are responsible for the following additional duties:Demonstrates knowledge regarding routine collection, inoculation and processing of all specimen types.Consistently prepares and promptly interprets stains and smears in accordance with departmental procedures.Effectively utilize job knowledge in determining the differentiation of microorganisms on culture plates and confirmation testing associated with each.Demonstrate knowledge of what organisms should be considered significant and consistently verify the accuracy of test results.Process the Microscan Cultures and Exceptions log completely.Weekend Supervisor/ LeadAs a week-end supervisor, you are additionally responsible for the oversight of the following tasks:Scheduling and productivity monitoringOrganizing workflow.Employee/physician issues.Departmental SupervisorAs a departmental technical supervisor, you are additionally responsible for the oversight of the following tasks as applicable to your area:Ensures departmental policies and procedures are established and reviewed on appropriate time line.Works with Laboratory director in establishing new methods of testing as appropriate.Reviews quality control on daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Ensures all corrective action is appropriate and documented. Works with staff on deviations and troubleshooting.Ensures appropriate proficiency surveys are ordered for testing menu, surveys are rotated among all shifts and all personnel, and appropriate corrective action is taken and documented on all variances.Ensures competency of all employees within department is performed on al timely basis and documented.Responsible for organizing workflow of scheduled personnel for optimal productivity.Works with Laboratory Administrative Director in established budget for designated area and adhering to this throughout the year.Ensuring employee evaluations are performed on appropriate time intervals with documentation and remediation when applicable.Ensuring compliance with all regulatory standards as applicable.Laboratory Assistant Director:As an Assistant Director, you are responsible for the departmental supervisor duties of your area as well as assisting the Director in day to day activities. In the absence of the director, the oversight of the Laboratory is delegated to this position.Administrative Director Positions:As an Administrative Director, you are responsible for the oversight of the entire Laboratory in ensuring:Integrating the department’s services into the organization’s primary functions.Coordinating and integrating interdepartmental and intra departmental services.Developing, implementing, and assuring compliance with all policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services.Recommending a sufficient level of appropriate staffing and ensuring the orientation, training, education, and competency of all personnel who provide patient care under the laboratory services.Continuously assessing and improving the performance of care and services provided.Maintaining quality control programs as appropriate.Recommending space and other resources as needed for laboratory operations.Participating in the selection of sources for needed services not provided by the department and/or organization.Working with Medical Staff, other departments, and Administration in maintaining open communication lines to improve the process of the Medical Center.Collaboration with Administration in developing, monitoring, and ensuring adherence to established budget, both financial and employee productivity.Appropriate compliance with all applicable regulatory standards.Maintaining positive interpersonal relationships with employees and all constituencies.Orients and provides in-service training and continuing education to all department employeesRecommends space and other resources needed by the departmentMonitors quality outcomes and recommends improvements in performance relative to the following safety issues:Mitigation of unsafe practicesIdentification and mitigation of risks and hazardsQuality of the informed consent processPerforming unwanted life sustaining treatment or withholding resuscitationEnsuring adequate and competent nursing staff service and nursing leadership at all levelsTimely and understandable communication of patient critical informationAccurate labeling of diagnostic studies including radiographs, laboratory specimens, or other diagnostic studiesAdverse events resulting from non-standardized, fragmented, or ineffective information transfer at the time of patient dischargeAdverse drug events and medication reconciliationHospital-acquired infections related to inadequate hand hygieneCentral venous catheter related bloodstream infection preventionComplications associated with ventilator useCatheter associated urinary tract infectionsPrevention of developing venous thromboembolism and subsequent pulmonary embolismAnticoagulation therapy and coordinated careWhat qualifications you will need:Clinical Laboratory ScientistBachelors DegreeBasic Cardiac Life Support, or CPR for Healthcare Providers must be obtained within 30 days of employment start dateRapides Regional Medical Center is a 350+ bed hospital and ER in Alexandria, Louisiana. We offer services ranging from Cancer Care to Wound Care. Our medical staff includes doctors in more than 30 medical specialties. At Rapides Regional we believe that well-defined values are the key to nurturing staff and patient satisfaction. By joining our team you contribute to the positive culture of the hospital. This culture impacts the well-being of patients and their families. It also impacts your colleagues, and your own personal job satisfaction. Learn what our commitment to patient satisfaction, service excellence and professional expertise can do for your career.HCA Healthcare has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute more than ten times. In recent years, HCA Healthcare spent an estimated $3.7 billion in cost for the delivery of charitable care, uninsured discounts, and other uncompensated expenses."There is so much good to do in the world and so many different ways to do it."- Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr.HCA Healthcare Co-Founder Be a part of an organization that invests in you! We are reviewing applications for our Medical Laboratory Scientist opening. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. Submit your application and help us raise the bar in patient care!We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.