Medical Technologist
- Summary
Public Health – Seattle & King County Laboratory is recruiting for a part-time Medical Technologist who will be responsible for oversight and quality improvement activities related to laboratory testing performed at Public Health Clinics and contracted clinical laboratory services throughout the Department.
As the only county in the United States named after Martin Luther King Jr, one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nations' history, King County is a vibrant community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the artistic and social traditions of many cultures. Together, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.
We continue to build on an enduring legacy of shared values of equity and social justice, employee engagement, innovative thinking and continuous improvement. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda aimed at advancing regional change and is developing the systems and standards necessary to achieve better outcomes for all of our residents, regardless of their race or income. All of these qualities make King County one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Public Health- Seattle & King County values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans.
WHO MAY APPLY: This part-time (24 hrs. per week) career service position is open to all qualified candidates.
WORK SCHEDULE: 24 hours per week within the Lab hours of 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
At Seattle/King County Public Health we strive to be accessible to those we serve. This position may require flexibility to accommodate different work schedules and work locations.
WORK LOCATION: This position will primarily work at:
Harborview Medical Center
Basement West Clinic Wing
325 9th Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104
APPLICATION PROCESS: The following completed items are required to be considered for this vacancy:- NEOGOV/Government Jobs on-line or paper application
- Supplemental Questions with complete, thorough answers. Answers that say "see resume" will be considered incomplete.
- Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
- Attach multiple documents/files in the resume/attachment section.
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the required information in the application. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience. The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring
CONTACT: For questions about this recruitment, please email Angela Brown, Human Resource Analyst at abrown@kingcounty.gov.- Job Duties
- Develop and monitor laboratory quality assurance and quality control programs for the Department's Public Health Clinics according to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements.
- Be familiar with CLIA requirements for "Waived" and "Moderate Complexity" laboratories and act as a consultant when questions arise concerning testing procedures, quality control, competency and other aspects of testing.
- Renew CLIA certification with the Washington State Medical Test Site office every other year.
- Maintain the accuracy of CLIA credentials with the Washington State Medical Test site office, updating it as clinic or staffing changes occur.
- Assist in contract renewal procedures for preventative maintenance of microscopes, centrifuges, etc.
- Maintain regular communication with the laboratory director and other administrative staff as needed.
- Write, review and update laboratory test procedures for any testing done by clinic staff. This includes an annual review for changes in test and test control package inserts, safety data sheets and technical bulletins which may affect the performance of the test.
- Distribute test procedures and other documentation when updated to the clinics by email.
- Add procedures or updates to the online test procedures found on the staff PH Portal when new procedures are approved or reviews are complete.
- Develop systems and write protocols for training staff to perform laboratory testing at the clinics.
- Assist in training staff in new test procedures when needed.
- Aid clinics in trouble-shooting any recurrent problems with tests being used.
- Perform annual testing competency review of Medical Assistants and other staff that perform laboratory tests in the Family Health, Family Planning, and Prevention clinical programs and review those competency records on an annual basis for standardization and quality.
- Contact WIC sites, CSOs and other programs only doing waived testing annually via email or telephone to discuss competency training and other issues that may arise.
- Assist in training staff to collect blood by venipuncture or capillary sticks for adult and pediatric patients.
- Assist with lab coding (CPT and ICD) and billing issues around internal labs.
- Provide "continuing education" opportunities to testing staff including distribution of the state's publication – Elaborations.
- Renew and apply for subscriptions to Proficiency Testing Panels required by the clinics to maintain their CLIA certification on an annual basis.
- Make changes in the panels ordered, shipping addresses and contact personnel as needed.
- Review proficiency testing and biannual verification results.
- Maintain a record of accuracy for each clinic and provide training and corrective action when errors are made.
- Ensure that clinics are prepared for and pass onsite inspections by the State of Washington Department of Health.
- Ensure that corrective action is taken if deficiencies are identified during inspections.
- Do onsite inspections of each clinic at least once a year and more frequently if required. These inspections should be considered a "Site Inspection" to determine the level of CLIA compliance and as a training opportunity for clinic staff.
- Provide information on quality control requirements for each test in use and corrective action procedures when needed.
- Assist clinics with ordering contracted laboratory services as needed.
- Assist in trouble-shooting problems with the contract laboratory when needed.
- Request semi-annual test utilization reports and pathology reports from the contract laboratory and disperse these reports to administrative staff when requested.
- Assist in contact renewal procedures with the contract laboratory.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Bachelor's degree in medical technology or chemical, physical, or biological science OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge and abilities required to perform the work.
- Laboratory training /experience in a clinical laboratory.
- Knowledge of CLIA requirements.
- Knowledge of laboratory quality assurance, quality control, proficiency testing, and training of testing personnel.
- Knowledge of relevant principles and bench-level practices of medical technology.
- Knowledge of procedures, principles, and protocols for testing clinical specimens.
- Knowledge of ordering contracted laboratory services.
- Basic technical writing skills and oral communication skills.
- Skill in working effectively as a team member to coordinate accomplishment of specific tasks.
- Washington State Driver's License or the ability to travel to work locations throughout King County with no public transportation in a timely fashion.
- Supplemental Information
- Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities and working hours.
- Applicants should be committed to working with diverse populations throughout King County to provide excellent customer service to a broad range of cultures, in accordance with the King County Equity and Social Justice Ordinance and the King County Strategic Plan. This position supports and advances King County's values for fair and culturally competent service delivery, innovative, effective and efficient application of resources, building a culture of performance, and expanding opportunities to seek input, listen and respond to industry and residents.
- Internal candidates that meet minimum qualifications may get first consideration.
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time.
- The selected candidate must pass a thorough background investigation
UNION AFFILIATION:
This position is represented by PROTEC17.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Do you posses a Bachelor's degree in medical technology or chemical, physical, or biological science OR any equivalent combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the skills, knowledge and abilities required to perform the work?
- Yes
- No
02Do you have demonstrated experience conducting and interpreting laboratory tests on clinical specimens and developing and monitoring a laboratory quality assurance program according to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) requirements?- Yes
- No
03If you answered yes to question #2, please describe your experience with conducting and interpreting clinical laboratory tests and developing and monitoring a laboratory quality assurance program. Include in your response where your experience was acquired, length of experience, the types of clinical laboratory tests performed, and your role or level of responsibility. If you answered no, put N/A.Required Question