MT (PRN)

At Ashe Memorial Hospital, we are driven by our Mission Statement,

"To meet the needs of the community by delivering patient-centered, high quality health care."

We are looking for a candidate who works great as a team player with all departments, staff, and future employees with positive representation of Ashe Memorial Hospital. This is your opportunity to make a large difference in a small community!

The MT's main function is to obtain, and process, appropriate, properly labeled, specimens from inpatients and outpatients at Ashe Memorial Hospital and other out-reach facilities, to assist in the handling of those specimens to ensure proper delivery to the testing site, and to assist in the clerical and telephone duties in the laboratory. To perform independently, without direct supervision, medical laboratory tests, procedures, experiments, and analysis, to provide data for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Performs all work with accordance to the mission, visions, and values of Ashe Memorial Hospital (AMH).

Must be willing to receive all required vaccinations (i.e., flu shot etc.). All new employees working must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment (unless the new hire has requested and received an exemption). Candidates for employment will be notified of this policy requirement prior to the start of employment. After receiving an offer of employment, new employees must provide proof of vaccination or request and receive an exemption before beginning work.

License/Certifications:

• Current CPR certification
• ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathologists) certification - Medical Technologist, OR
• NCA (National Certification Agency) certification - Clinical Laboratory Scientist, OR
• AMT (American Medical Technologist) certification - Medical Technologist, OR
• HEW (Health, Education, and Welfare) certification - Medical Technologist.

Education:  Associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technician or Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology, or health related field, or HEW-MT.

Experience: Completion of a clinical laboratory internship.

Expected Hours of Work: PRN - up to 24 hours/week. Because patients need round-the-clock care, working hours include days, nights, weekends, and holidays.  Shift will vary.

Personal Protective Equipment: Must be able and willing to wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required to perform the job safely.

Travel: None.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Performs only those tests that are authorized by the laboratory director and require a degree of skill commensurate with the individual’s education, training, or experience, and technical abilities. Tests performed in the following areas: Hematology/Coagulation (30%), Urinalysis (10%), Chemistry (42%), Blood Bank (5%), Serology (1%), Body Fluids (<1%), Specimen Collection and Handling (5%), and Microbiology (6%).  Follow the laboratory’s procedures for specimen handling and processing, test analysis, reporting and maintaining records of patient test results.
2. Adheres to the laboratory’s quality control policies, documents all quality control activities, instrument and procedural calibrations and maintenance performance.
3. Maintains records that demonstrate that proficiency testing samples are tested in the same manner as patient specimens.
4. Communicates with customer service for any instrument that needs trouble shooting problems and can document findings as well as schedule service.
5. Demonstrates the capability to identify problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results and either must correct the problems immediately or notify the lab manager, lab assistant manager or pathologist.
6. Documents all corrective action when test systems deviate from the laboratory’s established performance specification.
7. Immediately recognizes and reports critical test results, realizing any particular critical results related to age.Documents reports and critical values “called to” on the report.
8. Correlates test results with diagnosis and questions incompatible results.
9. Correlates testing methods, procedures, and patient test results with age-specific population criteria (i.e., geriatrics, adults, pediatrics, neonates).
10. Performs any and/or all maintenance on instruments according to the manufacturer’s schedule and instructions and/or according to laboratory policy.
11. Can demonstrate multitasking by planning, processing and/or prioritizing workload with accuracy with limited overtime.
12. Demonstrates a willingness to learn new procedures or process by meeting goals from previous evaluation.
13. Completes work assignments during shift, and leave minimal amount for next shift. Follows through on items left from previous shift to ensure continuity of procedures. Reports incomplete assignments to between shifts.
14. Uses between patients to departmental advantage by filling in with office work, performing general household duties, putting away supplies, or performing other duties as necessary.

Phlebotomy Responsibilities: Phlebotomy is the responsibility of the Medical Laboratory Technician when the regular phlebotomist is unable to obtain blood or if the Phlebotomist is not present or needs assistance.

1. Give concise and easily understood instructions to patients when collecting specimens.
2. Verbally introduce themselves and their position to the patient before performing any procedure on a patient.
3. Collect specimens in the appropriate container, properly labeled, and stored according to laboratory policy.
4. Perform heel-sticks on neonates according to accepted procedures and policies.
5. Perform finger-stick procedures on pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients according to laboratory policies and procedures.
6. Perform venipuncture on pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients according to laboratory policies and procedures.
7. Assess each patient’s requirements relative to the patients age and specific needs and provide the care needed for obtaining specimen.
8. Enter requests and print labels with the Hospital Meditech computer system.
9. Ensure that all test requests have a diagnosis and meet Medicare medical necessity guidelines or inform the patient and obtain an Advance Beneficiary Notice signed by the patient. 
10. Fax reports as requested promptly and accurately.
11. Enter requests and print manifest logs from the Reference lab computer.  
12. Collect industrial drug screens following NIDA protocol.
13. Answer the telephone courteously and relay messages promptly.
14. Answer the door courteously and with a smile, assisting the patient in a manner that puts the patient first.
15. Notify technologists of all ASAP and STAT orders.
16. Comply with hospital-wide and laboratory specific policies on Infection Control and Safety.
17. Attend as many non-mandatory in-services as possible.
18. Ensure the security of the departmental information at the end of each workday to protect confidential information.
19. Review laboratory policy and procedure manuals for revisions and updates.
20. Communicate effectively with others and maintains good rapport with others for the achieving department goals.

Other Responsibilities:

• Completes required orientation and competencies as directed by facility.
• Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment.
• Respects cultural and religious practices of patients.
• Upholds HIPAA regulations.
• Punctual and dependent for assigned/confirmed shifts.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean.
• Wears identification while on duty according to policy.
• Adheres to the Attendance Policy.
• Attends 75% of departmental meetings.
• Supports the hospital and promotes a positive attitude.
• Reports any violation or appearance of violation of the policies and procedures and/or laws and regulations addressed in the Compliance Plan and the hospital code of Conduct to the Compliance Officer, to a member of Key Management, or to the Department Manager.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift a minimum of 25 pounds.
• Standing for long periods, up to 8 hours.
• Ability to climb stairs when elevators are not accessible.
• Repetitive motion (i.e.: entering electronic data, bending, twisting, phlebotomy).
• Ability to spend considerable time walking, bending, stretching and standing.
• Visual and hearing ability for patient care activities.
• General indoor conditions.
• Noise: light to moderate noise.
• Good verbal and written communication skills necessary for job requirements.
• Because patients need round-the-clock care, working hours include days, nights, weekends and holidays.

Occupational Hazards:

• Potential for exposure to infections patients or materials is negligible.
• Potential for exposure to hazardous and toxic substances (including blood, urine, bodily fluids, and cleaning solutions).
• Exposure to chemicals and infectious diseases; exposed to anesthetic gases, drugs and radiation. The use of disinfecting and sterilizing agents may cause damage to skin and respiratory system.
• Potential for sticks or cuts by needles and other sharp items.
• Potential for musculoskeletal injuries if proper lifting and carrying techniques are not used.

Other Skills:

• Basic computer knowledge.
• Reasoning, Mathematical and Language Development.
• Understanding and use scientific and technical language and symbols.
• Recognize slight differences in shape, color, and texture.
• Use eyes, hands, and fingers to operate delicate and sensitive equipment.
• Work precisely and accurately.
• Follow technical instructions which may be oral, written, or in the form of charts or drawings.
• Use measurable and verifiable information for making decisions or judgments.

To apply, please fill out an application, attach a cover letter, and resume. Include gaps in employment and reasons for separation.

Criminal background check and pre-employment drug screen required upon conditional job offer.

Ashe Memorial Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and, as such, considers individuals for employment according to their abilities and performance. Employment decision are made without regard to race, age, religion, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. All employment requirements mandated by local, state, and federal regulations will be observed.