Lab Technician

MISSION & VISION STATEMENT:

The Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation (KPHC) is established for the purposes of carrying out the vision and mission of the Santo Domingo Health Center (SDHC). The MISSION of KPHC is:  “ENSURING HEALTH & WELLNESS THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN HEALTHCARE WITH RESPECT FOR CULTURE” and the VISION OF KPHC is:  “HEALTHY PEOPLE, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, and HEALTHY LIFESTYLE”. 

POSITION PURPOSE:

Under direct supervision the Medical Laboratory Technician participates in the processing of specimens for specific diagnostics tests.  Duties include preparing of specimens, media, and equipment.  The role requires miscellaneous administrative duties and providing results to providers in a timely manner.

PERFOMANCE EXPECTATIONS: 

In performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees of the Kewa Pueblo Health Center are expected to conform to the following: 

• Uphold all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.  
• Adhere to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.  
• Interact in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees and vendors.  
• Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity.        

• Serves as a full time medical laboratory technician performing a wide variety of laboratory tests, including specialized testing using manual and/or automated methods in accordance lab protocols.
• Adheres to policies and procedures per C.L.I.A. and O.S.H.A. mandates.
• Prepares various test specimens and growth media for use in biology, chemistry, or related labs.
• Sets-up equipment for lab use.  Ensure proper operation.  
• Cleans lab facilities and equipment after lab exercises are complete.
• Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections.  
• Practices safety, environmental and infection control practices. 

• Maintain a current insurable driver’s license at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES, FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Greets and receives patients in a timely, appropriate patient-centered manner and carries out duties and responsibilities in accordance with lab policies and procedures and maintains the highest standards of patient-privacy protocols.

• Follows routine provider order venues.
• Maintains quality, safety, and infection control standards
• Skill in providing guidance and instruction in laboratory protocol standards.
• Knowledge of accreditation and certification requirements.
• Ability to set-up, calibrate, operate, and maintain standard laboratory and test equipment.
• Follows proper cleaning specifications of various laboratory and/or medical equipment, utensils, fixtures, and related materials. 

• Performs point-of-care labs with attention to quality control before documenting results in the electronic health records (E.H.R.). 

• Ensures proper specimen collection, including patient preparation, if applicable, labeling, and handling, preservation or fixation, processing or preparation, transportation and storage of specimens in accordance with policies, procedures, and standards.

• Effectively communicates with the patient and their family.

• Performs blood draws and is knowledgeable of age appropriate methods of collection and can verbalize the techniques used to accomplish the task.

• Identifies and communicates patient test results by alerting supervisory personnel and ordering licensed clinician, in accordance with pertinent protocols and procedures.
• Maintains quality assurance and results by performing quality controls, verifying equipment function through routine equipment maintenance and advanced trouble shooting; calibrating equipment utilizing approved testing procedures; monitoring quality control measures and protocols. 
• Actively contributes to a safe and secure environment for patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers by following established standards and procedures, complying with legal regulations.
• Serves as technical resource by participating in staff trainings; answering questions of other professionals; and advancement of lab skills and knowledge by participating in educational opportunities which includes but is not limited to mandatory in-services regarding safety, OSHA, infection control, HIPAA.
• Plans and carries out the procedures necessary to complete the work and handles problems and corrects error in accordance with established decision criteria.
• All work is reviewed prior to charting for accuracy.
• Maintains inventory control to assure adequate supplies and reagents needed for lab operation. 

MINIMUM MANDATORY QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience: 

Mandatory Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Skills required for proper specimen collection, including patient preparation, if applicable, labeling, and handling, preservation or fixation, processing or preparation, transportation and storage of specimens.

• Skills required for implementing all standard laboratory procedures.

• Skills required for performing each test method and for proper instrument use. 

• Skills required for performing preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and calibration procedures related to each test performed. 

• A working knowledge of reagent stability and storage.

• Skills required to implement quality control policies and procedures of the laboratory. 

• Awareness of the factors that influence test results, and the skills required to assess and verify the validity of patient test results through the evaluation of quality control sample values prior to reporting patient test results.

• Working knowledge of hematology, coagulation, chemistry, immunology, urinalysis, microbiology, and rapid virology.

• Effective verbal and written communication skills.

• Familiarity with the mandatory reporting requirements under the Indian Child Protection Act, with regards to suspected incidence of child abuse or child neglect. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Degree obtained from an approved medical laboratory technician program.          
• Two (2) years of work experience as a Medical Laboratory Technician in a hospital or clinical laboratory setting.

• Bilingual skills in English and the Keres native language.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the primary functions of this job. Normal office conditions exist, and the noise level in the work environment can vary from low to moderate. In addition, the work is performed in a clinic outpatient and/or field setting and may include exposure to infection, disoriented patients, and communicable diseases. This position may be exposed to certain health risks that are inherent when working within a health center facility.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to frequently stand, walk, sit, bend, twist, talk and hear. Work is performed in an interior medical-clinical environment.  Light physical effort which requires handling of average-weight objects up to 25 pounds.   Standing and or walking for more than 4 hours per day.

MENTAL DEMANDS: 

There are a number of deadlines associated with this position. The employee must also multi-task and interact with a wider variety of people on various and, at times, complicated issues.  

OTHER: 

All employees must uphold all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent. This position has access to sensitive information and a breach of these principles will be grounds for immediate termination.

Disclaimer:  The information on this position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees in this position.  It is not designed to contain, or be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this position. Employees will be asked to perform other duties as needed.