Houston Methodist

Nonprofit academic medical center with hospitals

Lab Quality Assurance Specialist

Diagnostics & Laboratory ProfessionalsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeHouston, TX, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
Four years of experience in a clinical setting, including two years as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Technologist, or in an equivalent role, is required.
One of the following certifications is required: Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, or categorical certification by the Board of Certification of the American Society for Clinical Pathology; Clinical Laboratory Scientist certification by the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel; or Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist certification by American Medical Technologists.
Demonstrate the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform assigned work, as assessed through skills evaluations, competency assessments, and/or performance reviews.
Have knowledge of the functional discipline being coordinated and departmental processes and procedures.
Have planning, organizing, and delegating skills for functional activities.
Have coaching and skills-development abilities.
Adapt to multiple ongoing priorities, organize a heavy workflow with minimal supervision, and maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
Exercise independent judgment and discretion to recognize problems, identify causes, and take corrective action.
Have basic computer knowledge and operate hospital and laboratory information systems and office software to maintain patient and testing records and related documents.
Work independently with little or no direct supervision.
Have sufficient English speaking, reading, and writing proficiency to perform essential job functions, particularly those affecting patient or employee safety or security.
Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, family members, and coworkers in a manner consistent with customer service and positive language principles.
Adjust work schedules to accommodate departmental or organizational needs.
May be required to be on call during emergencies.
May be required to travel within and outside the Houston metropolitan area.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, and monitor the quality management system for Laboratory Services.
Evaluate and implement patient safety initiatives, regulatory and accreditation compliance, risk management, and performance improvement activities.
Work with ancillary and patient care departments to develop plans and policies that improve quality outcomes throughout all phases of testing.
Manage the external proficiency program.
Coordinate and prepare reports for the department and perform activities that promote compliance within the laboratory and point-of-care testing sites.
Facilitate an annual assessment of the laboratory Quality Assurance program.
Promote a positive work environment and collaborate with the patient care team by communicating and reporting pertinent patient-care information and data.
Teach students, clinical staff, new employees, and others as assigned by the manager, and monitor completion of competency assessments.
Organize workload and set priorities; assist others and perform additional tasks as needed.
Analyze and respond to client complaints, unusual incident reports, and Risk Management inquiries.
Review laboratory quality occurrence data and provide reports and graphical data to department management, clients, and customers; prepare quality reports with monitors defined by the manager or director.
Manage the laboratory proficiency testing program, track exceptions, order and distribute proficiency testing samples, route results for review, monitor results, and initiate corrective action.
Coordinate the hospital point-of-care testing program, including equipment evaluation, policy development and implementation, and quality-control monitoring.
Prepare, implement, and initiate reviews of laboratory policies and procedures; conduct literature searches as needed to support regulatory compliance; and monitor policies and procedures for review and sign-off.
Coordinate preparation for laboratory and hospital surveys and everyday readiness, and facilitate follow-up on cited deficiencies.
Prepare presentations for committee meetings and educational programs; facilitate discussions with staff and leaders to develop strategies and action plans for programs and projects.
Coordinate validation plans before implementing new testing and instrumentation.
Use resources efficiently and avoid wasting supplies.
Generate and communicate ideas and suggestions to improve quality or service.
Seek opportunities for learning beyond baseline competencies and pursue continual development.

The Laboratory Quality Assurance Specialist develops, maintains, and monitors the quality management system for Laboratory Services. Responsibilities include evaluating/implementing patient safety initiatives, regulatory and accreditation compliance, risk management, and performance improvement. Works with other ancillary and patient care departments to develop plans and policies for improved quality outcomes throughout all phases of testing. Manages external proficiency program. Coordinates/Prepares reports for the department and performs activities that promote compliance within the laboratory and point of care testing sites. Facilitates an annual assessment of the Quality Assurance program for the laboratory.

FLSA STATUS
Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

Bachelor degree in related field

EXPERIENCE

Four years of experience in a clinical setting to include two years of experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist or equivalent role

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

Must have one of the following required certifications: • Certified as a Medical Technologist, Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Medical Laboratory Scientist, or categorical certification by Board of Certification (ASCP) • Certified as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist by National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA) • Certified as a Medical Technologist or Medical Laboratory Scientist by American Medical Technologists (AMT)

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going evaluations consisting of one or more of the following: skills, competency assessments and/or performance reviews
Knowledge of the functional discipline to be coordinated
Knowledge of departmental processes and procedures
Skill in planning, organizing and delegating functional activities
Skill in coaching and developing the functional skills of others
Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers
Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities including organizing heavy work flow with minimal supervision
Strong attention to detail and ability to achieve and maintain accuracy
Demonstrates independent judgment and discretion to recognize problems, identify causes and take corrective action
Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital / Laboratory Information Systems and Office software to maintain patient and testing records and other related documents
Demonstrates the ability to work independently with little or no direct supervision
Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Promotes a positive work environment and contributes to a dynamic, team focused work unit that actively helps one another to achieve optimal department results. Collaborates with all members of the patient care team by actively communicating and reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner.
Teaches students, clinical staff, new employees and others as assigned by Manager. Monitors competency assessment completion.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Organizes workload and sets priorities. Utilizes all available work time by assisting others and performing additional tasks.
Analyzes and responds to client complaints, unusual incident reports and Risk Management inquires.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Reviews all laboratory quality occurrence data; provides reports and graphical data to department management, clients and customers. Prepares quality reports to include specific monitors as defined by the Manager/Director.
Manages laboratory proficiency testing program and tracks exceptions. Performs ordering, distributing proficiency testing samples to sections, routing results for review, monitoring results and initiating corrective action.
Coordinates activities associated with point-of-care (POC) testing program throughout the hospital to include evaluation of equipment, policy development and implementation/monitoring of quality control.
Prepares, implements, and initiates review of laboratory policy and procedures, performing literature searches as needed to promote compliance with regulatory agency requirements. Monitors Laboratory Services policies and procedures for review and sign-off of all policies.
Coordinates activities associated with the preparation for laboratory and hospital surveys for everyday readiness. Facilitates follow-up for any deficiencies cited.
Prepares presentations for committee meetings and educational programs. Facilitates discussions with staff and leaders in developing strategy and action plans for programs/projects.
Coordinates the validation plan before the implementation of new testing and instrumentation.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Adjusts work schedule to accommodate departmental/organizational needs. Appropriately utilizes the time recording system.
Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Generates and communicates new ideas and suggestions that will improve quality or service.
Seeks opportunities to expand learning beyond baseline competencies with a focus on continual development.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

Uniform: No
Scrubs: No
Business professional: No
Other (department approved): No

ON-CALL*

*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**

**Travel specifications may vary by department**

May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Work Shift:

1 - Day (United States of America)



Job Category:

Clinical

Houston Methodist Hospital is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 hospital in Texas and one of America’s “Best Hospitals.” As a full-service, acute-care hospital located in the Texas Medical Center and the flagship hospital of Houston Methodist, it has evolved into one of the nation’s largest nonprofit teaching hospitals and a leader in innovative medical research with a comprehensive residency program. Two of Houston Methodist’s primary academic affiliates are among the nation’s leading health care organizations: Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Houston Methodist also has affiliations with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston. Houston Methodist Hospital offers unparalleled care for thousands of patients from around the world.


Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Company

Houston Methodist

Nonprofit academic medical center with hospitals

Houston Methodist is a nonprofit academic medical center and hospital system in the Houston area. It delivers fee-for-service care through eight hospitals, focusing on cancer, heart and vascular care, transplantation, neurosciences, orthopedics, and digestive disorders, and treats thousands of international patients. The system combines patient care with research, education, and philanthropy through the Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, with its flagship at the Texas Medical Center and partnerships with Weill Cornell Medicine, Texas A&M, and Rice University that support programs like EnMed and a broad clinical trials network via the Houston Methodist Research Institute. Its goal is to improve patient outcomes by providing high-quality medical care while expanding research, education, and collaborative clinical programs.

Company size: 10,001+
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Houston, TX
Founded: 2008

Recently Posted Jobs

Explore more opportunities at Houston Methodist

See more jobs