Andrology Endocrinology Technician

Company :

Allegheny Health Network

Job Description : 

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

This is a position for an andrology/endocrinology technician with clinical experience in human andrology/endocrinology at Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine (AHNCRM). Position reports to AHN Manager Laboratory general supervisor and Laboratory Director. Andrology/endocrinology technician is a position for a candidate who completed training in basic and specialized andrology and endocrinology procedures. The andrology/endocrinology technician works independently but under supervision performing assigned duties and responsibilities according to Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicines procedures and protocols. The andrology/endocrinology technician performs diagnostic and therapeutic andrology procedures including semen analysis, sperm washes for intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), trail wash, semen cryopreservation/thaw, and preparation of donor specimens for donor insemination and running serum analyzer.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Professional Development: Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops and reviewing professional publications and relevant text books; Reads scientific development articles and participates in the journal club and continued education discussions as assigned by the laboratory director. These assignments must be executed in depth and on time; Participates in national and international meetings related to the field of fertility, andrology and assisted reproduction to keep abreast of new technologies and research; Contribute to shaping the policy making decisions in our field by joining special interest group committees to mold and influence the future of our industry and enhance the image and reputation of Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine.
• Behavior and Conduct: Maintains punctuality, arrives at work in the morning allowing time to change into scrubs and enter the andrology/endocrinology laboratory on time; Wear scrubs only within the premises of the clinic. Coming from home, going home or to the food court or walking down to the mall while in scrubs is absolutely unacceptable and completely prohibited; Consistently considerate of colleagues and maintains a professional environment.
• Team Efforts: Works cooperatively with a multidisciplinary team to provide good patient care, while meeting the objectives and goals of the practice; Works weekends and holidays as scheduled, inclusive of on-call responsibilities; Acts as a liaison between the laboratory and other departments to disseminate information and communicate areas for continual quality improvement; Performs andrology/endocrinology duties as assigned by the supervisor or director as needed; Assures fair distribution of andrology/endocrinology procedures among staff and is proactive of helping others; Attends practice and department meetings as requested; Assists the financial/billing department in assuring appropriate and timely billing for testing services.
• Training in Basic and Specialized Andrology/Endocrinology Procedures: The andrology/endocrinology technician must read, understand and follow written Standard Operating Procedures and Protocols as outlined in the andrology/endocrinology manual at Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine; Full knowledge and proficiency in basic and advanced andrology/endocrinology procedures include the following: 1) quality control of the andrology/endocrinology lab 2) scheduling patients for andrology/endocrinology procedures (if needed) 3) patient chart review and andrology/endocrinology chart preparation 4) communication with patients (in person, telephone, and email) 5) collection room policies and procedures 6) patient identification, intake, laboratory specimen questionnaire and off-site semen collection forms 7) full knowledge of Epic 8) entering data and progress reports into Epic 9) preparation and portioning of media and reagents 10) labeling and preparation of test tubes and cryo vials 11) semen analysis including sperm count, motility, viability and morphology 12) viscosity treatment system 13) Kruger's Strict Criteria 14) retrograde semen analysis 15) sperm wash for IUI 16) trial wash 17) sperm survival assay 18) semen cryopreservation/post thaw count 19) donor sperm ordering, receipt, storage, thaw and processing for donor insemination 20) knowledge of andrology/endocrinology worksheets and reports 21) recording and reporting test results 22) inventory and storage of cryopreserved semen and donor sperm 23) spermac stain 24) epididymis/testicular sperm cryopreservation 25) epididymis/testicular sperm processing for IVF/ICSI 26) surgical sperm collection at area hospitals 27) running the serum analyzer.
• Additional Duties and Responsibilities: 1)Follows verbal and written instructions and orders given by the lab director and general supervisor 2) strictly follows all safety rules and regulations including sharpies, blood borne pathogens, biological safety and exposure control plans 3) adheres to all laboratory rules and regulations including conduct, dos and don'ts and appropriate behavior 4) demonstrates consideration for colleagues by maintaining a quiet, professional environment in the andrology/endocrinology lab 5) respects patients 6) maintains the confidentiality and integrity of patient medical and private information 7) participates in lab proficiency testing programs as directed by laboratory supervisor/director 8) organizes and maintains accurate records, including patients' test reports, and all andrology/endocrinology related procedures 9) maintains invoices related to purchase of inventory 10) interprets and analyzes test results performed in the laboratory in a timely manner when reporting to referring physicians 11) responds to problems arising with laboratory equipment that may occur during the night and or weekends 12) keeps all lab equipment, supplies and facilities clean and well organized at all times 13) cleans after him/herself 14) possess intermediate to advanced computer skills in spreadsheet, word processing, database development, email, internet access, computer network, and intra-office communications.
• Physical Attributes Needed: Physical activities such as bending, lifting and climbing are necessary to adequately perform daily duties; Fluency in the English language is necessary to properly and clearly communicate with staff and patients.
• Protocol Familiarization Study and Review: Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's Endocrinology Protocol Manual; Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's Andrology Protocol Manual; Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's laboratory equipment manual; Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's Quality Management Protocol (which includes quality assurance, quality control, and quality improvement); Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's emergency manual; Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's Computer Protocol Manual; Complete knowledge of AHNCRM's employee handbook; Complete knowledge of CLIA, CDC, FDA, OSHA requirements; Complete knowledge of ASRM and AAB/ABB requirements; Complete knowledge of all applicable statutes of State of Pennsylvania.
• Major areas of Responsibility and Standards of Performance: Andrology/endocrinology technicians perform andrology procedures to the highest standards during training and after being cleared and signed off to perform andrology procedures under supervision; 1) Patient Contact: Interpret andrology results for patients and referring physicians. Discuss various tests and procedures with patients. Schedule and instruct patients for andrology procedures; 2) Semen Analysis: Semen analysis is performed in accordance with established Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine procedures and protocols. Guidelines for semen parameters are in accordance with the World Health Organization. All results are recorded in Epic; 3) Sperm Preparation for IUI and IVF: Sperm preparation for IUI/IVF is performed according to established Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine procedures and protocols. Different methods of preparation are employed depending on which procedure is being performed; 4) Donor Sperm Preparation for IUI and IVF: Donor sperm preparation is performed according to established Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine procedures and protocols. Different methods of preparation are employed depending on which procedure is being performed; 5) Semen Freezing: Semen is processed and frozen according to established Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine procedures and protocols. Sample cryo vials and canes are labeled with patient name, date of birth/freeze and accession number, which are then logged in Epic to ensure proper identification when thawed; 6) Thaw of cryopreserved sperm/semen: cryopreserved semen samples are thawed according to established Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine procedures in the case of specimens frozen at Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine; 7) Trial Wash: Trial Wash is a comprehensive semen analysis and long term sperm survival study to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative parameters of semen and assess the long term performance characteristics of semen in vitro; 8) Endocrine Testing: Run serum analyzer according to manufacturer?s specification. Perform proper daily quality control and monthly analysis of quality control data; 9) Laboratory Testing: All andrology related testing must be performed with the highest regard to quality, accuracy, safety, and success. All tests and procedures must be carefully documented on all patient test reports and Epic. When appropriate, additional commentary should be included on test reports. All test reports should be reviewed for completeness and clinical correlation with patient diagnosis. After test completion and review, all worksheets and reports are scanned and filed into patient charts in Epic; 10) Patient chart review and andrology chart preparation: flow cycle sheets, cycle order plans, progress notes, infectious disease testing, consent forms and all other relevant documents are reviewed thoroughly and accurately for patients before andrology procedures; 11) Maintenance of Progress Notes: A progress report is entered on Epic on real time basis any time a progress needs to be documented, such as discussion with the patient or semen/sperm is received or shipped; 12) Communication with the nurses and the physicians: communication with nurses and physicians regarding flow sheets, cycle order plans, infectious disease testing or any issues concerning patient care or the performance of daily duties in the andrology laboratory; 13) Communication with the Finance/Billing department: communication with the finance/billing department regarding andrology procedures, changes to the cycle order plans, semen/sperm storage tanks, semen/sperm receipt, discard or transfer to other clinics or any issues that affect the billing of patients must be performed on a real time basis. Maintenance of correct and updated inventory of frozen semen in storage tanks is critical to accurate billing and collection of funds; 14) Incident Reports: Incident reports are critical to quality control in the lab. Incidents must be documented accurately without deflection of responsibility, writing in the third person format, or attempting to not own what happened. Incident reports are investigated in a root cause analysis without punitive measurements or assigning blame unless they are consistently repeated and it is obvious that progressive discipline is needed; 15) Gas tank manifolds: Proper functioning of the gas systems is critical to the success of the andrology and embryology labs. In depth knowledge of the manifolds, gas lines, valve pressure settings, in line and back up tanks, standby inventory, tank types, tank ordering, delivery schedule and emergency procedures is vital to the performance of the andrology/endocrinology technician duties; 16) Sample Accession, Identification, and Labeling: The most critical quality control issue within any assisted reproduction (ART) laboratory is the system employed to ensure patient identification and patient sample identification. The andrology laboratory must have absolute certainty when processing, combing and/or transferring sperm. Laboratory personnel must verify with documentation and a witness the sources and identities of sperm and the corresponding recipient of these reproductive cells. Currently, Allegheny Health Network Center for Reproductive Medicine's andrology laboratory utilize patient name and unique identifiers (chart number and birth date) for labeling of patient materials including test tubes, vials, storage vessels and laboratory records. All labeling must be uniform and consistent and should be permanent and legible; 17) Media Preparation: Sperm wash media is processed and aliquoted according to current andrology protocols. Aseptic techniques are employed and strictly adhered to when processing media; 18) Media Quality Control: Media is tested by the sperm survival assay or culturing mouse embryos to the blastocyst stage by the manufacturer. Acceptance of media is based upon established strict criteria; 19) Quality Control/Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement: Quality parameters should be formulated and instituted by the supervisor and laboratory director in the andrology laboratory. Quality control should be performed each day. Any problems should be addressed immediately by the supervisor and discussed with other members of the laboratory. Any actions taken must be documented appropriately. Quality control and quality assurance data are reviewed monthly for quality improvement; 20) Patient Identification/Record Keeping: All patient specimens are rigorously labeled and identified. Results of tests performed or procedures applied are recorded in appropriate worksheets and patient charts. When and where appropriate, duplicate files are maintained to avoid any possible loss of data. Test reports, QC/QA data etc. are stored for a period of time as recommended by regulatory agencies. Files and logs are clearly labeled and maintained to track any specimen back to an accession number, date or patient last and first name. Accurate complete and precise record keeping is critically important. Sloppy records are not tolerated. All fields of patient worksheets are reports should be completed and data entered in Epic on a real time basis; 21) Ordering lab supplies and equipment: Lab supplies and equipment are ordered as approved by the lab director. Adequate lab supplies ensure that appropriate materials are always available. When ordering, inventory levels are considered and supplies are kept to an absolute minimum to get the work completed. Ultimately expense reduction is the responsibility of all employees; 22) Care and Use of Lab Equipment: The andrology/endocrinology technician is knowledgeable of using and maintaining lab equipment. Standard procedures are strictly adhered to. When necessary, approved service personnel are called to repair and calibrate equipment. In addition all alarm systems that monitor and alert personnel must be thoroughly maintained, understood and given prompt attention. General knowledge and operation of other equipment such as gas manifolds, emergency generators, HVAC systems serving the IVF lab is necessary. HVAC filters are inspected and replaced on regular intervals; 23) Continuing Education: Keep abreast of new procedures and developments published in pertinent journal articles and integrate them into routine lab procedures. Participate in journal club and continued education discussions as assigned by the laboratory director; 24) Work schedule: Monday through Friday, evenings and alternating weekends when lab procedures are performed and for possible laboratory emergencies; 25) After hours emergency calls: Critical equipment in the andrology laboratory is continuously monitored 24/7 to guard against any malfunction going undetected and without correction as soon as possible. Andrology/endocrinology technicians carry the laboratory emergency cell phone on rotating basis and respond to dial outs from the Sensaphone by arriving to the laboratory immediately and without delay at any time of the day/night to investigate and correct the issue according to written emergency procedures and protocols; 26) Utilization of Technology: Utilize technology to the fullest extent to make policies, procedures, and personnel as efficient, effective, and mistake free as possible.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in Biology or the Biological Sciences from an accredited university.

Preferred

• 2 years of experience in Andrology/Endocrinology with proficiency in andrology/endocrinology procedures

Additional Employment Requirements:

• CPR – American Heart Association

• Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate

• Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate

• Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate

Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

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