Laboratory Technical Specialist

Fairview is looking for a Point of care and Send-out Laboratory Technical Specialist for the Acute Care Laboratory at M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital.  This is a fulltime, day shift  opening, includes every 4th weekend and rotating holidays. 

The Laboratory at MHealth Fairview Ridges Hospital performs clinical hematology, chemistry, blood gas, coagulation, urinalysis, transfusion medicine, and blood collection and processing. Fairview Ridges Hospital serves a variety of pediatric and adult patients and is home to the busiest Emergency Department in the entire system.  Our Ridges Laboratory team consists of approximately 90 employees, including five pathologists, and the laboratory is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A Laboratory Point of Care (POC) and Send-Out Technical Specialist plays a critical role in managing point-of-care testing (POCT) and coordinating laboratory tests sent to external reference labs. Their key responsibilities typically include:

Point of Care (POC) Responsibilities:

1. POC Program Management: Oversee and maintain the hospital or clinic's POCT program, ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards (e.g., CAP, CLIA, and Joint Commission).
2. Device Selection & Maintenance: Evaluate, implement, and maintain POCT devices, ensuring proper function, calibration, and troubleshooting issues.
3. Training & Competency: Train nurses, physicians, and other non-laboratory staff on POCT equipment and procedures, ensuring competency through periodic assessments.
4. Quality Control & Compliance: Develop and enforce quality control (QC) procedures, monitor proficiency testing (PT), and ensure adherence to laboratory policies.
5. Data Management & Connectivity: Ensure POCT results integrate correctly into the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and Electronic Medical Record (EMR).
6. Regulatory Readiness: Prepare for inspections and audits by maintaining documentation, policies, and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.

Send-Out Testing Responsibilities:

1. Reference Lab Coordination: Serve as the primary liaison between the hospital/clinic and reference laboratories, ensuring timely and accurate processing of send-out tests.
2. Specimen Handling & Logistics: Ensure proper processing, packaging, and shipping of specimens according to reference lab requirements.
3. Result Management & Communication: Monitor test turnaround times, troubleshoot delays, and ensure results are correctly recorded in the LIS/EMR.
4. Policy Development & Training: Establish protocols for send-out procedures and provide staff training on proper specimen handling and submission.
5. Research Specimen Processing: Work closely with research coordinators to manage the proper collection, processing, and shipment of research specimens, ensuring adherence to study protocols and regulatory requirements.

This role requires strong technical knowledge, problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with both laboratory and clinical staff to ensure high-quality patient care.

In addition to overseeing Point of Care and Send-out testing, this position includes working in the clinical lab.

Clinical Laboratory Responsibilities

• Perform Routine and Specialized Testing: Conduct laboratory tests, including chemistry, hematology, microbiology, and blood bank procedures, as needed.
• Instrument Operation & Maintenance: Operate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory equipment to ensure optimal performance.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance: Follow standard operating procedures , maintain accurate documentation, and adhere to all regulatory guidelines.
• Collaboration & Workflow Support: Work closely with other laboratory professionals to ensure efficient workflow, accurate test results, and timely reporting.
• Specimen Processing & Verification: Ensure accurate specimen collection, labeling, processing, and storage to maintain sample integrity.

Required

Education

• Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited college/university in a related laboratory field including the related lab practicum or equivalent routes meeting qualifications as specified in CLIA ’88.
• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology an accredited institution (Diploma with field of study listed or transcript must be provided); -OR-
• Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours in chemistry including one semester in organic or biochemistry (Transcript must be provided); -OR-
• A transcript evaluation verifying equivalency to a U.S. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university (Equivalency verification documentation must be provided); -OR-
• Completion of a 50-week U.S. military medical laboratory training course and a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours in chemistry including one semester in organic or biochemistry (Transcript must be provided); -OR-
• Master’s degree from an accredited college/university in molecular biology, biotechnology, chemistry, biology, cytology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, allied health, medical laboratory science, or an appropriately related field (Diploma with field of study listed or transcript must be provided).

Experience

• Candidates with baccalaureate or higher degree in chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology must have 1 year of laboratory training or experience, or both, in high complexity testing; -OR-
• Candidates qualifying by baccalaureate degree and semester hours must have 2 years of laboratory training or experience, or both, in high complexity testing.

License/Certification/Registration

• Applicant must possess or be eligible to receive appropriate Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved laboratory certification (ASCP or AMT). If not certified at time of hire, must obtain certification within 12 months of hire.

Fairview offers a generous benefit package including but not limited to medical, dental, vision plans, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, PTO and Sick and Safe Time, tuition reimbursement, retirement, early access to earned wages, and more! Please follow this link for additional information: https://www.fairview.org/careers/benefits/noncontract

The posted pay range is for a 40-hour workweek (1.0 FTE). The actual rate of pay offered within this range may depend on several factors, such as FTE, skills, knowledge, relevant education, experience, and market conditions. Additionally, our organization values pay equity and considers the internal equity of our team when making any offer. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical.