Director of Laboratory Service

Overview

Utilizing clinical and formal education, the Director of Laboratory Services is responsible for the management of the Laboratory Services Department day-to-day operations. The Director works with Administrative staff, Clinicians, and Clinical Customers ensuring that testing processes for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of health are performed in an accurate, timely, efficient, patient-driven, and cost-effective manner. The Director of Laboratory Services manages the department to the best quality in accordance with all applicable regulations and utilizes best ARH business practices to ensure the operational and financial health of services.

Responsibilities

• Manages day-to-day operations of the laboratory to ensure testing is performed in an accurate, efficient, and timely manner;
• Plans, organizes, and controls assigned activities of laboratory staff;
• Recommends new procedures for testing and new equipment, processes, and technologies become available and based on need of the community;
• Works to improve existing processes to increase accuracy, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, turnaround times, etc.;
• Determines staffing level needs, priorities, and patterns;
• Recommends staffing changes based on productivity and workload;
• Schedules coverage for laboratory operating hours;
• Implements, reviews, maintains, and participates in quality control programs;
• Implements, reviews, maintains, and participates in quality assurance programs;
• Maintains and manages inventory of all supplies, reagents, chemicals, and other items required for laboratory operation;
• Prepares and reviews departmental budget annually with administrative staff to ensure operational health of the department;
• Sets goals and evaluates performance of employees in the department;
• Interviews staffing prospects and recommends hiring or termination of employees in accordance with ARH policies;
• Develops procedures and problem solves with other departments, medical staff, and administration as needed;
• Prepares and conducts in-services for employees regarding policy changes, updates, revisions, or other needs;
• Gathers and analyzes statistical data regarding laboratory performance, productivity, and other metrics;
• Maintains department documents and records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations, accrediting polices, and ARH policies;
• As required, assists by providing shift coverage and taking call-in;
• Ensures regulatory compliance of the department;
• Participates in committees, councils, meetings, and projects concerning the laboratory or other items related to laboratory functions as needed or assigned by administrative staff;
• Crafts and presents various reports for administration, other departments, or medical staff;
• Performs human resource management of staff through performance evaluations, recruitment, retention, development, counseling, discipline, onboarding, and termination in cooperation with the Human Resources department;
• Trains new staff and students in the department;
• Works with appropriate partners to market and advertise laboratory services to potential clients such as clinics, nursing homes, providers, etc.;
• Works with all laboratories in the ARH system to ensure standardized practices and procedures are offered;
• Serves as a CLIA qualified Technical Supervisor for the laboratory;
• Other duties as assigned within the scope of practice

Qualifications

Education, Certification, and/or Licensure

 

Educational Requirements:• Master's degree from an accredited college/university in Medical Laboratory Science, Healthcare Administration/Laboratory Management, or a Chemical/Biological Science AND certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), American Medical Technologists (AMT), or equivalent certifying body AND a minimum of four years of experience in the clinical laboratory with two years relevant experience in a supervisory role;• OR Four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university in Medical Laboratory Science or a Chemical/Biological science AND certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from ASCP, AMT, or equivalent certifying body AND four years of experience in the clinical laboratory with two years of relevant experience in a supervisory role;• OR Four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university in Medical Laboratory Science AND certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from ASCP, AMT, or equivalent certifying body AND six years of experience in the clinical laboratoryCertification Requirements:• Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), or an equivalent certifying body is required;• Certification as a Diplomate in Laboratory Management (DLM) from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists is preferred, but not requiredLicensure Requirements:• Medical Laboratory Scientists employed in locations within the state of West Virginia must obtain a Clinical Laboratory Practitioner License;• No licensure requirements currently exist for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as of the last revision date of this job description

 

Minimum Work Experience• Minimum of four years of full-time acceptable experience in the clinical laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Scientist with two years of supervisory experience;• OR Six years of full-time acceptable experience in the clinical laboratory as a Medical Laboratory Scientist

 

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities• Knowledgeable in testing procedures utilized within the laboratory and able to perform patient testing;• Ability to understand basic laboratory mathematical processes and perform relevant calculations;• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English and understand written documentation pertaining to job duties;• Understanding of laboratory equipment operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and other tasks;• Understanding of procedure, reagent kit, and/or analyzer review and selection, validation, and implementation processes;• Understanding of financial tasks related to laboratory operation;• Inventory and materials management, ordering, and review;• Planning skills for staffing, coverage, and assignment of job duties;• Basic understanding of lean operations and performance improvement techniques;• Understanding of design, implementation, and maintenance of quality control and quality assurance programs;• Interpersonal communication skills and basic public speaking;• Ability to prepare presentations or documentation with relevant data for presentation to appropriate administration members or other management staff as needed;• Record maintenance techniques and regulations;• Knowledge and understanding of regulatory requirements involving the laboratory from local, state, and federal levels;• Basic finance understanding as it relates to the laboratory;• Basic human resource management skills