Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values, Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

Within the context of a client service culture, and in accordance with established standards of professional practice, policies, procedures and the vision and values of the organization, this position is responsible to provide technical support to the Lead Technologist, Technical Supervisors, Specialists and others in a variety of laboratory areas.  Ensures quality of instrument testing; documents and maintains results.  Coordinates external quality control programs; distributes control material and ensures testing and reporting requirements.  Performs routine and complex tests utilizing automated instruments or manual techniques. Demonstrates procedures and work techniques to staff.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.    Ensures quality of testing within assigned area; assists bench technologists in identifying instrument malfunction and/or out of control test results, takes and documents corrective action, notifies Technical Supervisor/Lead Technologist or designated personnel of unresolved problems following established protocols.

2.    Runs quality indicator reports on a regular basis; accesses LIS following established policies and procedures and distributes information to appropriate team members. Reviews indicators and alerts Technical Supervisor/Lead Technnologist to any quality issues

3.    Coordinates external quality control programs in collaboration with Technical Supervisor/Lead Technologist and other team members; receives and distributes control material and ensures testing and reporting is carried out in a timely manner, renews subscriptions as required.

4.    Assists the Technical Supervisor/Lead Technologist and Regional Technical Specialists with the coordination of training activities for a variety of training initiatives within designated area of laboratory; discusses training requirements, sets up training schedules, develops checklists for training tasks to ensure continuity of training initiatives..

5.    Demonstrates procedures and work techniques to staff and students at designated work stations; observes staff while performing techniques and provides feedback to ensure techniques are performed according to departmental standards and safety protocols. Identifies performance issues and, depending on the issue, refers them to the Technical Specialist and/or Operations Managers.

6.    Participates in testing Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) or other software following a prepared script.  Assists with LIS training; demonstrates system capabilities, explains procedures for system usage, responds to specific user needs to ensure information is correctly entered into the system.

7.    Assists supervisor with orientating of new staff and students; creates orientation checklists, schedules orientation sessions and ensures attendance, compiles and distributes information packages to ensure staff are familiar with departmental polices, procedures and standards of practice.

8.    Assists with evaluating and implementing new equipment and procedures; finds appropriate specimens, runs the appropriate number of specimens on the equipment and performs statistical analysis for review by the Supervisor, Lead Technologist, Regional Technical Specialist and Medical Discipline Leader.

9.    Identifies established policies and procedures that require revision on an annual basis; reviews and amends manuals as required, provides information to the Technical Supervisor for review and modification and ensures that policies/procedures are signed-off by the appropriate Medical Director or delegate.

10.    Assists the Technical Supervisor/Lead Technologist in day to day operations of the area by assigning staff effectively to manage changes in workload.  Ensures adequate inventory of supplies and provides technical support to the bench technologists.

11.    Assists Medical Discipline Leader, Regional Technical Specialist in providing information to the  research studies; reviews applications from internal and external researchers, determines testing requirements and timeframes, discusses potential studies with designated laboratory personnel to determine feasible procedures and resource requirements.

12.    Maintains competence on appropriate benches by regularly performing routine and/or complex tests in areas of the laboratory following established methods and guidelines and utilizing automated instruments or manual techniques; validates tests performed by checking results for probable outcomes, enters patient results into a computerized system and refers questionable results to supervisor for direction in accordance with established policies and procedures.

13.    Maintains a clean and safe work area by wiping down items such as laboratory equipment, work surfaces and benches according to established procedures and storing items in appropriate areas.

14.    Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•Certified by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science.

•Field of practice: Core Lab.

•Three (3) year's recent related laboratory experience or an equivalent combination of education, training or experience.

Skills and Abilities
•Comprehensive knowledge of overall lab operations.
•Comprehensive knowledge of laboratory procedures and techniques including quality control.
•Demonstrated ability to teach.
•Demonstrated ability to demonstrate techniques.
•Demonstrated ability to work under pressure in a constantly changing environment.
•Demonstrated ability to coach and deal with others effectively in a supportive and positive manner.
•Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize workload.
•Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
•Skill in the operation of related equipment and in techniques appropriate to the designated area of the laboratory.
•Broad knowledge of research process and methodology.
•Basic knowledge of other health care disciplines and their role in client care using point of care instrumentation.