Lab & Path. Point of Care Test/Qual. Assurance Coord.

The Point of Care Testing/Quality Assurance Coordinator for Laboratory and Pathology Services is

accountable for coordinating and directing the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement program

in the facility, in accordance with organizational directives, protocols, corporate policies and procedures and

in accordance with legislative and accrediting agency's guidelines. Additionally, utilizing formal and clinical

education will travel to the clinics and hospitals to oversee Point of Care testing processes.

• Works to improve existing processes to increase accuracy, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, turnaround times, etc.;
• Implements, reviews, maintains, and participates in quality assurance programs;
• Participates in committees, councils, meetings, and projects concerning the laboratory or other items related to laboratory functions as needed or assigned by administrative staff as assigned by the System Director of Laboratory Services;
• Crafts and presents various reports for administration, other departments, or medical staff;
• Works with all laboratories in the ARH system to ensure standardized practices and procedures are offered;
• Quarterly travel to the clinic and hospital sites to review their regulatory readiness and compliance;
• Facilitate regulatory compliance in accordance with CLIA and DNV;
• Review IT daily to reconcile results and issues to ensure timely documentation of results and charges;
• Facilitate and ensure standardization of POCT;
• Use of logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems as well as to identify complex problems and review information to develop and implement solutions and evaluate their impact
• Understanding of establishment, performance, and monitoring quality control and assurance programs and activity;
• Verify all new tests and plan their activation with the appropriate DOCs and ARH Purchasing;
• Act as a system expert in POCT, consulting to all service lines and departments using and considering POCT;
• Manage competency processes to require minimal in-person skills fairs or activities;
• Educate any and all ARH staff, to include executive, in POCT as needed for the situation;
• Maintain all documentation on the ARH POCT Program: rosters of sites and their testing, proficiency testing performance, training and competency;
• Pro-actively protect patient safety, fiscal responsibility, regulatory compliance and readiness, and patient care team needs;
• Utilize the laboratory information system and electronic health record system to, enter testing results, document notification of results or issues to clinical providers or other entities as required, look up results in accordance with testing duties with the appropriate entities in accordance with regulations;
• Handle and process specimens and paperwork as instructed and in accordance with established operating procedures;
• Analyze laboratory findings to ensure the accuracy of results;
• Operate, calibrate, and maintain equipment used in Point of Care testing;
• Provide technical information about testing methods and results to physicians within the scope of practice and in accordance with HIPAA;
• Maintains competence in Point of Care testing methods;
• Oversees proficiency testing as required;
• Design, establish, implement, participate in, and monitor quality assurance and quality control programs and activities to ensure the accuracy of Point of Care testing results;
• Manages competency processes and regulations;
• Assists in creating and maintaining written documentation, instructions, and policies applicable to the Point of Care testing and laboratory setting as assigned;
• Validated, verifies, and correlates new or existing Point of Care test procedures;
• Reports issues within the Point of Care testing to the System Director of Laboratory and Pathology Services to initiate improvement measures;
• Oversees orientation and training of new employees within POCT and training of all employees in the department on newly implemented or revised/updated instrumentation, processes, or procedures;
• Acts as a Subject Matter Expert within Point of Care testing;
• Serves as a General Supervisor or Technical Supervisor within CLIA regulations;
• Coach hospital and clinic staff in Point of Care testing best practices and approved processes;
• Other duties as assigned by the System Director of Laboratory and Pathology Services within the scope of practice and all pertinent regulation.

Education, Certification, and/or Licensure
Educational Requirements:
• Four-year baccalaureate degree from a NACCLS approved program in Medical Laboratory Science/Technology or equivalent AND certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), American Medical Technologists (AMT), American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), or the equivalent;
• OR Four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university with 16 semester hours in biology including one semester in microbiology and 16 semester hours in chemistry AND successful completion of a 50-week military medical laboratory training course AND certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) by ASCP, AMT, AAB, or the equivalent;
• OR Four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college/university with 16 semester hours of biology, including at least one semester of microbiology, and 16 hours of chemistry courses including at least one semester of organic chemistry or biochemistry within or addition to the degree AND certification as a MLS by ASCP, AMT, AAB, or the equivalent;
Certification Requirements:
• Certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) from ASCP, AMT, AAB, or the equivalent is required;
• Preferred Point of Care Testing Professional Certification from AACC or equivalent.
Licensure Requirements:
• For those employed in the state of West Virginia, a Medical Laboratory Scientist state license is required
• There is no state licensure requirement for the Commonwealth of Kentucky as of the last review date of this job description

Minimum Work Experience
• Five years of current experience in the medical/clinical laboratory is required;
• Two years of experience in a supervisory laboratory position is preferred

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
• Helps to facilitate results-based programs and innovative initiatives for the Quality Assurance unit, under general supervision

• Contributes to components of projects, programs, or processes for the Quality Assurance area.

• Identifies opportunities to integrate proven methods based on analysis of trends in Quality Assurance Field to continually improve outcomes.

• Documents training needs and improvement activities identified through the audit and corrective action process.

• Identifies opportunities to develop corrective actions, provide education, and provide monitoring to ensure success.

• Coaches colleagues in techniques, processes, and responsibilities.
• Understands and applies the organization’s mission, vision, and core values of improving health and promoting well-being in day-to-day interactions with team.

• Designs, maintains, and coordinates an ongoing quality performance improvement program to continuously measure and assess performance related to patient care for improvement opportunities.

• Coordinates performance improvement efforts amongst other departments and collaborates multidisciplinary activities.

• Coordinates quality/performance improvement team efforts and provides guidance and direction to the teams for consistent and accurate data collection.

• Coordinates medical staff involvement in quality/performance improvement activities to include them in multidisciplinary efforts, as well as assist in peer review efforts.

• Assist in the development of clinical/critical pathways, and in the collection of data to trend and analyze outcomes for improvement opportunities.

• Collects data to prepare quality/performance improvement reports on a periodic basis for the facilities and for the System Director of Laboratory and Pathology services for the purpose of tracking performance over time, benchmarking best practices, and improving patient care processes.

• Stays abreast of developments in the quality/performance improvement field, and provides ongoing education to the staff within the facility.

• Maintains knowledge of accreditation agency standards and other regulatory agency requirements and works with Laboratory, Pathology, and Quality Leaders within the organization to maintain ongoing compliance.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze, synthesize, report and manage laboratory and pathology data obtained through previous experience in quality/performance improvement activities. Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work in programs such as: Excel, Word, etc
• Maintain and clean equipment and instruments as per established procedures and manufacturer instructions;
• Educated on and compliant with HIPAA regulations and maintenance of strict confidentiality of client information;
• Understanding of and compliance with infection control, standard/universal precautions, and OSHA standards for healthcare professionals including ability to properly utilize Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as needed;
• Able to work effectively within the role independently and with other team members including utilization of conversational etiquette and skills to communicate information and obtain information from others;
• Ability to organize and complete work within a timely manner;
• Able to prioritize work as needed based on specific situations and day-to-day operations;
• Reporting of results deemed as critical by medical leadership in established operating procedures;
• Understands medical/surgical terminology as needed;
• Conducts tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality and performance;
• Ability to read, write, and communicate effectively in English and able to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents as well as ability to communicate with internal and external contacts in person or via email or phone;
• Understand CLIA regulated testing personnel competency evaluation;