About Shepherd Center

With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd is the only rehabilitation facility in the nation with an intensive care unit on-site, allowing us to care for the most complex patients and begin the rehabilitation process sooner. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.

Shepherd Center's culture is one of hope, humor, and hard work. You will enjoy career growth, strong relationships with co-workers, strong support from leadership, and fun activities that have kept over 12% of staff members working at Shepherd for more than 20 years.

The Medical Technologist executes, interprets and/or analyzes results that are abnormal or atypical. The Medical Technologist supports all clinical departments throughout the Center in a hands-on role.

This is a full time position, in a small lab focused on core lab work. Vitros 7600 experience is a plus. 3 plus years of experience is required.

Job Responsibilities:

The Medical Technologist plays a vital role in running laboratories at the Center.
Performs testing in all areas of the laboratory that include Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, and Urinalysis, and performs Proficiency Testing in all areas.
Maintains and troubleshoots all equipment and instrumentation.
Ensures appropriate usage of supplies.
Documents and acts on specimens with incoming defects promptly (wrong specimen, inadequate specimen, improper ID etc.); can identify, evaluate and remediate common pre-analytic specimen errors.
Communicates and coordinates with other staff members in an effective and timely manner regarding patient care issues (specimen collections, add-on testing, Miscellaneous orders).
Processes specimens and reports results using appropriate tools and procedures in order to provide timely and accurate test results.
Prepares, stains, and interprets gram stains on raw clinical specimens from sources including superficial wounds, sputum, and positive blood cultures.
Accurately performs quality control checks on all equipment/analyzers used for testing patient samples according to established procedures and intervals.
Performs consistent with Shepherd Center standards, clinical policies, and procedures.
Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures.
Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
Actively participates in center-wide efforts that affect nursing practice.
Adheres to patient/family centered principles using the communication and engagement tools (OARS/AIDECT).
Performs other duties as required/requested/assigned.
Practices proper safety techniques in accordance with Center and departmental policies and procedures. Responsible for the reporting of employee/patient/visitor injuries or accidents, or other safety issues to the supervisor and in the occurrence notification system.
Monitors and ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements, organizational standards, and policies and procedures related to area of responsibility. Identifies potential risk areas within area of responsibility and supports problem resolution process.

Required Minimum Education

Associates or Bachelor's degree in Medical Technology from an accredited college or university; or successful completion of three years of academic study (minimum of 135 quarter hours or equivalent) in an accredited college or university and the successful completion of a course of training of at least 12 months in a school of medical technology accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the U.S. Department of Education; or successful completion in an accredited college or university of a course of study which meets all academic requirements for a bachelor's degree in one of the chemical, physical, or biological sciences, and have at least one year of pertinent laboratory experience or training accepted by the Georgia Department of Community Health.

Required Minimum Certification:

Must have a certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), the American Medical Technologists (AMT), the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA), the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) or another agency approved by the Georgia Department of Community Health or be willing to obtain one within 18 months from date of hire.

Required Minimum Experience:

At least one year of relevant hospital-based laboratory experience.
Phlebotomy experience is desirable, but not a requirement.

Required Minimum Skills:

Basic computer skills.
Technologists must be competent in the physical, chemical, microbiological and morphologic examination of human blood and body fluids such as would be tested in a hospital-based laboratory.
Technologists must be competent to perform procedures using analyzers commonly found in clinical laboratories, as well as demonstrated competence in quality control, quality assurance and troubleshooting of assays and analyzers. Technologists will be able to recognize sources of error in testing performed on human specimens, to include specimen collection, processing, preservation, transport and storage.
Takes responsibility for growing professionally and seek opportunities for improving skills.
Communicates effectively using timely verbal, non-verbal and written communication.
Willingly adapts to changing work demands and work environment.
Completes orientation and initial assessment of competency successfully by determined due date.
Completes mandatory education and annual competency assessment requirements by determined due date.

Preferred Qualifications:

Physical Demands:

Uses body, tools, or special devices to safely, effectively, and efficiently to move, guide, or place patients. Involves some latitude for judgement with regard to precision attained and the selection of what adaptive device(s) to utilize.
Ability to transfer and position patients, consistent with lifting up to 15 lbs.

Working Conditions:

Normal patient care environment.
Some potential for exposure to blood and body fluids.
Some potential exposure to infectious viruses.

Shepherd Center

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Medical Lab Scientist