Job Description

General Summary

• Under general supervision, operate the UMCC Apheresis Unit and/or Stem Cell Processing Lab and/or Immunology Lab under the direction of a physician in charge of the unit and the UMCC Cell Component Clinical Laboratory Manager and perform complex apheresis procedures; coordinate the recruitment of donors and assure quality control of the unit.
• Serve as principal technical resource in cryopreservation of platelets, bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells. Responsible for acquisition of supplies and equipment, and budgeting requirements for a small laboratory unit.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

Performs therapeutic plasma exchange, red cell exchange, and other component apheresis using automated apheresis equipment according to standard operating procedure manual. Complies with established departmental standards and practices/procedures; follows strict principles of asepsis and antisepsis; uses standard techniques.

• Operates complex and automated laboratory equipment, such as COBE Spectra, COBE 2991, Haemonetics V50, Hematron, RC3 Centrifuge and blood warmers; assembles supplies and equipment and assures proper functioning and cleanliness of equipment and work area.
• Cleans and disinfects all equipment and apparatus used in the performance of tests prior to and after use, as appropriate.
• Troubleshoots problems with equipment and corrects, as appropriate.

Develops and implements procedures in the UMCC Apheresis Unit and Stem Cell Processing Lab, to assure the efficient and effective operation of the unit and to reflect current FDA and American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) standards and other regulating or accrediting agencies as appropriate.

• Schedules daily activities within the Apheresis Unit to assure that patients and/or donors are handled quickly and efficiently. Readjusts patient/donor appointment schedule as necessary to meet more emergent patient needs.

Develops, documents, performs and teaches cryopreservation of platelets, bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cells in accordance with governing standards and departmental procedures.

• Responsible for ongoing training of physicians, technologists or technicians by teaching and demonstrating methods, techniques and operation of equipment as well as monitoring their work in various training assignments.
• Serves as technical resource person for blood cell cryopreservation, providing guidance and direction to technologists on matters such as technical procedures, equipment, instrumentation requirements, and equipment calibration.
• Participates in research, development and implementation of processes or improved laboratory procedures and techniques. Makes recommendations to improve or augment the efficiency and effectiveness of cryopreservation services.
• Ensures equipment and instruments are properly calibrated and in sound operating condition; advises on equipment condition; advises on equipment modification or replacement. Develops and implements quality control program. Tests and evaluates equipment operation and various control levels with specimens, such as temperatures and environmental conditions being within acceptable limits. Documents test results.

Prepares, completes, and maintains records and reports to document technical, quality control, budgetary, personnel or supply activities of unit.

• Maintains inventory of disposable supplies needed to perform apheresis, ordering from Central Supply, or specific vendors, as needed.
• Maintains acceptable drug inventory for donors and apheresis patients. Documents inventory amounts and orders replacements from the Pharmacy as needed.

Performs autologous donations in accordance with departmental procedures. Documents all information related to the donor history and component preparation completely and accurately in accordance with department protocols.

• Handles problems concerning autologous or designated donations with diplomacy. Handles related procedural implications appropriately in emergent situations, in accordance with department guidelines.
• Prepares blood components from whole blood utilizing apheresis equipment and various procedures to make blood components available at physician's request and for transfusion, including platelets, leukocytes and bone marrow in accordance with laboratory procedures.
• Explains procedures/process to donors prior to beginning process to help reduce fears and anxieties.

Performs data collection, computer data storage, maintenance and data analysis. Records statistics from the lab work. Enters patient information or disposition of blood for therapeutic, research or apheresis products into the department computer system as needed.

• Assists in the maintenance of departmental records by preparing and filing patient procedure information as necessary. Maintains patient/donor apheresis files.
• Generates patient service charges for procedures performed, and processes charge slips.
• Communicates with medical and nursing staff that are requesting laboratory tests, as needed, to clarify the specifics surrounding particular test requests, to ultimately assure that the proper test is performed on the specimen.
• Assists in immunophenotyping of blood cells and research on blood cell components as directed by and under the direct supervision of the supervising physician.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, Biology, Microbiology, or Chemistry is required.
• Certification as a registered Medical Technologist obtained from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, or eligibility to obtain, or equivalent certification, is required.
• CPR certification is required.
• Two years' experience performing Medical Technologist duties, one of which involved working with blood bank policies and procedures is highly desired.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles of Medical Technology, biology, chemistry or microbiology, hematology and clinical laboratory process, testing and analytical procedures, and the principles of the particular area of specialty, where applicable, is required.
• A high level of analytical ability is required to resolve difficult and complex technical problems encountered, e.g. platelets or stem cells being tested for content, prepared for cryopreservation and frozen, and maintained in liquid nitrogen storage is required.
• Ability to read, write, speak English and perform mathematical and statistical operations for recording and evaluating lab results, including, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and algebraic functions is required. Ability to follow detailed written or verbal instructions accurately is required.
• Ability to operate laboratory equipment, such as, a centrifuge, chemistry analyzers, fluorescent microscope or specialized laboratory equipment specific to the assigned laboratory. Ability to use a computerized system for logging and tracking laboratory test results and patient information, and for calibrating laboratory equipment is required.
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on the assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit/area/department policies and procedures.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills are necessary in order to work with medical or nursing staff, resolve problems and concerns regarding specimens or lab tests and to properly record test results and quality control statistics. Effective interpersonal and written communication skills are necessary to assign work to, and conduct an on-going training of physicians, technologists or technicians.

Patient Safety

Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department or unit patient safety initiatives

• Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.
• Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority.
• Identifies possible risks in processes, procedures, devices and communicates the same to those in charge.

Additional Information

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