Job Summary:
The Manager, Laboratory is responsible for many quality issues in the clinical laboratory, including ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, conducting gap analysis and audits and developing, implementing and maintaining a quality management system. The incumbent will ensure the smooth running of the laboratory and efficient accurate production of patient reports to assist physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Responsibilities:
General
- Recommend to management sufficient number of laboratory personnel with the appropriate education and either experience or training to provide appropriate consultation, properly supervise, and accurately perform tests and report test results
- Identify training needs and ensure testing personnel receive regular in- service training
- Ensure that prior to testing patients’ specimens, all personnel have the appropriate education and experience, and receive the appropriate training for the type and complexity of services offered, and have demonstrated that they can perform all testing operations reliably to provide and report accurate results.
- Evaluate the competency of all testing personnel on an ongoing basis. Ensure that policies and procedures are established for monitoring individuals who conduct pre- analytical, analytical, and post- analytical phases of testing to verify that they maintain competency. To process specimens, perform test procedures, report test results promptly and proficiently, and whenever necessary, identify needs for remedial training or continuing education to improve skills
- Evaluates and documents the performance of all testing personnel, annually
Procedural
- Manages the Proficiency Testing Program
- Selects test methodology appropriate for the clinical use of the test menu
- Verifies test procedures performed and establishes the laboratory’s performance criteria, including accuracy and precision of each test and test system.
- Ensures testing systems provide quality laboratory services for pre- analytic, analytic, and post analytic phases of testing
- Ensures test methods selected have the capability of providing quality results
- Ensures verification procedures used are adequate to determine accuracy, precision, and other pertinent performance characteristics of the method
- Ensures that reports of test results include pertinent information required for interpretation
- Ensures that an approved procedure manual is available to all personnel and that such manual(s) are kept current
- Ensures that laboratory personnel are performing the test methods as required for accurate and reliable results
- Provides guidance on the distribution of bench work to all staff
- Provides recommendations and guidelines for investigations of relevant nonconformities
- Administer the Corrective and Preventive actions for nonconformities on the bases of investigative reports
- Conduct Lab Performance Review meetings
- Forwards all internal and external investigative and corrective action reports to the Manager, Laboratory
Personnel
- Provides regular in-service training and orientation to all testing personnel based on needs assessment and evaluation of appropriate education and experience
- Ensures that policies and procedures are established for monitoring individuals who conduct pre- analytical, analytical, and post- analytical phases of testing to verify that they maintain competency. To process specimens, perform test procedures, report test results promptly and proficiently, and whenever necessary, identify needs for remedial training or continuing education to improve skills
- Estimates budget and operates department within budgetary limitations
- Establishes a database of the levels of activity each officer is authorized to perform; whether supervision is required for specimen processing, test performance or results reporting; and whether review is required prior to reporting patient test results
- Evaluates and documents performance of individuals responsible for testing at six months and twelve months in the first year of employment and yearly thereafter, unless test methodology or instrumentation changes, in which case, prior to reporting patient test results, the individual’s performance must be re-evaluated to include the use of the new test methodology or instrumentation
Proficiency Testing
- Ensures that the laboratory is enrolled in an approved/ recognized proficiency testing (PT) programme
- Ensures that PT samples are tested in the same manner as patient samples
- Ensures that PT results are returned on time to the PT programme
- Ensures that PT results are reviewed by the appropriate staff and the corrective action plan is followed when PT results are found to be unsatisfactory
Quality Control
- Establishes quality control and quality assessment programs and maintains such systems to identify failures in quality as they occur
- Ensures the establishment and maintenance of acceptable levels of analytical performance for each test system
- Ensures that remedial actions are taken and documented whenever significant deviations from the laboratory’s established performance characteristics are identified, and patient test results are reported only when the system is functioning properly
- Participates in Quality Audit activities, research and special projects ensuring the best clinical practice is being delivered
- Provides direction and recommendation to ensure compliance with any established Quality Management system
- Adheres to protocols, guidelines, policies and procedures relevant to Accreditation Standards, Public Health, Infection Control (maintains 3% nosocomial infection rate), Occupational Health and Safety, MoH/ DHWSP, Registering Board/Association and the TRHA
- Performs other related duties as assigned
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Comprehensive knowledge of International Laboratory Standards (ISO 15189)
- Knowledge of current trends in medical laboratory technology
- Knowledge of occupational medical terminology preferred.
- Ability to perform in all areas of the laboratory including, but not limited to, microbiology, haematology, chemistry, immunology and coagulation
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to operate a variety of laboratory instrumentation
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, management and peers
- Strong organizational and interpersonal skills including the ability to manage stressful situations
Qualifications and Experience:
- Baccalaureate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from an accredited educational institution
- Post-basic training in sub-speciality area
- Laboratory Quality Assurance Certification from an accredited educational institution
- Current Registration with the Council of Profession Related to Medicine: Medical Laboratory Technicians Board of Trinidad and Tobago (MLTBTT)
- Registration with an accredited MLT organization e.g. CASAMET, ASCP, NCA
- Minimum ten (10) years experience in a Clinical Laboratory environment is required
Special Requirements:
- Willing to work overtime, public holidays and weekends as requested:
- The incumbent is required to perform Emergency On-call duties based on an On-call roster as directed by the Essential Service Industry Standards for a 24-hour Health Care System.
- The incumbent is also required to work in a shift environment covering 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
- Maintains the confidentiality of patients’ information at all times.
Interested candidates are asked to submit their Curriculum Vitae with copies of all relevant academic certificates, Police Certificate of Character not more than six (6) months and two (2) testimonials no later than Thursday 5th December 2024 at 4:00 p.m. to:
The Office of the General Manager, Human Resources
Tobago Regional Health Authority
Level 3, #5 Montessori Drive
Glen Road, Scarborough
Tobago
OR via the attached application form.
- Please clearly indicate the position for which you are applying either in the subject line of your email or on the envelope.
- Copies of all academic qualifications and registration with the relevant licensing/registration board in Trinidad and Tobago (e.g. Medical Board of Trinidad and Tobago, Council Relating to Medicine, Nursing Council etc.) or for international applications registration with relevant Medical Authorities must be submitted to be considered.
- All external certification must be accredited and evidence of the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) certification must be submitted to be considered.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE TOBAGO REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY BUT UNSUITABLE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACKNOWLEDGED