Job DescriptionAs a Clinical Lab Scientist Specialist, you will play a crucial role in maintaining the smooth operation of the lab. Your responsibilities include overseeing daily technical work, troubleshooting instrument and procedural problems, and ensuring stated turnaround times are met. You will also be involved in training new CLSs and developing new test procedures. This role requires a strong understanding of clinical lab testing and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Oversee daily technical work and monitor maintenance schedules
- Troubleshoot instrument and procedural problems, ensuring minimal downtime
- Interact with service repair personnel and determine backup instrumentation needs
- Establish and maintain quality control, including submitting data to the QA department
- Train and review procedures with CLS trainees and HLTs, following current protocols
- Assist in updating existing test procedures and developing new ones, including scientific challenges and literature reviews
- Perform compliance-related duties, such as calibration verification and proficiency test sample completion
- Work as a bench CLS as needed, adhering to infection control and personal protection guidelines
- Contribute to employees' annual evaluations
- Maintain adequate supply inventory
- Assist in ensuring the smooth operation of the Chemistry section and respond to patient needs
Responsibilitiesof timeKey Responsibilities70
Task A: Oversees the daily technical work.- Monitors/checks that all maintenance is performed on schedule by CLS/HLTs and contracted service vendors.
- Troubleshoots instrument problems.
- Minimizes downtime on instruments.
- Interacts with service repair personnel.
- Determines the need for back-up instrumentation/methods within 1-2 hours of the initial downtime.
- Troubleshoots procedural problems.
- Investigates all aspects (CLS/HLT error, reagent problem, reference pool problems, specimen integrity problems, instrument, and other supply problems).
- In the event of instrument, procedural or quality control problems, determines if any incorrect results were reported. Takes action to correct these results, if found.
- Ensures that stated turnaround times are met.
- Establishes and maintains quality control.
- Submit to QA Dept data for establishing or modifying control ranges.
- Resolves out-of-control problems, both immediate and trends.
- Monitors and performs instrument calibration.
- Acts as an intermediary consultant to physicians relative to problem patient cases.
- Documents communication from the ordering doctor, for example: unusual requests, discrepant results, and concerns of quality care of the patient.
- Documents the patient's clinical laboratory data via computer printouts.
- Reports these problems to the supervisor and the Laboratory Medicine resident immediately.
- Follows through to ensure the problem is handled.
- Reviews work by the CLS/HLT relative to quantity/unit of time and quality. When necessary, initiates and follows through on "Patient History" changes.
- Handles mislabeled specimen problems.
- Initiates Laboratory Problem Reports to document complaints, errors, injuries and/or variances from standard procedure.
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Task B:Teaches or reviews with Clinical Laboratory Scientists, CLS trainees, and HLTs the procedures, operations, and related theory of tests and instruments.- Trains CLS's, HLT's and CLS trainees following current protocols.
- Establishes training schedules with the supervisor.
- Accumulates and uses pertinent teaching materials.
- Maintains appropriate training records.
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Task C: Updates existing test procedures and develops new ones.- Assists in reviewing and updating at least once/year all existing procedures.
- Learns and uses the existing computer software programs for procedure formats.
- Scientifically challenges suggested changes to existing procedures.
- Reviews changes with the supervisor and/or Medical Director.
- Reviews changes with CLS/HLT.
- Develops new test procedures.
- Reviews the literature to establish a thorough understanding of the test.
- Collects and organizes data for reports.
- Writes up a test procedure using the existing computer procedure format.
- Performs all quality control:
- Determines linearity and precision.
- Compares patient results (existing method vs. new method)
- Develops normal range.
- Develops control range.
- Interacts with the computer specialist to establish any necessary computer programs and/or hook-ups.
- Trains the CLS/HLT.
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Task D: Performs compliance related duties.- Performs calibration verification of assays at required intervals.
- Coordinates inter-equipment comparisons within the section and across sites (if applicable).
- Ensures that proficiency test samples are completed by staff and submitted by the deadline.
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Task E: Additional Duties- Performs additional duties, projects, and/or special assignments when requested by the supervisor and completes them within an agreed time.
- Contributes to employees' annual evaluations.
- Maintains adequate supply of inventory. Orders supplies as needed.
- Assists crash captain during LIS/HIS downtimes.
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Task F: Assist in and ensure continued smooth operation of the Chemistry section and adequate response to patient needs.- As assigned by the supervisor, works as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the Chemistry section. During this time, tasks and standards of this job category are applicable.
- In the absence of supervisor(s), temporarily assumes many supervisory responsibilities.
- Adheres to the department's infection control and personal protection guidelines; maintains a clean and safe work area.
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QualificationsRequired Qualifications:
- California Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS) license or California Clinical Chemistry Scientist License
- Flexibility to orient and work at various UCSF Medical Center location
- College graduate degree with a BA or BS in a related science
- Two years of recent experience in clinical lab testing
- Demonstrated superior theoretical knowledge, technical judgement and skills and the ability to work with minimum supervision
- Assumes responsibilities for keeping abreast of technical developments through current literature review. As requested by a Chemistry Supervisor, evaluates new procedures, and makes recommendations
Preferred Qualifications:
- Five years of Chemistry experience, to include, but not exclusive of, experience in:
- High-volume hospital clinical laboratories
- Current automated equipment/methods in the area of specialty
- Proficiency in writing SOPs, teaching, and using word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications
- Teaching, including orientation and training of employees
Salary Information The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.
Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.
To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html
