Referral Laboratory Coordinator, Lab Directors Office - Full-Time, Day Shift

Be a part of a world-class academic healthcare system, Ingalls Memorial Hospital, as a Referral Laboratory Coordinator in the Lab Directors Office department. Here, you will perform assigned supportive work in the delivery of patient care, involving multiple office, clerical and technical duties. The role includes interacting, intervening, and problem solving to ensure exceptional customer service by coordinating processes in the main laboratory send out area, responding to telephone inquiries, phones/faxes and collaborating with the Outreach Representative Supervisor for timely distribution and release of test results. This department is the Laboratory Directors Office. This position is a 100% onsite opportunity. You will need to be based in the greater Chicagoland area.

The Referral Lab Coordinator over sees, evaluates and implements processes and workflows for the transfer of human specimens for delivery to referral laboratory for testing. The role requires evaluating the proficiency of new employees following the completion of training and makes recommendations as to whether they should be permitted to work independently, offered additional training and/or supervision, and/or separated. In conjunction with the Outreach Representative Supervisor, the IMH Referral Laboratory Coordinator serves as a liaison between leaders, IT, clinicians and third parties for referral laboratory testing. 

Essential Job Functions

• Observes and adheres to all corporate and departmental compliance requirements and communicates issues appropriately, in accordance with Corporate and Departmental Compliance Plans.
• Supports Laboratory Business Development initiatives in alignment with departmental goals, policies, and procedures.
• Maintains awareness of hospital financial objectives and supports operations within established budgetary guidelines.
• Upholds data security, patient confidentiality, and ethical standards in all aspects of work.
• Identifies and implements cost-saving opportunities and process improvements aligned with departmental goals and objectives.
• Maintains and monitors inventory and laboratory referral supplies in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
• Evaluate and train laboratory staff in the use of the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and other applicable computer systems to support efficient operations and optimal system functionality.
• Evaluate, train, and assist team members in the safe and proficient use of laboratory equipment in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Identifies and creates workflows and procedures regarding laboratory and clinical needs as related to referral testing, including quality assurance, compliance initiatives, and process improvement projects.
• Develops, reviews, and updates policies and procedures related to referral laboratory testing.
• Completes assigned projects and responsibilities independently and within established timeframes while promoting team engagement and collaboration.
• Oversees, evaluates, and monitors referral test codes and laboratory interfaces within the LIS, including maintenance, updates, and new test code implementation requests.
• Participates in and is the primary liaison for referral testing LIS validations and maintains required documentation in compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards.
• Supports ongoing compliance with policies, procedures, and documentation requirements necessary to meet accrediting and regulatory agency standards.
• Participates in quality management activities, and is responsible for developing and maintaining quality metrics, data collection and analysis, implementing corrective actions, and creating reports to provide leadership.
• Participates in educational and professional development activities to maintain technical competency and enhance job proficiency.
• Assists in ensuring appropriate staffing coverage based on workload demands and supports monitoring of staff productivity.
• Reviews Laboratory pending lists and resolves order and specimen related issues
• Serves as a knowledgeable leader and resource to assist pre-analytical technicians and resolves problems, enlisting external assistance when necessary.
• Trains and evaluates new and existing team members in the proficient and safe use of equipment in accordance with departmental policies and procedures.
• Provides patient-focused care in a clinical setting and ensures patient care needs are met.
• Appropriately assists clinicians with requests and seeks out resources necessary when more information is needed.
• Communicates information or problems to the laboratory team and leadership in a respectful and proactive manner in addition to identifying solutions and implementing actions plans to address and resolve the issue. 
• Serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) and liaison for laboratory referral testing.
• Collaborates with Hyde Park Laboratory Service Center (LSC) leadership to oversee and evaluate specimen preparation processes, ensuring proper sample type delivery to UCM Hyde Park and referral laboratories. 
• Creates, oversees, and evaluates sample processing procedures to ensure appropriate temperature requirements (ambient, refrigerated, or frozen) are maintained and that tracking processes support accurate and timely delivery to the testing facility. 
• Identifies laboratory and clinical needs related to referral testing including projects, initiatives, quality assurance and compliance. 
• Initiates, documents and troubleshoots to ensure remedial actions are taken whenever processes deviate from established performance specifications. 
• Answers inquiries regarding specimen handling, test orders, results and other technical information.
• Resolves referral laboratory issues and evaluates workflows to support continuous process improvement. 
• Serves as the primary contact for reference laboratory representatives and clinician inquiries.
• Collaborates and effectively communicates with pertinent IT and external referral laboratory teams.
• Effectively implements reference lab workflows and processes and communicates all pertinent information, with appropriate laboratory staff and lab leadership.
• Communicates information or problems with laboratory team and leadership in a respectful and proactive manner.
• Identifies solutions and implements action plans to address and resolve reference lab testing issues
• Appropriately assists clinicians with requests and seeks out resources necessary when more information is needed.
• Collaborates with Ambulatory Family Care Center (FCC) Lab leadership to ensure appropriate procedures in place for reference lab specimen preparation and delivery to the IMH Laboratory for further processing.
• Develops and evaluates standard reference lab workflows as needed for departmental changes and new procedures.
• Lead and participate in referral lab interface projects, including acting as liaison with IT teams, ensure systems functionality and performance, timely project completion, confirming training requirements and implementation.
• Identifies laboratory and clinical needs related to referral testing including projects, initiatives, quality assurance and compliance.
• Participates in LIS validations and maintains documentation per regulatory accreditation requirements.
• Assists the Outreach Representative Supervisor with the development and implementation of referral laboratory workflows for new and existing outreach clients. 

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Minimum of two years’ experience in specimen processing and handling in the clinical laboratory
• Proficiency with laboratory information systems (LIS), hospital information systems (HIS), personal computers, and Microsoft Office applications are required.
• Demonstrates strong problem-solving skills and the ability to critically evaluate results in a clinical or laboratory setting.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, patients, visitors, and hospital staff, fostering a collaborative and patient-centered environment.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multi-dimensional, time critical 24/7 department.
• Ability to give and receive feedback in a professional manner.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Some college preferred.

Position Details

• Job Type/FTE: Full-Time/1.0 FTE
• Shift: Day Shift
• Work Location: Harvey, IL
• Unit/Department: Lab Directors Office
• CBA code: Non-Union

1 Ingalls Dr, Harvey, IL 60426

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital has pioneered sophisticated clinical care for nearly a century while developing the area's most convenient network of comprehensive outpatient centers. Our skilled medical team is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the community. We're also committed to preventing, diagnosing, treating and rehabilitating your illness and injury. Our network of expert physicians, convenient facilities and wide range of services means we offer exceptional care when and where you need it.

In addition to our inpatient care, we provide an array of other services, including on-site X-rays, mammography, laboratory services, cancer screening, other radiology services, and echo and stress testing.

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