Laboratory Improvement Consultant

Class Concept

This is consultative and technical work in a program designed to evaluate and improve medical and public health-related environmental laboratory services offered by facilities throughout the state. Positions provide consultation services to technical and managerial personnel in program evaluation, training, quality improvement and continuing education in essential areas of medical and health-related environmental laboratory practice and management. Positions serve as technical consultants in contracted health department laboratories and advise and assist in the laboratory with meeting CLIA certification requirements. Positions administer proficiency test programs and employee competency evaluations, review quality control results, write technical procedures, conduct workshops and training courses, and research newly developed laboratory procedures. Positions make constructive recommendations to laboratory personnel and management for the improvement of quality control in laboratory procedures, techniques, facilities, and equipment. A majority of the work of these positions is performed with local health laboratories. Work is performed under general supervision and evaluated through reports and conferences.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Basic knowledge of statistical methods and laboratory data interpretation.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of training, consultation, and program evaluation techniques. Considerable knowledge of current medical and health-related environmental laboratory procedures, materials, and equipment.
• Considerable knowledge of chemistry and the biological sciences as pertinent to health-related environmental technology and clinical medical technology.
• Considerable knowledge of quality improvement activities such as LEAN and Six Sigma.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of quality control and quality assurance in laboratory practice. Considerable knowledge of CLIA regulations, laboratory safety and packaging and shipping of laboratory specimens.
• Skill in the setup, use, and care of laboratory equipment, instruments, and supplies.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct training courses for technicians in a variety of medical and health related environmental laboratory areas.  Ability to function independently.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory science, medical technology, biology or chemistry from an appropriately accredited institution and three years of experience in a medical or health-related laboratory, environmental laboratory, or other scientific laboratory depending upon area of assignment; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

ust be capable of meeting the Federal CLIA'88 personnel requirements for a technical supervisor in a laboratory performing moderate complexity testing.