Bloodworks Northwest is backed by more than 70 years of Northwest history and 250,000 donors. A national leader in transfusion medicine, Bloodworks has been chosen to serve more than 90 hospitals in Washington, Oregon and Alaska – partnering closely with local hospitals to deliver the highest level of patient care. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on our services, expertise, laboratories and research. We are local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported and community-based.
We have an excellent opportunity for Hospital Inventory Specialist I positions to join our team at Bloodworks Northwest. Serve as a primary Customer Service Representative to multiple customers while processing orders for blood components. Recommend component substitutions to maximize utilization of the overall blood inventory. Arrange shipping logistics and transportation in accordance with applicable regulatory guidelines.
Serve as primary customer service representative to multiple customers while processing orders for blood components. Recommend component substitutions to maximize utilization of overall blood inventory. Arrange shipping logistics and transportation in accordance with appropriate regulatory guidelines.
Principal responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Hospital Inventory Specialist I:
- Consolidate and organize blood components by appropriate blood type and expiration dates into a first-in, first-out inventory system to maximize utilization of blood resources.
- Receive, prioritize, and expedite emergency and routine blood orders from multiple customers, including but not limited to regional hospitals, resource-sharing customers, and other internal Bloodworks laboratories.
- Perform electronic data entry to capture all critical processing steps. Document all critical processing information manually when the computer records cannot be created.
- Perform manual entry of required regulatory information on departmental forms following Bloodworks’ Quality Policies and Procedures and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
- Maximize utilization of available blood resources by selecting appropriate blood components (based on blood type and expiration dates) to fill customer orders. Communicate acceptable product substitutions due to inventory limitations to customers based on established criteria.
- Serve as a liaison between external customers and Bloodworks medical staff on patient care and regulatory issues. Communicate pertinent information and problems pending resolution to the staff person(s) assigned to the next shift.
- Perform irradiation of blood components for stock inventory and on-demand orders.
- Inspect for suitability and label routine platelet components with appropriate ABO/Rh type.
- Operate computer systems relevant to the work performed in the department at this level including:
- BBCS
- Rees Centron software
- Microsoft Office PC applications
- Crystal Reports Viewer (BusinessObjects) software
- ETQ Reliance software
- BloodHub software
- Other hospital-specific computer systems as applicable
- Package blood components for Blood Services Hospitals, out-of-region customers, and Bloodworks satellite laboratories, following appropriate regulatory guidelines for product stability.
- Arrange transportation logistics for routine blood deliveries to local, regional, and resource-sharing customers. Suggest the best transportation options for STAT and ad hoc orders to meet customer needs while also managing Bloodworks expenses.
- Coordinate the distribution of outgoing blood components and samples from Eugene to a variety of laboratories at the Bloodworks Central facility, donor collection facilities, and other Bloodworks locations and departments.
- Support the department mission by providing exceptional customer service. This is done by demonstrating proficiency in the following areas:
- Telephone communication skills demonstrating a professional attitude
- Knowledge and support of other Bloodworks departments
- Transferring phone calls
- Contacting the Bloodworks Physician On-Call (POC)
- Comprehension of Bloodworks blood component return & credit policies
- Comprehension of Bloodworks product substitution policies
- Understanding of, and diplomacy in, reducing hospital orders when needed
- Comprehension of FDA regulations/GMPs for customer inquiries on regulatory issues
- Thorough understanding of various transportation options, including schedules and costs
- Diplomacy and tact in dealing with challenging customers and situations
- Coordinate requests for rare blood units and the secondary processing of blood components unavailable on-site.
- Coordinate and document follow-up on regulatory look-back notifications (blood product recalls) for blood components issued to regional hospitals, out-of-region customers, or on-site in labeled inventory.
- Monitor and proactively oversee the inventory levels in Eugene and the PeaceHealth hospital blood banks; coordinate and transfer inventory to meet optimal needs of each location.
- Operate and perform quality checks and periodic maintenance on equipment, including the X-ray Irradiator.
- Assess returned blood components for acceptability, electronically document return of components to Bloodworks inventory, and rotate components into appropriate inventory based on expiration dates to maximize blood resource utilization.
- Evaluate attribute codes to quarantine or discard components electronically.
- Store quarantined blood components appropriately and electronically discard and dispose of unusable blood components.
- Respond to and document temperature alarms on blood storage equipment for the Rees Temperature Monitoring System.
- Report incidents involving unusual circumstances or failure to follow standard operating procedures.
- Take equipment “out of service” for repair in accordance with appropriate procedures.
- Document manual temperature readings for storage equipment as needed.
- Perform periodic lab cleaning and manage biohazard waste storage and removal.
- Comply with all applicable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as written.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIREMENTS:EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Two years of college education or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
In addition, one year of experience (each) in at least two of the following areas:
- One year of experience in the blood banking industry
- One year of experience in shipping, receiving, and distribution
- One year of experience in receiving telephone orders and providing customer service
- Maintain a valid Oregon State driver’s license and meet the MVR standards required by the NWMW Vehicle Safety and Trailing Policy.
- Possess and maintain a driver’s license for at least 3 years.
Specific job skills include, but are not limited to:
- Ability to perform high-level communication with physicians and clinicians in a stressful environment.
- Ability to work independently and unsupervised in meeting required deadlines and workload of internal and external customers.
- Ability to perform accurate, expedited computer order entry and produce distribution reports.
- Ability to work in a team-oriented environment.
- Lifting, carrying, and pushing requirements:
- The ability to lift and carry a maximum of 60 pounds is required
- Frequent lifting and carrying up to 35 pounds
- Manual dexterity sufficient to perform frequent data entry is required as a basic function of this position.
- The ability to remain on task amid multiple audio and visual distractions is required, as is the ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Requires the ability to comprehend the criticality of the blood components being prepared for transfusion, the dollar value of blood components being handled, and the necessity to follow all regulatory rules and regulations (AABB, CFR, EU, CLIA, HIPAA, and State), including FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices, in all work activities.
- Required mental activities include continuous use of decision-making, interpersonal skills, teamwork, and customer service, as well as the ability to read, speak, and comprehend English. Other required mental activities include use of discretion, negotiation, independent judgment and/or independent action, the ability to write English, and the performance of basic mathematics and problem analysis.
- Other required mental activities include the ability to follow production and shipping standard operating procedures to ensure component safety, quality, identity, potency, and purity (SQuIPP), while performing a wide variety of repetitive tasks in a moderately noisy, high-volume shipping setting.
- Required physical activities include continuous standing, walking, bending, talking, hearing, reaching, handling, feeling, and repetitive motions of hands/wrists and feet. Other required physical activities include stooping (used frequently), kneeling (used occasionally), and sitting (used rarely).
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Heavy lifting and constant standing are common job conditions encountered in performing this job.
- As this is an essential position with direct responsibility to patients, the incumbent should be prepared to work extended and/or consecutive shifts and/or possibly at a different location during periods of inclement weather or emergency operations. Refer to Human Resources policy or department supervisor for more information.
- Incumbent must be able to work overtime, weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts as assigned.
- Telecommuting is not offered in this role
- This position involves direct exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
SHIFT: M-F 0830-1700
Benefits and Perks:
Employees regularly scheduled for 24+ hours per week are covered by medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, with family coverage also available. Also, employees can participate in retirement plans (401a & 401b), a consolidated paid leave program (4.8–6.8 weeks of time off accrued per year, based on length of service), a subsidized transit program, and educational reimbursement. Candidates hired from outside of our service area may be eligible for a relocation assistance bonus.*
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Bloodworks Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
