Location: Chicago, Illinois
Business Unit: Rush Medical Center
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: RML Pathology
Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)
Shift: Shift 1
Work Schedule: 8 Hr (7:00AM - 2:30PM)
Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).
Eligible for a $10,000 sign-on bonus
Pay Range: $38.02 - $55.18 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.
Summary:
The Cytology Technical Laboratory Coordinator (TLC) serves as the technical subject matter expert for the Cytology laboratory, providing oversight of gynecologic and non-gynecologic testing workflows, quality assurance programs, regulatory compliance, competency assessments, proficiency testing, and staff education. This role monitors key quality and operational metrics, including specimen adequacy, cytology-histology correlation, rescreening activities, workload distribution, and turnaround times, while leading process improvement initiatives and implementing corrective actions as needed. The TLC coordinates validation and optimization of cytology instrumentation, software, and workflows, ensures inspection readiness and compliance with CAP, CLIA, and accreditation requirements, and serves as a technical resource and mentor for cytotechnologists, pathology residents, fellows, students, and laboratory staff. The position collaborates closely with pathologists, laboratory leadership, and clinical partners to resolve technical issues, enhance operational efficiency, and support the delivery of high-quality patient care.
Provides oversight of the technical operations within the area of responsibility (Hematology, Chemistry, Blood Bank, Microbiology, Histology). Ensures the competency of staff that provide clinical testing and timeliness of results. Mentors staff to cooperatively work with nursing and physicians to provide what is needed to care for patients effectively, efficiently and as quickly as possible Serves as an expert within the assigned field of responsibility. Instruct students, residents, and new employees. Evaluates their performance within established deadlines. Participates in presenting case studies or in-services. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures. Must adhere to the Rush code of Conduct and Rush ICARE values: Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence, executing these values with compassion.
Other information:
Hematology, Chemistry, Blood Bank, Microbiology
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology or higher
education/work experience meeting the qualifications of moderate and/or high complexity Testing Personnel, Technical Consultant, Technical Supervisor or General Supervisor as defined by CLIA 42 CFR Part 493 Subpart M.
Certification from a nationally recognized certifying agency required. ASCP (or equivalent) certified preferred. Some laboratory disciplines may require more stringent certification criteria.
Acceptable credentials (can vary depending on the laboratory section):
- Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) via the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
- Medical Technologist (MT) via the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- Blood Bank (BB) via the ASCP
- Chemistry (C) via the ASCP
- Cytogenetics (CG) via the ASCP
- Cytotechnologist (CT) via the ASCP
- Hematology (H) via the ASCP
- Microbiology (M) via the ASCP
- Molecular Biology (MB) via the ASCP
- Specialty in Cytometry (SCYM) via the ASCP
- Histology Technologist (HTL)
Recent quality and technical coordinator experience preferred.
Familiar with regulatory requirements for laboratories.
Proven organizational, interpersonal and communication skills highly desired.
Histology
- Registered Histology Technician HT (ASCP) or have completed an accredited histology program with minimum of 5 years of experience coupled with recent leadership experience.
- Successful passing of the HT (ASCP) certification exam.
- Or education/work experience meeting the qualifications of moderate or high complexity testing personnel as defined by CLIA 42 CFR Part 493 Subpart M.
- Familiar with regulatory requirements for laboratories.
- Proven organizational, interpersonal and communication skills.
Responsibilities:
Administrative and Advanced Technical Duties
- Functions as a department expert and performs as a bench testing personnel member along with the duties outlined below.
- Sit and engage in interviews for applicants for open positions.
- Establishes a detailed orientation and training program for new staff within their area of expertise
- Held responsible for the complete and adequate training of new staff within their area of expertise
- Stay engaged with new staff to determine knowledge gaps or struggles.
- Monitors KPIs and TAT and initiates troubleshooting measures for respective areas when applicable
- Mentor staff on continuous improvement of their performance and empowerment to make decisions with a patient focus.
- Provides continuing education opportunities to augment staff competency.
- Participates or initiates Quality Improvement initiatives. Gathers and analyzes data, then shares action plan for improvements. Responsible for changes within agreed upon timeline.
- Responsible for completion and sign off of the initial training checklist, 6-month competency and annual competency of all technologist staff.
- Ensures that all safety procedures are followed.
- Audits staff performance to ensure proper interaction with other team members and nursing staff based on hospital and department standards.
- Holds a monthly meeting with respective staff members
- Hold meetings with the lab director
- Enforces the use of departmental communication logs and shift to shift hand offs.
- Conscious of supply usage, monitors waste and makes recommendations for use of newer or less expensive products.
- Responds to physician and patient complaints with professionalism and in a timely manner.
- Handles and addresses non-conformity and Safety Events (TRIPSS) using SBAR in a respectful and timely manner
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date procedure manuals in all areas.
- Participates in the readiness for regulatory inspections.
- Addresses all teamwork issues quickly and professionally.
- Attends organizational meetings and is engaged and participates in the discussion.
- Makes certain that new or modified procedures are read and signed off within 30 days.
- Models telephone etiquette and holds staff accountable for professionalism, courtesy, helpfulness and proper tone.
- Responsible for a clean and organized work area.
- Reads and responds to emails in a timely fashion.
- Is available to staff off-hours via phone, in person or electronically for technical related duties
- Participates in test method selection for clinical testing.
- Responsible to new test validation, including accuracy and precision.
- Ensures participation in approved proficiency testing.
- Establishes and maintains the necessary Quality Control and review, including establishing parameters for acceptable performance and performing necessary review of data to ensure quality testing. Ensuring that all values are reviewed by Lab Director before accepting.
- Resolves technical issues as appropriate and teaches troubleshooting techniques to other staff. Keeps maintenance records up to date..
- Undertakes the competency assessment of staff working in their area.
- Other job duties as needed/assigned.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
