Laboratory Technician

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities*

Provide Clerical/Administrative Support

• Answer telephone calls
• Scan documents (scan requisitions and worksheets); organize and file test reports and documents, file slides
• Manage inventory: unpack shipments, stock lab supplies, reconcile invoices
• Assist with training new staff, House Officers, and faculty as appropriate

Accessioning, Specimen Processing And Distribution

• Track specimens/assets to receive and send specimens between departments.
• Accession, process and distribute patient samples within the laboratory consistent with accuracy and quality assurance goals of the laboratory.
• Access and navigate the Pathology Document Control System, Hospital Information System (HIS), and Laboratory Information System (LIS) to accession patient specimens, requesting additional information from appropriate resources.
• Assist in Problem solving (duplicate scan requests, missing slides, incorrect slides, and missing information); call on unacceptable specimens (misaligned coverslips, excess medium, broken slides etc.).
• Work with other Digital Pathology, Histology, or Cytology laboratory personnel to process and/or store patient casework with optimal efficiency and accuracy (e.g. basic
• sample preparation and setup of assays, loading instrument or automation lines, filing of slides and blocks).

Maintain and Operate Instruments*/Laboratory Support:

• Perform and document daily maintenance as specified in instrument procedures.
• Analyze patient samples/slides as specified in the instrument procedures.
• Enter information into laboratory databases or picture archive communication systems (PACS).
• Ensure continuous operation by routinely monitoring the status of reagents, parts and supplies.
• Monitor error codes and perform basic troubleshooting. Notify a supervisor or senior operator if unable to resolve an instrument problem. Document problems, action taken and outcomes in instrument log books.
• Operate the dishwasher and autoclave to clean and sterilize laboratory supplies; wash slide cassettes. Prepare reagents. Maintain work area in a well-stocked, clean condition.

Perform Testing

• Perform analysis of quality control material with documentation of completion and of action taken for out-of-range values.
• Accurately transfer off-line patient data from worksheets and instrument printouts to the computer/LIS/PACS

Professional Development

• Fulfill departmental continuing education requirement.

Characteristic Duties And Responsibilities

• Track the inflow of glass slides for whole slide imaging
• Prioritize urgent scanning requests
• Appropriately clean, organize and prepare microscope slides containing histologically mounted tissue for scanning (whole-slide imaging)
• Appropriately judge the quality of scanned images
• Recognize and resolve basic hardware or software problems. Work through unique issues with additional staff/supervisor as needed
• Recognize any workflow irregularities/inconsistencies and take appropriate action on his/her own initiative. Work through unique issues with additional staff/supervisor as needed.
• Must be able to operate and interact with both our vendor-supplied and custom software and database
• Track the return of glass slides to clients
• Deliver glass slides as needed
• Assist with management of image storage resources
• Interact with faculty and trainees regarding special whole-slide imaging requests, escalate to supervisor if required; perform customized workflows as directed
• Travel to enterprise sites where unit-related functions and instruments are located to perform training or troubleshooting
• Participate in training on new or additional instruments, workflow updates or changes, software implementation and changes, and telepathology systems
• Perform instrument verification following repairs or moves and record results Observe all procedures for protected health information (PHI) On occasion, perform scanning of photographs, negatives, or color film transparencies

Required Qualifications*

In order to be considered for this position the applicant must have met or will have met all the required qualifications prior to the start date of employment.

• High school diploma supplemented with additional coursework in a science area
• Requires frequent standing/walking/sitting for long periods of time and the ability to lift up to 25lbs.

Desired Qualifications*

• One or more years college instruction or associate degree or equivalent experience with exposure to biology, anatomy and physiology, or other laboratory related field Reasonable knowledge of the methods, materials and equipment used in laboratory activities is desirable.
• Previous experience in performance of standard laboratory procedures
• Demonstrated confidence and ability with computers and software
• Attention to detail
• Willing to work in a growing and rapidly changing environment
• The ability to prioritize tasks under occasional high work volumes without sacrificing accuracy
• Excellent communication skills

Work Schedule

This full time, 40 hour position is on the night shift and will require rotating holidays and weekends and on-call.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

• Works with infectious disease and/or hazardous materials
• May have exposure to noise from laboratory equipment and pneumatic tube system.

Union Affiliation

This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between the U-M and the United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals (UMMAP), which contains and settles all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.