Medical Technologist I (Microbiology)

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 102,378,000 - 183,874,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) in Chicago seeks a Medical Technologist I to perform microbiology and serology tests, interpret results, and support students and residents in a teaching environment within the Microbiology laboratory.

The role includes operating and maintaining instruments (blood culture systems, Vitek 2), performing quality control, communicating with physicians, and gaining subspecialty knowledge through ongoing education; requires

Qualifications

• CLIA-compliant qualifications.
• Quality control procedures experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform and interpret stains, biochemical and serologic tests on a wide variety of organisms.
• Operate and maintain laboratory instrumentation (blood culture system, Vitek 2, etc.).
• Perform quality control procedures and document corrective actions.
• Order tests and enter results in hospital systems.
• Assist in training lab personnel and students.

Skills

CLIA compliance

Quality control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science meeting CLIA requirements

High school graduation or equivalent

Tools

Vitek 2

Blood culture system

Job description

Hiring Department: Labs/Pathology Services

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1042674

FTE: 1.0

Work Schedule: M-F 3pm-11:30pm, rot weekends

Shift: Evenings

# of Positions: 1

Workplace Type: On-Site

Pay Range: The previously determined pay range for this position is $35.71-$64.17 hourly rate. Pay is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a Joint Commission-accredited tertiary care hospital and outpatient clinics, and the Mile Square Health Center network of federally qualified health centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity. Learn more: https://hospital.uillinois.edu/about-ui-health

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Summary

To provide service to the medical community and patients by performing requested microbiology and serology tests in a timely manner and fostering a learning environment for students, residents and new employees rotating through the Microbiology laboratory.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform and interpret appropriate stains, biochemical tests, serologic tests, etc., on a wide variety of organisms obtained from various specimen sources such as serum, blood, urine, stool, tissue, etc. which have been requested for any of the following: aerobes, anaerobes, mycobacteria, mycology, parasitology, virology and serology.


• Perform and interpret specialized tests and examinations (i.e. latex agglutination, fluorescent microscopy, ELISA procedures, Multiplex Nucleic Acid Tests and RT PCR.


• Perform quality control procedures and maintain such records, resolve discrepancies arising from such tests and document all corrective measures taken.


• Operate and maintain laboratory instrumentation (i.e. blood culture system, Vitek 2 and other automated instruments, etc.).


• Perform and interpret a variety of serological and immunological tests for antigen and antibody detection.


• Perform and interpret appropriate antibiotic susceptibilities.


• Order microbiology/serology tests and enter patient test results using the laboratory and/or the hospital computer systems.


• Gain further technical expertise in one or more subspecialties by participating in ongoing continuing education.


• Required to communicate matters of technical importance to physicians, staff and customers on multiple systems as is appropriate.


• Medical Technologist I assists in training lab personnel, new employees, medical residents and medical technology students in the principles and techniques of medical technology, including microbiologic and serologic procedures and techniques.


• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent.


• Meets basic standards and qualifications for laboratory testing personnel under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), Subpart M, Section 493.1489.


• Bachelor's degree in Science that meets CLIA requirements to perform high complexity testing.

The CLIA reference can be found at the following website address. This is a direct link: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Manuals/downloads/som107ap_c_lab.pdf

Note: It is recommended that, in order to ensure consistent application of these qualifications, the evaluation and verification of an applicant’s credentials be accomplished through the cooperative efforts of an experienced clinical laboratory technologist and the personnel department in a manner which will preserve the applicant’s anonymity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Must meet CLIA requirements and be able to perform and interpret Gram stains, acid fast bacilli stains, fluorescent stains, etc. of clinical material and bacterial (organism) isolates.


• Must be able to classify bacteria (organisms) on the basis of Gram stain morphology.


• Must be able to recognize various cell morphology.


• Must be able to isolate and identify bacterial, mycological, parasitic, mycobacterial and viral pathogens from clinical material.


• Must know appropriate procedures related to specific organisms and know organism biochemical reactions.


• Must be able to perform and interpret antimicrobial susceptibility testing.


• Must be aware of the types of pathogenic organisms that can be present in clinical material collected from various anatomic sites.


• Must be able to perform and interpret various serological assays.


• Must be able to operate and perform trouble shooting of laboratory instruments (blood culture system, Vitek 2, etc.).


• Must have good organizational and communication skills in order to teach microbiological procedures and techniques and to communicate results and their interpretation.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.