Mgr, Pathology Laboratory at Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park, CA

Job Summary:

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is also responsible for managing the performance of high complexity tests to provide data for use in treatment and diagnosis of disease; coaching team to receive and gross tissue samples (big, small, and fatty); managing the preparation of bodies for autopsies (including fetal autopsy, product of conception) and performing autopsy procedures as appropriate; communicating procedures across teams for specimen handling and processing, test analyses, and maintaining records of patient test results; guiding the resolution of problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results; coaching team to interpret lab findings with regard to type and quality of specimen and in context of available clinical information and other laboratory data; and reviewing testing processes to assure final results are valid and accurate, influencing process updates as needed; leading team members through pre-analytical processes to ensure timely and appropriate patient care; training and developing team members to operate various lab equipment; resolving complex, escalated issues that may arise during testing processes; developing team members to independently troubleshoot equipment issues that arise when running tests; demonstrating techniques used in Pathology and coaching team members to apply them; overseeing internal and external resources to support ongoing and new services; integrating efforts across departments for data and information analyses for all statistical reports and studies; allocating resources and creating opportunities to support the development of new methods, advances, and trends through periodicals, meetings, and seminars; guiding efforts to consult across departments on complex methodology and safety practices; managing the creation and maintenance of policies and procedures; and coordinating training and competency assessments on Anatomic Pathology performance and processes.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Provides developmental opportunities for others; builds collaborative, cross-functional relationships. Solicits and acts on performance feedback; works closely with employees to set goals and provide open feedback and coaching to drive performance improvement. Pursues professional growth; develops and provides training and development to talent for growth opportunities; supports execution of performance management guidelines and expectations. Leads, adapts, implements, and stays up to date with organizational change, challenges, feedback, best practices, processes, and industry trends. Fosters open dialogue amongst team members, engages, motivates, and promotes collaboration within and across teams. Delegates tasks and decisions as appropriate; provides appropriate support, guidance, and scope; encourages development and consideration of options in decision making.
• Manages designated work unit or team by translating business plans into tactical action items; oversees the completion of work assignments and identifies opportunities for improvement; ensures all policies and procedures are followed. Aligns team efforts; builds accountability for and measuring progress in achieving results; determines and ensures processes and methodologies are implemented; resolves escalated issues as appropriate; sets standards and measures progress. Fosters the development of work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; obtains and distributes resources. Removes obstacles that impact performance; identifies and addresses improvement opportunities; guides performance and develops contingency plans accordingly; influences teams to execute in alignment with operational objectives.
• Maintains testing and training standards by ensuring alignment between the departments strategic initiatives and the development and implementation of technical and/or non-technical training materials while allocating training resources; evaluating relevant personnel competency on an ongoing basis; and anticipating future training needs, planning regular, in-service, and competency training programs, and completing own training.
• Maintains compliance and accreditation by influencing and implementing policies and work instructions in alignment with applicable regulations, license requirements, accreditation standards, and inspection checklists pertaining to laboratories and facilities where testing is performed; routinely assessing adherence to all requirements related to the recruitment, processing, testing, storage, and distribution of materials and samples; identifying and implementing appropriate corrective and preventive actions for addressing technical and/or non-technical deficiencies in regulatory/accreditation inspection processes; supervising the renewal process for personnel licensure; and reviewing teams updates to technical and/or non-technical documentation.
• Serves as a link between medical laboratory services and other services by planning for the alignment of current practices with regulatory/accreditation changes and issues, inspection citations, current events, and trends relevant to services, quality, and training; leading cross-functional teams to proactively evaluate and improve technical and/or non-technical quality management systems; networking and collaborating across internal teams locally to coordinate and align lab operations, quality, and utilization; communicating with external vendors, local/state public health and safety organizations, and other health care providers; and driving alignment with local and national standards and regulations, and utilization of technology and initiatives.
• Ensures medical laboratory operations and improves processes by managing efficient operations, quality, service, patient safety, member/customer satisfaction, and cost effectiveness through evaluation and standardization of technical and/or non-technical services and processes; implementing innovative work plan processes to improve systems across the continuum of care; participating in the evaluation and implementation of new testing methodologies, processes, and technology that have the potential to improve service, quality, and/or efficiency; ensuring the resolution of onsite facilities issues of varying complexity with internal and external vendors; collaborating with employees to cultivate teamwork and a progressive work environment; managing personnel during periods of varying work load; monitoring the use of inventory and maintenance systems, building the supplies inventory, and estimating usage and costs; and managing ongoing technical and/or non-technical project management, including local, regional, and national initiatives, and status reports.
• Manages service quality by reviewing applicable policies and procedures for audit and process improvement projects; recommending, establishing, and implementing corrective actions, preventive actions, and process improvements based on internal and external quality audits of technical and/or non-technical processes; developing plans for correcting deviations from expected quality control results; analyzing the effectiveness of strategies used to ensure that tests are performed properly and results are verified before being shared; proactively anticipating and resolving potential barriers that may prevent specimens from being collected and processed according to established time and quality standards; resolving proficiency testing concerns; and driving the application of strategies to resolve problems of varying complexity related to pre-analytical (collection, processing, etc.), analytical, or post-analytical testing, as applicable.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum three (3) years of experience in a leadership role with or without direct reports in a healthcare related field.

• Bachelors degree in medical lab science or equivalent, or health care related field AND minimum six (6) years of experience in medical technology, clinical laboratory sciences, or health care related field OR Minimum nine (9) years of experience in medical technology, clinical laboratory sciences, or health care related field.

• Pathologist's Assistant Certificate required at hire

Preferred Qualifications:

• Four (4) years of experience in pathology.
• Technical Supervisor Certification from the American Board of Bioanalysis.

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