Clinical Laboratory Assistant Lead

The University of Maryland Medical System is a 14-hospital system with academic, community and specialty medical services reaching every part of Maryland and beyond. UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, Neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. UMMS is the fourth largest private employer in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the top 20 employers in the state of Maryland. No organization will give you the clinical variety, the support, or the opportunities for professional growth that you’ll enjoy as a member of our team.

Overview

Provides guidance, support and oversight of the clinical laboratory assistant staff in all work duties and procedures to facilitate timely and quality-driven pre-analytical services in accordance with departmental procedures and regulations stipulated by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act.

Key Responsibilities

Competently performs duties of all clinical laboratory assistant (CLA) positions:

• Receives and accessions patient samples into the Laboratory Information System. Ensures that all codes and information are entered accurately and timely. Maintains accurate patient identification and information for billing purposes following departmental procedures.
• Processes (centrifuges, aliquots, and performs other special handling procedures for specimens) and delivers specimens to specific laboratories as required. Saves or preserves specimens as needed in refrigerator, freezer, incubator, dry ice, or other storage as appropriate.
• Identifies and resolves specimen integrity issues such as mislabeled specimens, quantity not sufficient (QNS), specimen integrity, incorrect container type, incorrect/incomplete requisitions, etc., and documents all information for quality assurance purposes.
• Processes add-on testing according to departmental procedures.
• May perform waived to moderate complexity testing.
• Answers telephones and responds to customer inquiries and requests.
• May perform waived to moderate complexity as approved by the supervisor in accordance with departmental guidelines.
• Resolves customer complaints/issues and follows through with appropriate documentation.
• Communicates test results, test descriptions, etc. Assures a high level of customer satisfaction by communicating and responding to a variety of internal and external customers in a professional and courteous manner.
• Reviews and acts on test pending list.
• Troubleshoots and solves instrument problems with some assistance from medical laboratory scientists.
• Assists with inventory control and receipt of laboratory supplies delivered as needed.
• Assists with overseeing daily work activities and training of CLAI and CLAII personnel.
• Attends in-service training programs and other relevant training sessions for professional growth and development.
• Coordinates the duties of the CLAs to ensure good workflow practices.
• Trains new and existing CLA employees, coordinates work schedules, assesses and ensures competency, and may participate in performance evaluations.
• Investigates quality assurance deviations and may counsel employees.
• Monitors safety procedures and ensures compliance.
• Communicates and works with lab management and other lead employees as a team to ensure compliance with policies and procedures, promotes quality work, patient and employee satisfaction, a high level of customer satisfaction, and a proactive approach to quality and process improvement.
• Maintains control over work areas and ensures compliance with standard operating procedures by assessing the CLAs.
• Works with laboratory leadership to prepare for inspections. Writes, revises and maintains procedure manuals.
• Promotes employee satisfaction by being proactive, listening and problem solving.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required. Additional credit hours in biology and/or chemistry at an accredited institution are required. Experience may be considered in lieu of education.

Experience: Minimum of three years work experience as a Clinical Laboratory Assistant (CLA) or equivalent experience in a clinical or hospital setting required.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Compensation

• Pay Range: $21.5-$30.12
• Other Compensation (if applicable):
• Review the 2025-2026 UMMS Benefits Guide

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