Medical Laboratory Scientist - Referrals

Location: Medical Center - Fort Worth | Department: Lab-Referrals | Shift: First Shift | Standard Weekly Hours: 10

About the role

This PRN role supports Referrals. A Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) uses education, experience, and analytical judgment to perform clinical laboratory testing commensurate with the assigned specialty and subspecialty. Responsibilities include recognizing technical and process problems, ensuring test systems function properly within expected parameters before reporting patient results, and working independently to resolve technical issues within scope of authority. The MLS will staff hours, rotate temporary on-call as appropriate, and perform other duties to meet Laboratory, CCMC, and CCHCS goals. Schedule depends on patient and laboratory needs.

Laboratory and Corporate Compliance, as outlined by the OIG and CMS, is critical. Each employee must be knowledgeable of and adhere to the Laboratory and Medical Center Compliance Plans. Patients served range from newborns through adolescents, with occasional adult patients.

Responsibilities

• Perform clinical laboratory testing in assigned specialty/subspecialty.
• Recognize and resolve technical/process problems within scope of authority.
• Ensure test systems function properly before reporting patient results.
• Staff hours and rotate temporary on-call as needed.
• Adhere to Laboratory and Medical Center Compliance Plans.
• Follow specific instructions outlined in procedure manuals for patient care.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology/Clinical or Medical Laboratory Science or an appropriate biological, chemical, or physical science.
• Completion of a NAACLS (National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences) program.
• Minimum six (6) months of experience performing laboratory testing in a clinical setting, including tests CLIA-classified as waived, moderate, or high complexity. Clinical rotations during education may apply.
• Pediatric experience preferred.
• Referrals experience preferred.

Qualifications

• Certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or equivalent nationally recognized certifying agency, or registry-eligible.
• Registry-eligible candidates must pass the certifying exam within one year of graduation; failure results in termination.
• Registry-eligible candidates without certification may perform waived or moderate complexity testing only.

Note for applicants with non-U.S. degrees: Proof of U.S. education equivalency, evaluated by a recognized credential evaluation service, is required at the time an offer is made. Equivalence may also be granted to employees meeting alternative qualifications outlined in CLIA standards §493.1489 or §493.1491 if met on or before February 28, 1992.

About Us

Cook Children's Medical Center is the cornerstone of Cook Children's, offering advanced technologies, research, treatments, surgery, rehabilitation, and ancillary services designed to meet children's needs.