Laboratory Medical Director

Laboratory Medical Director – Houston, TX

Purpose:

Focus on patient safety, quality of patient care, and customer service.

Summary:

A Medical Director is a board-certified physician who directs the pathology and/or medical laboratory service. This incumbent assumes the professional, scientific, consultative, organizational, administrative, and educational responsibilities for the services provided. The incumbent implements and maintains federal, state and local regulatory standards. As needed, the director delegates technical responsibility or retains consultative services from a physician or doctoral scientist qualified for each discipline offered. 

Medical and Scientific:

• Provide consultations about Medical significance, Interpretation, and Correlation of Data to contribute toward Patient Care (diagnosis and patient management).
• Remain current with medical literature sufficient to provide quality patient care.
• Be a medical resource for discussion with internal/external contacts.
• Evaluate Business Unit data using relevant tools together with the Business unit Quality Improvement staff for client inquiry, unexpected test/population shifts.
• Educate/Train the technical staff so they are equipped to discuss with clients and patients. 
• Perform anatomic pathology procedures at no more than 25% of the time.
• Oversight over our QA department for Dallas and Houston.
• For those with hospital privileges, serve as an active member of the medical staff. Maintain Quest privileges for procedures performed. 
• Interact effectively with accrediting/regulatory agencies, administrative officials, the medical community, the medical device industry, and patients. 
• Be aware of the current, applicable regulations/checklists along with respective interpretations.
• Develop rapport with clients by phone and/or face-to-face meetings to improve customer satisfaction and convey Quest Diagnostics’ Values, Vision and Mission.
• Build strategic relationships with the Directors of key departments, including but not limited to: Operations, Sales, Legal, Compliance, Client Services, Specimen Processing and Safety. 
• Participate in the development and execution of Quality Assurance and Improvement Plans.
• Evaluate performance with staff and re-define using the external/internal systems/tools available (e.g., blind testing performance, Care360 Reports, Cognos, Datamart, InterLab QC, PBViews, Medical Report Reviews/Audits (internal/external), monthly QA/quality meetings, Positivity Rate Distribution Program (PRDP), Proficiency Testing Performance, Reportable Quality Incidents, Weekly/Monthly QC Review). 
• Assure enrollment in Proficiency Testing (PT) programs, and that PT is performed according to CLIA/CAP guidelines and develop alternative assessments where PT are unavailable. Conduct an assessment of failures and near-misses. 
• Ensure competency is assessed for all employees, as required. Authorize in writing all individuals to perform their respective pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical functions. 
• Ensure that appropriate, timely laboratory facility audits occur to ensure optimal quality systems. 
• Provide effective and efficient administration of the pathology service including budget planning and control, with responsible financial management. 
• Set goals, develop and allocate resources appropriate to the medical environment.
• Ensure that there are sufficient qualified personnel to meet the needs of the laboratory.
• Designate privileges to the medical staff within your facility. 
• Provide educational programs for the medical and laboratory staff, and participate in Quest educational programs. Participate in programs within the medical community (e.g., ASCP). 
• Research and Development Responsibilities — If appropriate, plan and direct research and development appropriate to the facility. Plan/develop/direct the correct experimental design for problem-solving. Become involved with BPT development, testing and validation of a new assay/service. 
• Select and monitor reference laboratories for service, analytic quality and licensure. 
• Partner with Human Resources to ensure a safe laboratory environment in compliance with good practice and applicable laws/regulations. Participate in safety meetings and understand/respond to OSHA reportable incidents. Investigate employee exposure cases with oversight of the final write-up. Assess the effectiveness of the safety program. 
• Fulfill the Laboratory Director, Clinical Consultant and Testing Personnel responsibilities as listed in CLIA ‘88 (42 C.F.R. §493.1407, 1419 and 1495, respectively) and other responsibilities required by applicable laws/regulations. 
• Comply with all internal policies (i.e., existing/new Standard Operating Procedures and Policies); and, assist Quest Diagnostics in meeting all applicable internal policies and federal/state/local laws/rules/regulations concerning health and safety. 
• Cooperate with other Quest Diagnostics initiatives and programs that may arise periodically. 
• For part-time laboratory directors, including contractors, perform and document at least monthly visits to the laboratory for which they hold the CLIA license. All other qualifications, responsibilities, duties and roles apply.

Key Accountabilities: 

• Patient Care and Customer Focus – Consult with clients and interpret results in a way that is responsive and adds value for the client. Put the patient first in all aspects of the business, but especially with regard to medical quality. 
• Professional Collaboration – Promote teamwork across the laboratory staff in the Business Unit/Division in cooperation with local leadership. Demonstrate the ability to make sound medical decisions through collaboration with other professionals and encourage learning through the collaborative process. 
• Community Presence and External Relationships — Bring value to Quest Diagnostics through actions, competence, demeanor, relationships and communications. Leverage local and community involvement as a source of competitive advantage by proactively engaging with clients, partnering with Sales to market Quest Diagnostics’ value proposition growth, and maintaining active involvement in one or more of the following: professional membership (ideally in a leadership capacity), publication, medical advocacy and public speaking. 
• Effective Leadership— Contribute to the business by ensuring the success of others through developing, motivating and coaching direct and indirect reports. Serve as an active member of the business unit leadership team. 
• All Pathologists/physicians should be prepared to demonstrate competence in their fields of Board certification is required. A sub-specialty certification may be important.
• At least 2 years of experience supervising high complexity testing in an inpatient and/or outpatient laboratory setting. Progressive exposure to a field of Administration, Finance, Medical Sociology, Marketing or Human Resources.
• Pathologists/physicians should exemplify professionalism consistent with Quest Diagnostics’ values, vision, mission, and fundamental objectives.
• M.D., D.O. Licensure to practice in Texas.
• Experience in handling regulatory issues, e.g., CAP, NYS, Public Health Reporting and in handling client interactions.
• Board Certified and State licensure.as required by Sub-Specialty or Specialty.
• NYSDOH requirements: As required in New York State Public Health Law, all individuals designated as laboratory directors or assistant directors at a clinical laboratory or blood bank holding or applying for a New York State clinical laboratory permit must hold a Certificate of Qualification in the required category(ies).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are critical.
• Successful completion of the Quest Diagnostics Medical Staff Credentialing process.
• Ability to travel up to 25%

Interested parties’ contact: 

[email protected]

Talent Acquisition Partner – Executive and Medical Recruitment

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets

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