Laboratory Quality and Compliance Coordinator (Microbiology)

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the general guidance of the Quality and Compliance Specialist, the Quality and Compliance Coordinator is responsible for the support of laboratory system compliance with regulations of the AABB and FDA for Blood Bank, CLIA, CAP and JCAHO, NCCLS, HCFA, OSHA, DPH, the HIPAA, and all payers.   The Laboratory Quality and Compliance Coordinator is also responsible for data collection, collation, project management, documentation, and support of the Laboratory's Quality, Compliance, and Safety Programs.

Position: Laboratory Quality and Compliance Coordinator  

Department: Microbiology Lab    

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Quality Responsibilities:

• Collects and collates data for BMC’s Laboratory Quality programs in accordance with the requirements of the various accrediting agencies and the Boston Medical Center Quality Improvement Department.
• Contributes to BMC departmental goals of efficiency, cost effectiveness, optimization of resources, and revenue enhancement.
• Presents Lab Medicine data, as requested, to BMC’s quality teams.
• Contributes to a technically sound environment to optimize the quality of lab services.
• Plans, collects data, monitors variables, and undertakes action on assigned projects within stated deadlines.
• Supports continual customer service improvements in conjunction with the technical supervisors and under the direction of the Quality and Compliance Specialist.
• Supports the activities of the Quality and Compliance Specialist to ensure that quality goals for the health centers are designed and met.

Laboratory Billing Compliance:

• Acquires in-depth, up-to-date expertise in billing compliance including the practices of various third-party payers.
• Ensures optimal billing practices through training and communication with the following:
• the Quality and Compliance Specialist
• Clinical laboratory leadership and staff
• Personnel at the BMC licensed Community Health Centers
• BMC practice managers
• BMC charge master and billing specialists

Attends specific training exercises to ensure that expertise is maintained.

Interacts with practice managers to ensure that their practices provide adequate billing information for laboratory tests.

Assists with annual charge master review and ensures that new billing codes are applied.

Laboratory Regulatory Compliance:

• Works to support the Quality and Compliance Specialist to define and resolve BMC/health center compliance problems and quality issues.
• Acquires in-depth, up-to-date expertise in regulatory compliance including the regulations of the JCAHO, CLIA, CAP, CMS, AABB, and HPIAA.
• Meets compliance goals for the medical center/health center laboratory system as assigned by the Quality and Compliance Specialist and the conjunction with managers, directors and supervisors.
• Interacts with laboratory supervisors to ensure that compliance problems are resolved.
• Conducts audits and resolve issues relating to laboratory practices, billing, and other compliance issues.
• Assists in preparation and administration of BMC lab and BMC licensed health center lab compliance training programs, and keeps records of completion.

Laboratory Safety Compliance:

• Acquires in-depth, up-to-date expertise in safety compliance including OSHA's safety regulations.
• Develops and implements the BMC clinical laboratories safety program to include annual training and TB testing, competency testing, and self-inspections.  Maintains applicable records and shares them with supervisors.
• Ensures that all CAP, OSHA, JCAHO and DPH requirements for Safety are met.
• The quality and compliance coordinator co-directs the Laboratory Safety Committee, and may participate as a member of the BMC Safety Committee.

General Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates a commitment to continue self-development in management skills and scientific knowledge by attending one management and/or scientific workshop per year.
• Demonstrates reliability: Follows Medical Center and Health Center departmental policies and proced