Medical laboratory technician (36 hrs wk-Midnights)
Riverside Healthcare·Kankakee, Illinois
Riverside Healthcare·Kankakee, Illinois
Perform routine and specialized laboratory tests across various disciplines to support patient diagnosis and treatment. Maintain laboratory equipment, ensure quality control compliance, and accurately document results in the LIS.
The Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) at Riverside Healthcare is responsible for performing routine and specialized laboratory tests, acting as a testing generalist, to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients in a busy hospital-based laboratory.
The MLT operates and maintains laboratory equipment, prepares specimens, analyzes test results, and ensures quality control procedures are followed with minimal supervision.
This role is critical in providing accurate and timely laboratory data that informs patient care decisions.
Position includes rotating weekend and holiday shifts.
Essential Duties: Specimen Processing: Prepare, and process patient specimens (blood, urine, tissue, etc.) for laboratory analysis, ensuring accuracy and adherence to procedures.
Laboratory Testing: Perform routine and complex laboratory tests in areas such as hematology, coagulation, chemistry, microbiology, immunology, urinalysis, and blood bank/transfusion services.
Document any deviation from standard procedures and communicate to supervisor.
Quality Control: Conduct and document quality control procedures on laboratory instruments and test results, identifying and addressing any deviations or inconsistencies.
Participate in proficiency testing as requested by supervisor.
Learning and Development: Engage in ongoing educational opportunities related to laboratory science.
Complete all competency assessments at required intervals.
Documentation and Reporting: Accurately document test results in the laboratory information system (LIS) and maintain records in accordance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Equipment Maintenance: Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory instruments and equipment, ensuring they are functioning correctly and efficiently.
Safety and Compliance: Adhere to all laboratory safety procedures, including the proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), infection prevention standards, and handling and disposal of biohazardous materials and chemicals.
Identify and troubleshoot technical problems with laboratory tests or equipment, escalating issues as necessary to ensure timely resolution.
Work closely with other laboratory and healthcare professionals to ensure timely and accurate test results, contributing to patient care. Promote good public relations. Communicate critical results to licensed caregivers, documenting communication per policy.
Survey
Support: Assist with inspections including, but not limited to, CAP and DNV. Follow CAP requirements and assist in maintaining CAP compliance as directed.
Demonstrate flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.
Inventory
Management: Assist in managing laboratory inventory, including ordering and stocking supplies, reagents, and equipment. Prepare routine and special solutions, reagents, and stains using established procedures.
Administrative
Support: Provide support with administrative tasks, such as filing, documentation, and responding to inquiries from healthcare providers or patients.
Training and
Mentoring: Provide guidance and training to new laboratory staff and students, as needed.
.5 to 1.0 FTE Paid Time Off programs Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs Educational Assistance Program
.001 to .49 FTE: Paid Leave Hours accrued as you work Employee Health Requirements Exposure to: Chemicals: Multiple acids, bases, caustics, corrosives, and carcinogens, formalin Video Display Terminals: Average Blood and Body Fluids: Work with all forms of blood and body fluid specimens so potential for exposure is very high TB or Airborne Pathogens: High risk for TB and other airborne pathogens when working with patient specimens Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch): Speech: Needed to communicate with coworkers, providers, clinical staff, and other customers Vision: Needed for computer operation and specimen processing and testing Smell: Electrical/fire safety Hearing: Needed to hear the instrument operate in order to detect malfunction and to listen co-workers, patients, and other customers Touch: Needed for all specimen processing with a great deal of fine motor skills involved Activity/Lifting Requirements Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to: Sit: 30% Twist: 2% Stand: 30% Crawl: 0% Walk: 30% Kneel: 1% Lift: 2% Drive: 0% Squat: 1% Climb: 1% Bend: 2% Reach above shoulders: 1% The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below: Up to 10 lbs: Frequently Up to 20 lbs: Occasionally Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally Up to 75 lbs: Not Required Up to 100 lbs: Not Required Over 100 lbs: Not Required Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.): Up to 20 lbs. - Putting reagents on instrument. If not in Lab, take cart to storeroom lift approximately 24 lbs., place on cart, return to Lab, take off cart and lift approximately 6\"\" to proper place on machine. Up to 10 lbs. - Lift from floor to waist high. Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity: Sit: 90 Twist: 5 Stand: 90 Crawl: 0 Walk: 45 Kneel: 1 Lift: 2 Drive: 0 Squat: 5 Climb: 1 Bend: 2 Reach above shoulders: 2 Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. Normal weight: very frequent Pushing & pulling Normal weight: up to 3-50 lbs. frequently Fine Manipulation: Writing, typing, pipetting, slide making, instrument maintenance, manipulating specimens for testing procedures Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: None Environmental Factors & Special Hazards: Environmental Factors (Time Spent): Inside hours: 8 Outside hours: 0 Temperature: Normal Range Lighting: Very Bright Noise levels: Average Humidity: Normal Range Atmosphere: Odors, Fumes Special Hazards: Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Other - Mechanical and electrical equipment, all types of chemicals,. All flammable chemicals are stored in an explosion-proof cabinet. Constant exposure to blood & body fluids. Protective Clothing Required: Gloves, lab coat, closed toe shoes, occasional goggles and masks
Usd $26.20 - Usd $33.71 /Hr
Requires an Associate degree in Medical Laboratory Technology or a Bachelor's degree, along with MLT certification from ASCP or AMT. Preferred candidates have 1-2 years of clinical laboratory experience and familiarity with CAP and CLIA standards.
Market context
In Illinois, medical laboratory technician openings are often tied to hospitals and clinical labs that need reliable overnight coverage and consistent specimen processing. These roles are competitive because employers typically look for ASCP or AMT certification, an associate or bachelor’s degree, and familiarity with CAP and CLIA standards; this platform’s AI-summarized requirements and benefits help you review the original posting faster. If you are applying, highlight any midnight-shift experience and clinical lab work, and be ready to discuss quality-control procedures.
