Job Description

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 161542
Department/Program: Microbiology Lab, Diagnostic Services & Maritime Medical Genetics
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT long-assignment (100% FTE) until x 1 position(s)
Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $37.1011 - $46.7592 /hour
Closing Date: July 21, 2023 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, physicians, volunteers and learners at sites across . People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other\'s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our , and enjoy access to enhanced and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi\'kma\'ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi\'kmaq people. Working in Mi\'kma\'ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia, and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportions of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination, but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager of Laboratory Services, Quality Systems and indirectly accountable to the Director of Laboratory Operations and Chief of the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, the Laboratory Quality Coordinator will collaborate and consult with the Laboratory Standards Coordinator, Lab Technical Managers, Lab Medical and Technical staff to facilitate and champion quality and safety in the laboratory, as required to ensure an effective and efficient Quality Management System (QMS). The Laboratory Quality Coordinator will be expected to manage and analyze quality data, including non-conformities and safety incidents, identify and facilitate quality improvement initiatives and in collaboration with IWK Health departments and other stakeholders, support all laboratory divisions in achieving their quality and safety goals. This Laboratory Quality Coordinator will be a resource and subject matter expert for all laboratory staff related to meeting all quality system essentials. The Laboratory Quality Coordinator has a range of accountabilities for dimensions of quality: accessibility, safety, continuity of services, effectiveness, efficiency, and client-centered focus, to ensure continuous improvement and operational excellence in lab services.

Responsibilities include, not limited to:

• Proactively lead and facilitate prioritized quality activities, using quality improvement and project management principles and methodologies
• Acts as accreditation facilitation lead, in collaboration with the Lab Standards Coordinator, to ensure assessment requirements and standards are met and action plans are developed and implemented to address gaps.
• Helps operationalize quality policies, processes, and practices in the development of a comprehensive QMS
• Synthesizes relevant information related to improving quality, collaborating with stakeholders and subject matter experts to identify opportunities for improvement, developing and planning follow up recommendations and implementing change to services to improve quality outcomes.
• Through collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, assist divisions in identifying root causes to quality gaps and facilitate implementation of corrective actions using problem solving methods.
• Utilizes lab information systems and appropriate databases to integrates data to provide relevant information for clinical decision making, based on increased knowledge and experience.
• Completes regular reporting of quality improvement activity, succinctly and accurately summarizing progress toward goals and evaluating significant quality indicators.
• Participates in the development, review, revision, approval, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures, and guidelines impacting service/program delivery and the IWK health through involvement in various committees, both divisional/departmental and health centre wide.
• Acts as a laboratory quality resource for IWK Health centre-wide quality, strategic or transformation initiative and supports the implementation of policy or process changes which may result.
• Helps operationalize quality policies, processes, and practices in the development of a comprehensive QMS
• Supports and facilitates writing of quality documents as indicated, and in collaboration with the Lab Standards Coordinator sustains and improves the document control system
• Offers educational sessions related to quality and patient safety to lab staff and other lab professionals
• Coordinates staff training in quality and risk management, handling of hazardous materials, WHMIS, and Guidelines for Transportation of Dangerous Goods
• Demonstrates commitment to development of professional practice through participation and leadership in organizational and professional activities

Hours of Work

Monday-Friday, 7.5 hour days, some flexibility may be required due to operational requirements.

Your Qualifications

• Registered Medical Lab Technologist (MLT) with 5 year\'s experience or appropriate degree (e.g. BHSc) with 5 year\'s experience required.
• Certification from CSMLS and valid license, or exemption, from NSCMLT is required.
• In depth clinical knowledge in one or more fields of laboratory medicine required.
• Minimum one year experience facilitating quality and/or safety improvement initiatives.
• Completion of, or commitment to complete, a Quality Management System Program.
• Completion of, or commitment to complete, a Leadership / Management Program.
• Completion of, or willing to complete Project Management training.
• Computer skills required (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.) with proficiency in data management required.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and leadership skills; excellent organization and technical skills; good decision-making skills.
• Understands and has a proven ability to apply teambuilding dynamics/techniques.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills (written and oral) required.
• Demonstrated excellent time management skills and organizational skills required.
• Competency in other languages considered an asset.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials. Additionally, as per Nova Scotia\'s COVID-19 Vaccine mandate, any offer of employment will be conditional upon submitting proof of full vaccination status. Medical exceptions or any other kind of requested exception based upon the Health Centre\'s obligations pursuant to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.

Nova Scotia Health Authority