Cellular Therapy Lab Assistant - Cancer Institute - BMT Lab

As a top cancer care provider in Florida, Orlando Health Cancer Institute is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary

cancer program consisting of six treatment sites and more than 10 practice locations that serve the region’s adult oncology needs. Specializing in more than 200 types of cancer, an expert team of medical professionals provides personalized care with the most state-of-the-art technologies, such as advanced radiation and proton therapies, and bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy. Through a robust research program, the institute also supports physician involvement in numerous research studies and clinical trials that give patients access to innovative diagnosis, treatment and symptom management options. In addition to being accredited by the Commission on Cancer, a program of the American College of Surgeons, Orlando Health Cancer Institute has earned accreditations and certifications in several areas — including medical oncology and hematology/oncology, radiation oncology, cellular therapy, rectal cancer, and breast care — from the respective accrediting organizations, and recently was named in the 2023 Becker's Hospital Review “60 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs” list.

Orlando Health Cancer Institute is part of the Orlando Health system of care, which includes 24 award-winning hospitals and ERs, 9 specialty institutes, 14 urgent care centers, 100+ primary care practices and more than 60 outpatient facilities that span Florida’s east to west coasts and beyond. Collectively, we honor our 100-year legacy by providing care for more than 142,000 inpatient and 3.9 million outpatient visits each year.

Orlando Health is committed to providing you with benefits that go beyond the expected, with career-growing FREE education programs and well-being services to support you and your family through every stage of life. We begin your benefits on day one and offer flexibility wherever possible so that you can be present for your passions. “Orlando Health Is Your Best Place to Work” is not just something we say, it’s our promise to you.

A Brief Overview

Performs a wide range of technical and administrative duties to support Cellular Therapy Laboratory operations, including equipment and record maintenance, quality assurance activities, assistance with cellular therapy infusions, inventory stocking of work areas, and independent completion of assigned tasks. Transports cellular therapy products between the Bone Marrow Transplant unit and the Cellular Therapy Laboratory in accordance with established procedures.

Work Locatioin: 22W. Underwood St, Orlando FL 32806.  

Work Schedue: M-F 8AM-4:30PM

What you will do

• Provides specialized support in the areas of patient registration, demonstrates a thorough knowledge of third-party reimbursement requirements and regulations, and maintains customer support and supplies.
• Demonstrates knowledge of cellular therapy product collection and handling requirements.
• Demonstrates research skills for investigating customer requests/issues.
• Demonstrates a fundamental understanding of equipment operation and preventive maintenance procedures.
• Performs daily, weekly, monthly, and as needed preparation of reagents, equipment preventive maintenance, and documentation of equipment readings.
• Ensures follow up on patient care issues. Communicates with immediate supervisor regarding any patient care issues.
• Performs all departmental functions and has a thorough knowledge of hospital and laboratory information systems, cellular therapy product processing, packaging, shipping, storage, labeling, distributing, billing, reference testing, and scheduling.
• Thaws, labels, and distributes cellular therapy products in accordance with established protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Ensures suitability and accurate labeling of products for release and distribution.
• Assists with the quarantine and disposition of unacceptable products and/or samples.
• Maintains competency in chain of identity and chain of custody requirements for the handling of cellular therapy products, including CAR T and gene therapies.
• Assists the marrow harvest clinical team in the operating room during collection procedures for normal donors and autologous patients by documenting harvest volumes and labeling the final product.
• Performs data entry associated with cellular therapy processing, labeling, storage, and shipping, ensuring accurate and complete manufacturing records.
• Maintains positive customer service relationships at all times and proactively responds to customer service issues.
• Reports any environmental or mechanical issues to Engineering or Biomed via work order.
• Demonstrates the ability to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the department.
• Demonstrates the ability to coordinate, organize, or perform tasks required to ensure patient care and safety.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills to work cooperatively with all team members and respond to customer phone calls.
• Acts as a liaison between the laboratory, physicians, nursing personnel, other ancillary departments, clients, and vendors outside the laboratory.
• Maintains adequate inventory levels, including processing supplies, reagents, shipping containers, and liquid nitrogen tanks for Cellular Therapy Laboratory (CTL) freezers.
• Communicates the need for replacement items in a timely manner so that emergency orders are minimized.
• Organizes and sorts documents for long-term storage, as required by regulatory agencies. Retains paperwork in an organized manner so that records are easily retrieved.
• Performs clerical duties, including providing administrative support to technical staff and assembling, preparing, and maintaining patient charts.
• Coordinates and schedules third-party courier pickups as needed.
• Transports cellular therapy products between OHCI or the APH Bone Marrow Transplant unit and the Cellular Therapy Laboratory on a daily basis.
• Communicates issues and department status to immediate supervisor.
• Maintains reasonably regular, punctual attendance consistent with Orlando Health policies, the ADA, FMLA and other federal, state and local standards.
• Maintains compliance with all Orlando Health policies and procedures.
• Maintains an active role in the laboratory Quality Improvement Program.
• Maximizes productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability.
• Documents specimen quality issues.
• Follows established policies.
• Adheres to infection control and safety practices and maintains a clean and organized work area.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient records, hospital matters, and departmental matters at all times.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency (required).
• Three (3) years of laboratory, patient care, or patient business experience (required).
• Basic computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office applications (required).
• Laboratory setting experience in Cellular Therapy, Biotherapies, Transfusion Services, or Donor Center Biologics (preferred).
• None.