The Laboratory Manager is responsible for the overall operational, quality, compliance, billing, and personnel management functions of the laboratory. This position provides leadership and oversight for laboratory operations, quality management systems, regulatory compliance programs, and pathology billing compliance activities. The Laboratory Manager works collaboratively with laboratory leadership, pathologists, billing teams, and support departments to ensure efficient workflows, regulatory compliance, exceptional service, and continuous quality improvement.
The ideal candidate possesses strong leadership, laboratory operations experience, knowledge of pathology workflow, quality management expertise, and an understanding of pathology billing and regulatory requirements. This role serves as a key resource in maintaining compliance with CAP, CLIA, HIPAA, CMS, OSHA, payer requirements, and other applicable regulatory standards.
Essential Functions
Laboratory Operations & Personnel Management
- Manage workflow, staffing schedules, productivity, and resource allocation to ensure operational efficiency and service excellence.
- Supervise laboratory personnel, including hiring, onboarding, training, competency assessment, coaching, performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, and professional development.
- Oversee development and maintenance of departmental policies, procedures, manuals, and standard operating procedures.
- Collaborate with pathologists, laboratory leaders, physicians, and external clients to ensure effective communication and service delivery.
- Monitor laboratory performance metrics and identify opportunities for operational improvement.
- Oversee management of inventory, equipment maintenance, supply utilization, and purchasing activities.
- Participate in strategic planning, laboratory growth initiatives, and implementation of new services or technologies.
Quality Management & Regulatory Compliance
- Develop, implement, monitor, and continuously improve the laboratory Quality Management System (QMS).
- Ensure compliance with CAP, CLIA, HIPAA, OSHA, CMS, state regulations, payer requirements, and organizational policies.
- Coordinate and support internal audits, self-inspections, external inspections, accreditation activities, and regulatory surveys.
- Monitor quality indicators, proficiency testing, corrective actions, preventive actions, occurrence reporting, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Investigate quality events, non-conformances, and compliance concerns, ensuring appropriate documentation and resolution.
- Analyze quality trends, identify opportunities for improvement, and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Maintain records and documentation required for regulatory compliance and accreditation.
- Provide education and guidance to laboratory staff regarding quality standards, regulatory requirements, and compliance expectations.
- Support laboratory preparedness for CAP inspections and other regulatory reviews.
Billing Compliance & Revenue Integrity
- Oversee auditing of pathology claims for accurate billing, coding, and documentation in accordance with regulatory and payer requirements.
- Collaborate with coding and billing teams to ensure CPT, ICD-10, HCPCS, and pathology billing practices accurately reflect services provided.
- Investigate and resolve billing discrepancies, compliance concerns, and audit findings.
- Assist with payer audits and requests for documentation.
- Collaborate with Billing Manager to promote billing accuracy, compliance, and revenue integrity.
- Serve as a liaison between laboratory operations, billing personnel, compliance teams, and external payers.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Science, Health Information Management, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, Biological Sciences, or related field required.
Experience
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive laboratory leadership or management experience.
- Experience in pathology, histology, surgical pathology, clinical laboratory operations, quality management, compliance, or laboratory billing.
- Demonstrated experience with regulatory inspections, accreditation programs, and quality systems.
- Experience with pathology coding, billing compliance, and reimbursement practices preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong understanding of pathology and laboratory workflows.
- Knowledge of CAP, CLIA, HIPAA, OSHA, CMS, and payer regulations.
- Knowledge of CPT, ICD-10, HCPCS coding, and pathology billing practices preferred.
- Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Proficiency with laboratory information systems (LIS), quality management software, Microsoft Office applications, and data analysis tools.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and regulatory compliance.