Medical Laboratory Scientist

Company: Avera Health
Location: Montrose
Posted on: March 1, 2026

Job Description:

Location: Avera McKennan Hospital Worker Type: Regular Work Shift: Day Shift (United States of America) Pay Range: The pay range for this position is listed below. Actual pay rate dependent upon experience. $29.25 - $44.00 Position Highlights Prior work experience utilizing EPIC is required. What You Will Do Initially: Supports the laboratory during Avera’s enterprise EMR transition through validation, workflow testing, and go-live readiness activities while maintaining safe, compliant laboratory operations. Participates in system testing and validation efforts to ensure laboratory orders, results, reference ranges, and workflows function accurately and reliably. Collaborates with laboratory leadership, informatics partners, and technical teams to identify issues, support corrective action, and promote consistent laboratory processes. Develops, reviews, and updates laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, and supporting documentation to align with updated workflows and compliance requirements. Supports education and training efforts for laboratory staff, including readiness activities related to new workflows, process changes, and go-live preparation. Assists with go-live and post go-live stabilization support including workflow optimization, defect tracking, quality monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives. Applies quality assurance and compliance principles to ensure laboratory processes meet organizational standards, regulatory expectations, and patient safety requirements. This position will support EPIC for approximately the first 18 months. After completion, this position will transition to into a Generalist MLS position within Avera McKennan's Laboratory. The schedule may change with the Generalist MLS transition. This position may be eligible for a $15,000 sign on bonus with a 3 year employment commitment. This position is eligible for Avera's Student Loan Repayment Program which will help you pay off your loans and save money. Each month an extra payment of $167 (up to $10,000) from Avera will help pay down your principle balance faster. Updated Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience Bachelor's Transcript showing Medical or Clinical Laboratory Science Degree, or a Clinical, Physical, or Biological Science Degree. MLS - American Medical Technologists (AMT) within 1 Year or Medical Laboratory Scientist or (MLS) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) within 1 Year Pay Range: The pay range for this position is listed below. Actual pay rate is dependent upon experience. $29.25 - $44.00 per hour You Belong at Avera Be part of a multidisciplinary team built with compassion and the goal of Moving Health Forward for you and our patients. Work where you matter. A Brief Overview Performs a variety of clinical laboratory tests, procedures and related duties. Utilizes scientific principles as well as technical, procedural, and problem-solving aptitudes for day-to-day laboratory technical operations, quality control, quality assurance, procedure/instrument maintenance and corrective action, test result correlation, and clinical laboratory related continuing education. What you will do Responsible for the day-to-day operations of laboratory instrumentation or disciplines including but not limited to: supply inventory, quality control, calibration, reagent preparation, etc. Initiates and follows through with corrective action. Accurately performs basic to complex clinical laboratory tests utilizing theoretical knowledge and independent judgment in addition to established protocol, techniques and equipment manuals. Assumes responsibility for distinguishing between normal and abnormal clinical laboratory parameters and takes actions to assure all abnormals are rechecked. Alerts appropriate staff for abnormal results and documents these actions. Communicates laboratory data and pertinent technical information to appropriate departments and individuals in an accurate and timely fashion. Critiques, correlates and differentiates results of tests utilizing theoretical knowledge and independent judgment in addition to established protocol, techniques and equipment manuals. Participates with development of protocols, lab manuals, new instrumentation, lab CQI or other laboratory developmental activities. Provides technical guidance to and be primary resource for various team members. Responsible for training new employees or co-workers on new equipment/procedures as applicable. Provides instructions on proper pre-analytical specimen collection, specimen handling, and storage guidelines for various body fluids and/or may collect specimens as necessary. Essential Qualifications The individual must be able to work the hours specified. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds. These requirements and those listed above are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions, as long as the accommodations do not cause undue hardship to the employer. Required Education, License/Certification, or Work Experience: Bachelor's Transcript showing Medical or clinical Laboratory Scientist degree, or a related chemical, physical or biological degree or Bachelor's Transcript showing Medical Technology degree MLS - American Medical Technologists (AMT) within 1 Year or Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) - American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) within 1 Year Expectations and Standards Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community. Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship. Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity. Maintain confidentiality. Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment. Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable. Benefits You Need & Then Some Avera is proud to offer a wide range of benefits to qualifying part-time and full-time employees. We support you with opportunities to help live balanced, healthy lives. Benefits are designed to meet needs of today and into the future. PTO available day 1 for eligible hires. Up to 5% employer matching contribution for retirement Career development guided by hands-on training and mentorship Avera is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, Veteran Status, or other categories protected by law. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation for help with your online application, please call 1-605-504-4444 or send an email to talent@avera.org .

Keywords: Avera Health, Sioux Falls , Medical Laboratory Scientist, Science, Research & Development , Montrose, South Dakota