Deanee Mejia
Director Of Laboratory Services
San Antonio,TX
Summary
Experienced Administrative Director offering expertise in laboratory strategic planning, team leadership and process improvement. Skilled in various administrative tasks including budget management, policy development and staff training. Known for creating efficient systems that streamline operations and enhance productivity. Proven track record of impacting positive change within organizations through innovative approach to administration.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Administrative Director of Laboratory Services
Methodist Hospital Metropolitan
San Antonio, TX
07.2007 - Current
- Responsible for the lab operations of three laboratories within Methodist Healthcare.
- Planned and controlled budgets for contracts, equipment, and supplies for the laboratory.
- Created and implemented administrative processes and procedures to prioritize job tasks and establish personnel responsibilities.
- Provided department reports when needed, by responding promptly to inquiries from clients or stakeholders.
- Managed contracts, regulations, and procedural guidelines to verify comprehension and compliance.
- Developed policies and procedures to ensure compliance with accreditation agencies, safety regulations, and quality control standards.
- Generated monthly TAT and QA reports detailing the progress made by each department within the lab environment.
- Collaborated with external vendors to arrange services such as repair work or equipment purchases.
- Worked with the Lab Medical Director and lab management team to improve workflows and eliminate unnecessary tasks to increase employee engagement.
- Organized and maintained documents for record retention, files, and laboratory records.
- Provided guidance to laboratory personnel on administrative matters, such as payroll processing, vacation requests, counseling, and use of the Facility Scheduler.
- Managed laboratory operations and personnel, including hiring, training, and scheduling staff.
- Acted as the department representative at meetings involving laboratory operations.
- Collaborated with other departmental leaders to establish organizational goals, strategic plans, and objectives.
- Ensured that all required accreditation processes were followed and completed prior to conducting testing on patient specimens.
- Coordinated maintenance of lab equipment and supplies inventory.
- Reviewed financial documents such as invoices, purchase orders, contracts, and other related materials.
- Liaised with customers, addressed inquiries, handled meeting requests and answer billing questions to provide outstanding customer care.
- Oversaw the development of new processes or technologies to improve operational efficiency in the lab environment.
- Determined staffing requirements, interviewing, hiring and training new employees.
- Maintained records of hazardous material use according to applicable laws and regulations.
- Utilized advanced technical skills and expertise to troubleshoot complex problems and implement solutions.
- Processed payroll and reported on employee performance.
- Prepared the annual safety and quality review of the laboratory.
- Performed presentations to ancillary support services, the nurse resource council, infection control, quality, safety, ED operations, Maternal and Neonatal Integration, and employee health.
Laboratory Manager of Operations
Methodist Hospital & Methodist Children's Hospital
San Antonio, Texas
01.2005 - 08.2007
- Investigated customer complaints related to laboratory quality, or performance issues. or performance issues.
- Evaluated test results and determined appropriate corrective action when needed.
- Served on multiple integration teams for quality assurance and patient experience.
- Evaluated individual and department performance, and identified opportunities for improvement.
- Put together personnel engagement teams to identify goals, increase employee engagement, build, and foster workplace culture.
- Defined priorities, delegated tasks and planned workflow for laboratory personnel.
- Managed 72 phlebotomy personnel, send-out tests, outpatient admissions, blood collections, sweat-chloride tests on pediatric patients, and supply maintenance personnel.
- Managed all record retention for all laboratory documents, audits, policies and procedures, and staff personnel files.
- Communicated department goals, metrics, compliance regulations, and laboratory updates and changes in lab department meetings.
- I represented the lab department at all integration meetings with other departments within the hospital.
- Performed the responsibilities of the Administrative Director when not available.
- Maintained compliance for CAP accreditation for lab general, and team leader compliance checklists.
- Served and represented Methodist Healthcare as a member of HealthTrust GPO for six years.
- I represented the Laboratory Director in their absence and took responsibility for all lab operations.
- Performed corrective counseling as appropriate for all laboratory personnel.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Methodist Hospital & Methodist Children's Hospital
San Antononio, TX
08.1992 - 01.2002
- Performed routine and stat blood bank tests for all inpatients and outpatients.
- Performed ABO/RH, type and screens, compatibility testing, antibody identification, antigen typing, eluates, fetal screens and titers, blood product irradiation, washed blood, pedi-aliquots, thawed and pooled plasma, and cryoprecipitate, emergency releases, massive transfusion protocols, quality control, daily, monthly, and biannual equipment maintenance.
- Performed all blood bank FDA lookbacks.
- Performed laboratory-related variance reports.
- Managed compliance with AABB, the College of American Pathologists, and the FDA.
- Wrote policies and procedures for the blood bank department.
- Performed proficiency testing.
- Ordered, maintained, and managed inventory for the laboratory blood bank.
- Supported other departments within the lab, such as the cryopreservation laboratory for bone marrow processing, microbiology, and send-outs.
- Identified areas of improvement in existing processes and developed solutions to address them.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams within the hospital such as the Maternal QAPI, Infection Control, and Quality Department.
- Led training sessions on new instruments, policies, and procedures to ensure proper usage by end users.
- Managed departmental inventory and supply ordering.
- Set up, cleaned and maintained laboratory equipment.
- Entered data from analysis of medical tests or clinical results into computer for storage (Meditech).
- Supported LIS annual testing for the blood bank.
- Determined acceptability of specimens for testing according to established criteria.
- Performed troubleshooting and maintenance of Ortho Gel instrumentation to identify and resolve technical issues promptly.
- Operated, calibrated or maintained equipment used in quantitative or qualitative analysis.
- Trained new employees and students from UTHSCSA.
- Prepared and performed competency assessment for new hires, students, and incumbent personnel.
- Provided technical information about test results to physicians, nurses, all required stakeholders within the facility.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Clinical Laboratory Science
University of Texas Health Science Center
San Antonio05-1992
Skills
- Department leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Team leadership
- Budget Oversight
- Accreditation Standards
- Conflict resolution
- Resource Planning
- Hiring and terminations
- Critical Thinking
Certification
- Certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)
Languages
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Accomplishments
- 30 Years Service Award
- 2020 Methodist Pillar Award for Employee Engagement, Quality Metrics and successful accreditation of the laboratory
- 2022 Methodist Pillar Award for Employee Engagement, Quality Metrics and successful accreditation of the laboratory
- Graduate of HCA Leadership Institute Academy
- HCA Recognition for Membership of Laboratory HealthTrust Administrative Group
Affiliations
- Member of American Association of Clinical Pathologists
- Member of Methodist DEI Group for Hispanic personnel
- Member of Methodist DEI Women Leaders
- Member of the Central Catholic High School Parent Club
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Administrative Director of Laboratory Services
Methodist Hospital Metropolitan
07.2007 - Current
Laboratory Manager of Operations
Methodist Hospital & Methodist Children's Hospital
01.2005 - 08.2007
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Methodist Hospital & Methodist Children's Hospital
08.1992 - 01.2002
- Certified by the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP)
Bachelor of Science - Clinical Laboratory Science
University of Texas Health Science Center
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