Laura Templin Howk
Hutchinson,USA
Summary
Dynamic Senior Laboratory Manager with a proven track record at Hutchinson Health, excelling in regulatory compliance and quality control. Skilled in team building and technical leadership, I successfully transitioned laboratories to the College of American Pathologists, enhancing operational efficiency and achieving a 6% increase in employee engagement through innovative initiatives.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Laboratory Manager of Hutchinson and Olivia Laboratories
Hutchinson Health
Hutchinson, USA
10.2021 - Current
- Company Overview: Hutchinson Health is integrated as a part of the HealthPartners system, including primary and specialty care clinics, emergency services, in-patient mental health, and other specialty programs. Olivia Hospital & Clinic is a Health Partners critical access hospital and two rural health clinics located in western Minnesota.
- Leads diverse group of 40 laboratory assistants, technicians, and technologists between the two primary hospital locations.
- Adheres to single separate employer guidelines of the two entities for the management of respective staff.
- Oversee the daily operations of five clinical laboratories with annual test volume of 650,000 tests.
- Ensure successful regulatory compliance to The Joint Commission (Hutchinson) and Minnesota Department of Health (Olivia). Transitioned both entities to the College of American Pathologists in 2024.
- Developed a regional technical leadership between Hutchinson and Olivia to optimize quality performance of laboratory services.
Laboratory Manager
Hutchinson Health
Hutchinson, USA
07.2015 - 10.2021
- Company Overview: Hutchinson Health is integrated as a part of the HealthPartners system, including primary and specialty care clinics, emergency services, in-patient mental health, and other specialty programs.
- Lead diverse group of 32 laboratory assistants, technicians, and technologists.
- Oversaw the daily operations of three clinical laboratories with annual test volume of 450,000 tests.
- Ensured successful regulatory compliance to The Joint Commission.
- Enhanced the foundation of Occupational Medicine Services.
- Promoted community engagement through Gala volunteer events, introduction of community volunteerism during LDI events, and participation in the Patient Family Advisory Council.
- Developed Drive-thru services during the COVID pandemic for Anti-Coagulation Therapy patients to promote compliance of high-risk medication.
Laboratory Supervisor
Allina Health
12.2014 - 06.2015
- Company Overview: Allina Health Laboratory is an integrated, multi-site laboratory service that provides local delivery of more than five million laboratory services throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin at our Allina Health clinics and hospitals.
- Oversee the daily laboratory operations of three clinical sites.
- Facilitated the contentious leadership reorganization at the WestHealth campus.
- Secured the reference laboratory services contract for the Interlude Transitional Care Facility on the WestHealth campus.
- Lead for Laboratory Information System training of New Employees.
- Direct reports include Laboratory Assistants, Medical Technicians, Medical Laboratory Scientists, and Lead Techs. 20 direct reports.
Laboratory Supervisor
St. Francis Regional Medical Center
11.2011 - 12.2014
- Company Overview: St. Francis Regional Medical Center is jointly owned by Allina Health, Park Nicollet Health Services and Essentia Health Critical Access Group. Its Catholic identity is sponsored by the Benedictine Sisters of the St. Scholastica Monastery.
- Supervisor of 28 laboratory employees according to 3 separate union contracts.
- Oversee the daily operations of a clinical laboratory with annual test volume of 250,000 tests.
- Exceeded annual budget expectations in productivity, supply costs, and overtime management each year.
- Increased employee engagement through the development of five operational teams, the begin-of-shift huddle, and process improvement board. Engagement scores improved from 79% to 85% within one year.
- Developed and lead the AHL system implementation of the Quality Control Management System in eleven hospital and six clinic sites.
- Responsible for creation and development of three recognized “Best Practices” from the 2014 College of American Pathologist (CAP) system inspection, including the Chemistry QC Management System, Document Control, and the Begin of Shift Huddles.
- Provided consultative services for District One Hospital Laboratory to prepare the laboratory for transition from CMS regulatory oversight to College of American Pathologists.
- Served on and chaired various St Francis committees – Leadership Development Institute Committee, Patient Experience Committee, Trauma Committee.
- Served on and chaired various Allina Health Laboratory committees- Reception Committee, Chemistry Technical Committee, Process Improvement- Supply Cost Analysis Team, Beaker Training Team, Process Improvement-New Employee Orientation Team
Chemistry Lead
St. Francis Regional Medical Center
08.2005 - 11.2011
- Provide technical support and decision making for the chemistry department.
- Represented the regional hospital laboratory during the instrumentation selection process.
- Instituted and ensured staff compliance with CAP regulatory requirements of the chemistry and processing departments.
- Selected to represent AHL Chemistry in two system inspections. Inspected in Indiana (2), Montana, and Minnesota.
- Key Contributor Award in 2011 for contributions towards the Allina Health Laboratory cost containment project.
- Served on various committees- St Francis Patient Satisfaction Committee, Allina Health Chemistry Team, Allina Chemistry Analyzer Selection Committee, Beaker- Chemistry and Training Teams.
Medical Technologist, Generalist
North Memorial Medical Center
Robbinsdale, USA
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Performed clinical analysis for a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Medical Technologist
Department of Veterans Affairs
Minneapolis, USA
01.2000 - 01.2003
- Performed Forensic Toxicology and Analytical Chemistry analysis for the National Institute of Drug Analysis.
Education
MBA - Health Care MBA
University of St. Thomas
Minneapolis, MN, USA01.2012
B.S. - Clinical Laboratory Science
University of Minnesota
Twin Cities01.2000
Skills
- Team building
- Effective communication
- Laboratory compliance
- Technical leadership
- Quality control
- Regulatory oversight
- Clinical operations
Affiliations
ASCLS-MN. American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science- Minnesota Chapter.
Timeline
Senior Laboratory Manager of Hutchinson and Olivia Laboratories
Hutchinson Health
10.2021 - Current
Laboratory Manager
Hutchinson Health
07.2015 - 10.2021
Laboratory Supervisor
Allina Health
12.2014 - 06.2015
Laboratory Supervisor
St. Francis Regional Medical Center
11.2011 - 12.2014
Chemistry Lead
St. Francis Regional Medical Center
08.2005 - 11.2011
Medical Technologist, Generalist
North Memorial Medical Center
01.2003 - 01.2005
Medical Technologist
Department of Veterans Affairs
01.2000 - 01.2003
MBA - Health Care MBA
University of St. Thomas
B.S. - Clinical Laboratory Science
University of Minnesota
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