Melvin Schuchardt
Rio Rancho,USA
Summary
Interim clinical laboratory leader with a robust background in operations management and quality assurance, dedicated to driving excellence in fast-paced healthcare settings. Expertise in boosting staff morale and enhancing laboratory efficiency consistently results in improved performance outcomes. A strong advocate for teamwork and compliance, focused on delivering exceptional customer service while embracing technical advancements to elevate laboratory standards. Proven ability to implement strategic initiatives that support organizational goals and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Interim Laboratory Director
HireUp
2023.12 - 2024.03
- Assisted Christian Hospital, part of BJC health system, with CAP inspection preparations during search for permanent Laboratory Director.
- Evaluated laboratory processes, recommending enhancements that improved daily operations.
- Monitored technical and phlebotomy staff morale through regular feedback sessions.
- Contributed to operations at Christian Hospital, part of BJC health system, supporting laboratory management.
Interim Laboratory Director
BE Smith
2022.12 - 2023.02
- Facilitated CAP inspection preparations for laboratories at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals in Henderson, Nevada, ensuring compliance and readiness.
- Monitored laboratory operations and recommended enhancements that streamlined processes and optimized performance.
- Coordinated operational support for St. Rose Dominican Hospitals in Henderson, Nevada, contributing to seamless laboratory functionality.
Interim Laboratory Director
BE Smith
2021.11 - 2022.01
- Assigned to Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center while client searches for a permanent candidate for Laboratory Director.
- Executed recruitment strategies for staffing in tight market, utilized traveler technical staff, directed cross-training and staff retention efforts, improved team morale, proposed efficient scheduling, prepared for CAP inspection, assisted with lab remodel project planning, monitored productivity, and assessed operations with actionable recommendations.
- Coordinated all laboratory operations at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center during client's search for permanent staff, ensuring continuity and quality of services.
Laboratory Consultant
Compass Clinical Consulting
2019.01 - 2019.01
- Guided laboratory in addressing CAP inspection deficiencies and incidents during 2-week assignment at CHI Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, ensuring compliance and operational readiness.
- Conducted laboratory assessments to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Developed protocols for laboratory procedures and quality control measures.
- Provided expert consultations to improve laboratory operations and efficiency.
Laboratory Specialist
Compass Clinical Consulting
2018.08 - 2018.11
- Assisted CHI Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center in preparing for CAP inspection, addressing previous deficiencies.
- Coached lab leadership on best practices, contributing to successful CAP accreditation.
- Assisted in developing and implementing quality control procedures.
Interim Administrative Laboratory Director
Compass Clinical Consulting
2017.06 - 2017.10
- Contributed to operations at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, MO, enhancing patient care.
- Directed the overall operation and administration of the laboratory, including communications, planning, staffing, fiscal management, and assurance of compliance with applicable regulations.
- Oversaw operation and workflow of laboratory services, including anatomic pathology, blood services, chemistry, hematology, immunology/serology, laboratory information technology, microbiology, phlebotomy, office services, offsite laboratories, and point-of-care.
- Achieved expense reductions, stabilized staffing, implemented document control software, acquired budgeted instrumentation, and enhanced operational efficiencies.
- Executed annual evaluations for managers to ensure effective leadership and development.
- Ensure efficient and accurate laboratory services to physicians, patients and other departments.
Director, Clinical Laboratory Operations
LABS, Inc
2016.04 - 2017.06
- Directing the daily clinical operations of all 3 locations.
- Managed department operations, processing patient samples and delivering results on time.
- Accountable for financial and budgetary oversight of the operational departments.
- Approve and/or implement laboratory policies, processes and procedures in coordination with the Senior Lab Director.
- Ensured services complied with state and federal regulations, lab policy, and accreditation requirements.
- Ensured departmental standard operating policies and procedures were consistently followed and updated to align with current processes and validation data.
- Monitored and improved the quality control programs for effectiveness.
- Ensure processes and services are monitored for quality, cost effectiveness, and efficiency through continuous process and quality improvement.
- Recommended and implemented strategies that enhanced operational efficiency.
- Led the hiring, training, and development of a diverse team.
- Created and implemented laboratory operation goals and objectives alongside senior management and the lab leadership team.
- Function as a key member of the Management team; making strategic decisions and demonstrating superior leadership, advancing and supporting the clinical testing menu.
- 106 direct / indirect reporting employees total, technical and clerical.
Administrative Director of Laboratories
South Georgia Medical Center Health System
2013.07 - 2016.04
- Director responsibility for laboratories at South Georgia Medical Center and 3 affiliated hospitals.
- Oversaw staffing structure with 9 direct reports and 1 clerical report, managing 117 total employees.
- Established stable leadership environment to coordinate activities of 4 laboratories, enhancing operational commonality, system unity, and standardization of procedures and policies.
- Developed common framework for personnel and operational practices, enabling technical staff and procedures to be utilized across all locations.
- Developed and implemented an outreach business plan via a template contract for services, collaborated with marketing to reach customers, created a client pricing structure, and conducted personal visits to potential local customers.
- Cultivated leadership and rapport at all locations, advancing cooperation among labs to achieve stated lab system goals.
- A general medical and surgical hospital in Valdosta, GA.
Hospital and Commercial Lab Manager Positions
S.E.D. Labs
2009.01 - 2013.06
- Began employment with S.E.D. as Lab Manager at Lovelace Women's Hospital, a 98-bed facility, January 2009.
- S.E.D. transferred me to the commercial lab, the largest operation of S.E.D. Labs, March 2010 with a testing volume of about 2.5 million tests per year.
- Transferred to Lovelace Westside Hospital, a 65-bed facility, June 2011.
- Transferred to Lovelace Medical Center, a 250-bed facility, and the Heart Hospital of NM at Lovelace Medical Center, a 55-bed facility, in September 2012.
- Enhanced employee satisfaction across facilities through effective management style and ability, as noted by S.E.D. and Quest management.
- Duties at all locations included general laboratory management including staffing, staff performance evaluations, administering budgets, procuring supplies, assuring laboratory operations meet hospital needs at all locations.
- Oversaw specimen receiving and processing facilities at all sites, including reference lab send-outs and problem resolution areas for commercial operations.
- Supervised / managed as many as 80 FTEs and as few as 16, depending on the location.
- Improved the employee morale satisfactions scores of all related areas by increasing communication between management and employees.
- Direct reports have included supervisors and managers as well as employees.
- Staff managed have included technical and phlebotomy staff of laboratories as well as separate outpatient draw sites.
- Managed budgetary processes for analytical activities, including equipment procurement, ROI justifications, and staffing adjustments to align with budget goals.
- Process Improvement employed at all locations as needed, as well as RCA for problem events.
- Led an instrument selection committee for replacement instrumentation, instigated and suggested revenue enhancement activities, Designed laboratory space redesigns to implement LEAN principles.
- Mentored some employees to become supervisors.
- Engaged in Studer training to improve healthcare management practices.
- Now Quest Diagnostics.
Manager of Air Laboratory Unit and QA Manager
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1992.05 - 2008.12
- Directed daily operations of Air Lab Unit within Air Monitoring Section, overseeing Maintenance/Calibration Subunit and Methods Development Subunit for effective air pollution measurement.
- Directed the State-wide Air Monitoring network quality assurance performance and inter-state quality assurance activities for all air monitoring programs and coordinated with regional US EPA quality assurance officials.
- Instituted interstate quality assurance activities, strengthening the overall quality assurance program and ensuring compliance with standards.
- Originated, and obtained certification from US EPA for the first State – operated performance evaluation program (PEP) for the PM 2.5 sampling program.
- Completely revised the Section operational procedures manual to meet US EPA guidelines.
- Managed special initiatives such as Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System (PAMS) in Chicago area and Metro-East enhanced air monitoring activities, improving regional air quality assessment.
- Prepared and executed annual and 5-year plans for equipment budgets and staffing for Unit.
- Evaluated employee performance, conducted performance appraisals and issued disciplinary action when needed.
- Training Manager and Safety Officer, providing technical direction and training to Section field personnel as needed for new instrumentation and procedures and for safety.
- Purchasing Officer, ordered equipment and supplies for Section, prepared bid specifications for monitoring equipment and reviewed / evaluated submitted bids and recommended acquisition.
- Bureau of Air - Springfield, Illinois.
Medical Technologist
Memorial Medical Center
1992.10 - 2006.10
- Performed per diem medical technologist duties in chemistry, toxicology, and urinalysis, supporting laboratory operations alongside IEPA role.
- Number of hours varied, usually 8-16 hours per week when the hours were offered.
- Maintained current knowledge of medical laboratory practices, enhancing skills and expertise in the field.
- Coordinated evening and night shifts to align with Illinois EPA schedule, ensuring continuous laboratory coverage.
- Maintained my MT (ASCP) certification and participated in continuing education via this employment and the ASCP.
- A general medical and surgical hospital in Springfield, IL.
Laboratory Manager
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center
1990.01 - 1992.05
- Directed the laboratory of 144-bed for-profit hospital, including 18 FTE positions staffing all shifts.
- Prepared for and passed State inspections.
- Reorganized lab workspace to enhance workflow and improve technologist efficiency.
- Managed budget within guidelines, optimizing staffing efficiency and controlling operating costs.
- Prepared and monitored operating and equipment budgets, conducted personnel evaluations, and coordinated daily activities and quality assurance.
- Operated within a 144-bed for-profit hospital environment.
Chemistry Section Supervisor
St. John's Hospital, Laboratory
Chemistry Section Supervisor
Christian Hospitals NE and NW
Education
Bachelor of Science - Biology Major, Chemistry Minor
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IllinoisMedical Technology diploma - undefined
DePaul Hospital School of Medical Technology
St. Louis, MissouriCertificates of Completion - computer programming and computer network administration
Lincoln Land Community College
Springfield, ILSkills
- Operations oversight in laboratories
- Inspection readiness and quality assurance
- Laboratory quality assurance management
- Effective team leadership
- Budget management in laboratories
- Process optimization
- Staffing efficiency
- Interdepartmental communication
- Process improvement leadership
- Organizational change management
- Cross-functional teamwork
- Creative problem-solving
- Effective troubleshooting abilities
- Team leadership
- Flexibility in changing situations
- Project progress evaluation
Accomplishments
Successful management of multiple off-site laboratory operations and specimen procurement sites.
Reduction of operating expenses suggested for the client. Modified staff scheduling to better match workflow.
Assisted with interview and candidate selection of Director.
Timeline
Interim Laboratory Director
HireUp
2023.12 - 2024.03
Interim Laboratory Director
BE Smith
2022.12 - 2023.02
Interim Laboratory Director
BE Smith
2021.11 - 2022.01
Laboratory Consultant
Compass Clinical Consulting
2019.01 - 2019.01
Laboratory Specialist
Compass Clinical Consulting
2018.08 - 2018.11
Interim Administrative Laboratory Director
Compass Clinical Consulting
2017.06 - 2017.10
Director, Clinical Laboratory Operations
LABS, Inc
2016.04 - 2017.06
Administrative Director of Laboratories
South Georgia Medical Center Health System
2013.07 - 2016.04
Hospital and Commercial Lab Manager Positions
S.E.D. Labs
2009.01 - 2013.06
Medical Technologist
Memorial Medical Center
1992.10 - 2006.10
Manager of Air Laboratory Unit and QA Manager
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1992.05 - 2008.12
Laboratory Manager
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center
1990.01 - 1992.05
Chemistry Section Supervisor
St. John's Hospital, Laboratory
Chemistry Section Supervisor
Christian Hospitals NE and NW
Medical Technology diploma - undefined
DePaul Hospital School of Medical Technology
Certificates of Completion - computer programming and computer network administration
Lincoln Land Community College
Bachelor of Science - Biology Major, Chemistry Minor
Western Illinois University