Tommi Powers-Heatley
Shawnee
Summary
Experienced Medical Technologist with 20 years in specimen analysis and rapid result delivery, enhancing patient health outcomes. Skilled in documenting test findings, maintaining equipment, and ensuring quality control. Communicates effectively with clinical staff to provide timely test results.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Laboratory Compliance Specialist
OKCIC
OKC
05.2023 - Current
- Participate in hiring and interview processes to recruit qualified laboratory personnel and support workforce planning.
- Lead and participate in weekly Medical Huddles and leadership meetings to align operational goals, quality initiatives, and staffing needs.
- Implement and maintain laboratory test coding and mapping for ordering, reporting, billing, and workload systems in collaboration with the IT liaison, ensuring data integrity and financial accuracy.
- Collaborate with section supervisors and designees to implement lean processes that support efficiency while meeting clinic and staff needs.
- Serve as Lead Medical Technician while functioning as a generalist Medical Technologist, performing testing in chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, immunology, and specimen processing.
- Perform and oversee quality control procedures, instrument calibrations, and scheduled maintenance to ensure accuracy, reliability, and regulatory compliance.
- Ensure complete, accurate, and timely documentation of all laboratory results in compliance with CLIA, COLA, CAP, and internal quality standards.
- Perform specimen collection for in-house testing and coordinate referral testing with contracted reference laboratories.
- Function as a laboratory generalist and phlebotomist, including performing difficult venipunctures and complex specimen collections.
- Maintain and update laboratory policies, procedures, and documents in accordance with current regulatory, accreditation, and best-practice standards.
- Maintain comprehensive knowledge of CLIA, COLA, and CAP regulations and ensure continuous laboratory compliance.
- Monitor off-site laboratory partners through monthly reviews to ensure performance, compliance, and quality standards are met.
- Assist the Laboratory Director with inspection readiness and execution, contributing to successful COLA inspection results (98% overall score – September 2024).
- Support regulatory inspections, including CAP preparation and participation as a trained CAP Inspector during off-cycle years.
- Aiding the laboratory director with preparing for inspection. COLA inspection 9/2024 overall 98%.
- CAP Inspection 09/2025 with 1- Deficiency related to IT.
- Manage onboarding, training, and annual competency assessments for phlebotomy and point-of-care staff; maintain records and update onboarding and competency tracking systems.
- Monitor temperature loggers, quality control, and technical logs, documenting and implementing corrective actions when required.
- Assign and track weekly technical tasks and ensure completion of monthly logs, maintenance records, and quality documentation for QA review.
- Review QC trends, Levey-Jennings charts, and corrective actions weekly and submit monthly reports to Quality Assurance.
- Manage laboratory supply ordering, purchasing requests, and inventory control, ensuring adequate stock levels and compliance with purchasing guidelines.
- Oversee staff scheduling, PTO, attendance, timekeeping, call-ins, and occurrences to maintain adequate laboratory coverage and productivity.
- Investigate SafeQuals, NRC complaints, and safety events, completing root cause analysis and corrective actions in coordination with Quality Assurance and the Laboratory Director.
- Conduct quarterly rounding and employee performance evaluations, submitting documentation for payroll and HR systems.
- Lead employee engagement and recognition efforts, including Lab Week activities, community outreach events, and selection of Employee of the Month.
- Develop and present at least one annual laboratory presentation focused on best practices, regulatory updates, quality improvement, or operational performance.
- Coordinate Rose State MLT student clinical rotations, including scheduling, competency tracking, progress monitoring, and completion of required program documentation.
- Develop, recommend, and write policies and procedures related to the Laboratory Information System (LIS) and Clinic Information System (CIS), supporting the upcoming transition from RPMS to Cerner.
- Demonstrate proficiency in the operation and troubleshooting of laboratory instrumentation across all major testing areas.
Laboratory Technician
Oklahoma Blood Institute
OKC
04.2022 - 04.2023
- Performed and monitored quality control procedures, ensuring accurate, complete, and compliant documentation of laboratory results.
- Ensured strict adherence to standard operating procedures for specimen handling, processing, and test analysis to maintain test accuracy and regulatory compliance.
- Generated and verified accurate and timely patient test results across assigned laboratory sections.
- Maintained laboratory instrumentation through required calibrations and scheduled preventive maintenance to ensure reliable system performance.
- Served as liaison between shifts, communicating test status, equipment issues, and operational concerns to ensure continuity of laboratory operations.
- Trained and mentored new laboratory technologists, verifying competency and proficiency in laboratory procedures and quality standards.
- Coordinated with clinical departments to meet turnaround time requirements for blood product availability and critical laboratory testing.
- Troubleshooting and resolving issues involving blood products, reagents, instrumentation, and workflow disruptions.
- Demonstrated proficiency in flow cytometry, including operation of the Adam rWBC HT analyzer.
Lab Technician/Xray Tech
Chickasaw Nation Dept. of Health
01.2014 - 01.2022
- Performed and monitored quality control procedures to ensure accurate, reliable laboratory test results and full regulatory compliance.
- Maintained complete and accurate documentation of laboratory results in accordance with CLIA, COLA, and laboratory quality standards.
- Collected, processed, and referred specimens for in-house and send-out testing with contracted reference laboratories.
- Served as team lead and subject matter expert for laboratory policies, procedures, and difficult phlebotomy collections.
- Managed laboratory supply ordering, inventory control, and stock maintenance to support uninterrupted operations.
- Developed, updated, and maintained laboratory policies and procedures to ensure alignment with current regulatory guidance and best practices.
- Demonstrated expert knowledge of CLIA and COLA regulations and ensured strict adherence to equipment calibration, maintenance, and procedural requirements.
- Tracked and managed periodic and annual equipment maintenance and calibration schedules.
- Assisted with the implementation of LabDAQ and EClinicalWorks, including support of laboratory-to-clinical system interfaces.
- Provided cross-functional support to nursing staff, including patient assistance and follow-up communications during staffing shortages.
- Performed diagnostic X-ray imaging as part of clinic operations.
Medical Laboratory Technician
Mercy
Kingfisher
01.2016 - 01.2021
- Performed quality control processes and procedures to ensure accurate, reliable laboratory results and full regulatory compliance.
- Maintained complete and accurate documentation of test results in accordance with laboratory and accreditation standards.
- Collected, processed, and prepared specimens for in-house testing and coordinated send-out testing with contracted reference laboratories.
- Performed blood bank testing using the tube method, including antibody screening and compatibility testing.
- Functioned as a laboratory generalist, performing testing across all departments while also specializing in difficult phlebotomy collections.
- Maintained and updated laboratory policies and procedures in alignment with current regulatory and best-practice standards.
- Demonstrated extensive knowledge of CLIA and COLA regulations and ensured ongoing laboratory compliance.
- Ensured strict adherence to equipment calibration schedules and procedural requirements.
- Performed scheduled preventive maintenance to support reliable instrument performance.
- Operated and maintained a variety of laboratory analyzers and diagnostic instruments.
Medical Laboratory Technician
SMCC/SSM
Shawnee
01.2008 - 01.2014
- Performed and monitored quality control procedures to ensure accurate, reliable laboratory results and regulatory compliance.
- Maintained complete and accurate documentation of test results in accordance with laboratory and accreditation standards.
- Collected, processed, and prepared specimens for in-house testing and coordinated send-out testing with contracted reference laboratories.
- Functioned as a laboratory generalist, performing testing across all departments while also specializing in difficult venipuncture collections.
- Maintained and updated laboratory policies and procedures, including writing, revising, and correcting documentation to reflect current regulatory and best-practice standards.
- Demonstrated extensive knowledge of CLIA and COLA regulations and ensured ongoing laboratory compliance.
- Ensured strict adherence to equipment calibration schedules and procedural requirements, coordinating maintenance and corrective actions as needed.
- Supported CLIA and JCAHO inspection readiness through quality assurance and quality improvement activities.
Medical Laboratory Technician
Prague Municipal Hospital
OK
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Conducted daily maintenance and performed quality control on all laboratory analyzers to ensure accurate and reliable results.
- Worked independently across multiple departments, including laboratory, radiology, and CT/CAT scan imaging, providing technical and operational support.
- Collected, processed, and handled patient specimens in accordance with standard operating procedures and regulatory requirements.
- Managed laboratory equipment calibrations and ensured scheduled preventive maintenance was completed on time.
- Proficient in operating a variety of laboratory instruments and analyzers, maintaining accuracy and compliance with quality standards.
Lab Technician/Chem Dept Head
Seminole Hospital
Seminole
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Performed quality control processes and maintained accurate, compliant documentation of laboratory results.
- Collected, processed, and coordinated transportation of specimens for in-house testing and referral to external laboratories.
- Functioned as a laboratory generalist and phlebotomist, specializing in difficult venipuncture collections across all laboratory areas.
- Developed, updated, and maintained laboratory policies and procedures in response to evolving regulatory guidance.
- Applied extensive knowledge of CLIA and COLA regulations to ensure ongoing laboratory compliance.
- Managed equipment calibrations and performed maintenance as required to maintain operational readiness.
- Promoted to Chemistry Department Head after one year, overseeing quality control management, reviewing Levey-Jennings charts, and troubleshooting/repairing complex instrumentation issues.
Education
Bachelor of Science -
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Tempe, AZ12-2021
Associate of Science - Medical Laboratory Tech
SEMINOLE STATE UNIVERSITY
Seminole, OK05-2006
Associate of Science - General
SEMINOLE STATE UNIVERSITY
Seminole, OKSkills
- Abbott Architect
- Siemens Dimension EXL 200
- Piccolo
- Vitros 3500
- Sysmex XP-300
- Sysmex 1000
- Cell-Dyn 1600
- Cell-Dyn 1700
- Cell-Dyn 1800
- Cell-Dyn 3200
- Siemens Advia 1000
- Siemens Advantis
- Clinitek
- Clinitek 50
- Clinitek 1500
- Clinitek Status Plus
- UA analyzers
- CoaguChek XS
- ACL 1000
- Abbott Architect i2000
- Immunology analyzers
- VITEK (identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing)
- Cephid (CN/NG, SARS/Flu/RSV, Trichomonas)
- Tube method
- Gel method
- Cross-matching
- Typing
- AHG testing
- Tosoh analyzers
Certification
• Medical Technologist, AMT, 2022 AMT ID: 2963405
• Medical Laboratory Technologist, ASCP, 2007 ASCP ID: 04158994
• Medical Laboratory Technologist, ASCP, 2007 ASCP ID: 04158994
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Laboratory Compliance Specialist
OKCIC
05.2023 - Current
Laboratory Technician
Oklahoma Blood Institute
04.2022 - 04.2023
Medical Laboratory Technician
Mercy
01.2016 - 01.2021
Lab Technician/Xray Tech
Chickasaw Nation Dept. of Health
01.2014 - 01.2022
Medical Laboratory Technician
SMCC/SSM
01.2008 - 01.2014
Medical Laboratory Technician
Prague Municipal Hospital
01.2007 - 01.2008
Lab Technician/Chem Dept Head
Seminole Hospital
01.2006 - 01.2007
Bachelor of Science -
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Associate of Science - Medical Laboratory Tech
SEMINOLE STATE UNIVERSITY
Associate of Science - General
SEMINOLE STATE UNIVERSITY