Laboratory Manager
El Paso Cancer Treatment Centers
US Oncology
El Paso, Texas

The Rottman Group has been retained by El Paso Cancer Treatment Centers in El Paso, TX to find a Laboratory Manager.  This is a very busy 8-Physician, 2-location oncology practice providing both medical and radiation treatment services.  Though more of a satellite office, this person will also provide leadership to their Las Cruces, NM location.  This practice is part of the larger network known as T.O.P.A. or Texas Oncology, P.A., also a part of U.S. Oncology.  This brings some great access to technology and resources.


El Paso Cancer Treatment Centers

This is a practice that has recently started IMRT.  There are two radiation oncologists who work at both locations and they are currently recruiting a third.  The radiation oncology practice currently averages 100 treatments per day with a 60/40 split between locations.  El Paso Cancer Treatment Center sees approximately 20 new patients each day.  They have approximately 60% market share for oncology services in El Paso .  The practice is also part of Texas Oncology P.A. (TOPA), which in turn is part of U.S. Oncology (see below). 

Even though this is part of two larger organizations, each practice within both TOPA and U.S. Oncology is operated separately and has its own unique identity and culture.  You will find one here that has a very positive past, a bump in the road while the last administrator was there, and now a renewal of positive leadership and a great culture.

There is a continual commitment to enhancing treatment services with the latest and best technology available.


The Role

This is a newly created position.  This person will directly lead the operations of the two locations in El Paso.  There is currently a supervisor at each location.  However, there is a lack of congruency between the locations.   This person will be looked to for leadership.  That leadership will foster/develop a more singular identity and cooperation between locations in ways of: process, operations, policies, procedures, staffing, etc.

This person needs to be strong in both operational and people leadership.  They need to be well versed and though this is a leadership role, clinically competent.  Though much of the testing they do would be considered “routine”, experience with abnormal hematology would be a definite plus.  This person will manage a group of approximately 8 FTEs.

There are approximately 90 patients seen per day between the two El Paso locations.  With this there are typically at least two tests/patient that are done with 99% of patients getting a CBC prior to any other treatments.  Approximately 70% of those patients also get a CMP.  They currently outsource tumor markers and some other testing.  They would like to bring the tumor marker testing in-house and would like the leadership in this role that could best evaluate, make recommendations, and lead things like this in the ongoing development of the lab department.

In the next year the Cancer Center will be putting in a new Lab Information System, Orchard.  This is a system that is used within U.S. Oncology and there would be assistance in the installation/implementation of the system.

Though there has been over a long period of time a very positive environment within the culture and leadership of the practice, there was a “gap” in this during the last couple of years.  Recently, Lisa Fox-Soreff, Practice Administrator, was recruited and started earlier this year.  She has brought a revitalized positive dynamic of energy, vision, and leadership that has been very well received.  There have actually been previous employees that have come back to work there and are very happy.  She had previously and successfully managed an oncology practice in Florida.  This person will have a great, high-energy, enthusiastic, supportive, and very capable administrator that they will report to and work with.

U.S. Oncology

There are several advantages to being part of U.S. Oncology.  Corporately based in Houston, U.S. Oncology is indirectly the largest provider of cancer treatment services in the United States.  In total, the U.S. Oncology network consists of over 875 physicians in 450 sites of service, including 76 cancer centers in 30 states.  There are more than one half million cancer patients cared for by U.S. Oncology affiliated physicians each year; over 15% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in the U.S. 

With this unparalleled national scale, U.S. Oncology is advancing the delivery of high-quality oncology care in many ways:

• Accelerating the pace of cancer research by accruing patients to clinical trials, allowing more patients to have access to new procedures and therapies.

• Bringing state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies to local towns and cities. They  are leveraging economies-of-scale to reduce health-care costs.

• Working with patient advocacy groups to drive public-policy efforts.

Because of this synergistic relationship, each practice has access to capital for the latest equipment, clinical data-sharing for best practices, information technology, and other resources.  At the same time, each practice retains and has its own unique culture and dynamics.