Lab Assistant, PRN

Job Summary: 

The Lab Assistant is responsible for performing limited laboratory procedures, handling specimens, and providing administrative support to laboratory staff and manager

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

To perform this job, an individual must perform each essential function satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodation

• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors
• Interacts professionally with patients/families; treats patients and their families with respect and dignity. Identifies and addresses psychosocial, cultural, ethnic and religious/spiritual needs of patients and their families
• Effectively and appropriately communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers, demonstrating customer service excellence through application of positive language principles, appropriate response and use of constructive problem-solving techniques which foster positive outcomes
• Maintains accurate and continued documentation. Documentation meets current standards and policies
• Applies principles of sterile techniques and infection control procedures
• Assists in orientation and training of new staff/students as necessary
• Keeps current with principles and practices, regulations, and standards that apply to healthcare
• Performs other reasonably related job duties as assigned or requested, within scope of practice
• Performs clerical duties including answering phones, data entry, and filing
•  Verifies patient and specimen identification before performing any procedure
• Register patients and transcribe orders into the lab EHR
• Enters patient demographics and orders into EMR
• Make copies and fax paperwork to other medical offices as needed
• Scan orders and other supporting documents into the medical record
• Query, print, fax, mail, call, and/or chart any reports to the appropriate person/unit/office that requires manual reporting
• Responsible for verification that all lab samples are correctly labeled, and each patient registered correctly in the system
• Verifies samples collected by non-lab personnel, are properly collected, labeled, and matched with the appropriate request or barcode labels for appropriate testing
• Review orders and specimens to ensure that all specimens are received to complete physician orders
• The initial point of contact for all received specimens from clinic sources
• Assists with receiving, identifying, accessioning, processing, and transporting specimens
• Assist the medical offices in retrieving results and following up on labs that have to be sent out to further reference laboratories for processing
• Prepare and submit specimens according to Reference Laboratory guidelines
• Scan test orders for non-interfaced tests
• Performs waived tests according to Laboratory Protocols
• Receives requests, both written and verbal, from physicians for laboratory tests. When a verbal request, follow the protocol for obtaining the written documentation for the verbal request
• Investigates and verifies unusual orders with the units, physicians, and/or Reference Lab
• Must maintain organization in a very busy, high complexity lab that serves clinics, inpatient, and outpatient services
• Centrifuge and store blood samples for subsequent testing

Education:

• High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED), or equivalent, is required

Certifications:

• Phlebotomy certification preferred

Licenses:

• N/A

Experience:

• Minimum of twelve months’ experience as a Phlebotomist, preferred

Skills:

• Requirements will include successful completion of orientation checklist and skills/credentials/competency requirements of specific area of work
• Able to maintain a high awareness of teamwork
• Focused on prioritizing the patient’s clinical experience, maintaining a high awareness of patient satisfaction
• Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to multi-task, while demonstrating proficient time management skills
• Able to respond to and cope with emergency situations professionally and calmly
• Focused, patient and calm, performing well under pressure in a stressful environment and able to take appropriate action
• Must be flexible, able to work as needed for appropriate departmental coverage, ie. irregular work hours
• Basic computer knowledge; become proficient in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems
• Must possess knowledge of computer operations and proficiency in the use of word processing, email, electronic medical records, laboratory information systems and other similar software as required
• Requires critical thinking skills, decisive judgment, and the ability to work with minimal supervision
• Excellent written, verbal and communication skills
• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions ofthis job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security.
• Additional languages preferred