Job Objective:

Under the immediate direction of either the department Clinical Laboratory Scientist and the Senior Clinical Laboratory Scientist, or the Laboratory Phlebotomy/Processing Supervisor, the Laboratory Technician performs a variety of duties in the Clinical Laboratory including collecting and processing biological specimens, equipment operation, maintenance and calibration, preparing specimens to be sent to reference labs, monitoring special collection requirements, and assisting with orientation, training and competency. In addition, this person must also communicate with hospital staff by answering inquiries regarding test orders, specimen availability, and testing.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

A. Technical

• Organizes laboratory orders by priority and specimen type for proper collection and handling of specimens.
• Answers inquiries regarding test orders and specimen availability.
• Reports verified test results to physicians and nursing staff.
• Records temperatures and reports all out of range recordings.
• Maintains logs, worksheets, or charts as indicated by the department.

B. Non-technica l

C. Additional Duties

• Department Technician
• Operates equipment and performs testing in assigned department within the scope of training and established protocols.
• Recognizes instrument malfunction and takes appropriate actions.
• Performs routine maintenance on equipment.

Processing Technician

• Assess workload and coordinates phlebotomy staffing assignments.
• Handles unique specimen collection requirements.
• Processes specimens for testing at selected reference laboratories.
• Packages specimens for special shipment.
• Processes 24-hour urine collections

Pathology Technician

• Process and send specimens for additional studies (bone marrow, cytogenetics, flow cytometry, etc.).
• Prepares and labels slides for pathologist review and keeps the process organized for pathologist.
• File Pathology slides and blocks in an organized fashion.
• Assist pathologist in cutting, staining and labeling frozen sections and rapid interpretations.
• Distribute and file pathology reports, orders, consultations, etc.
• Document all material received/released and returned.
• Interact with other departments within the hospital to resolve pathology matters.
• Respond to pathology-related calls and requests.
• Pick-up, accession, label and create cassettes for surgical, outpatient and cytological specimens.
• Register patients into hospital information system.
• Maintain integrity of patient information throughout processing.
• Set up grossing area for next day with supplies as needed.
• Assure proper maintenance of equipment (working with Biomed/Engineering/Vendors when needed), ordering/stocking of adequate supplies and cleanliness and organization of surgical pathology workstations (including cryostats and stain line) daily.
• Maintain cleanliness of grossing equipment.
• Filter/replace chemicals in stain line and maintain cleanliness of containers.
• Handle pathology specimens, cassettes and chemicals, including pouring formalin into specimen containers, as needed.
• Dispose of tissue and chemicals according to AVMC guidelines.
• Ensure proper identification of pathology specimens, including fetuses, as needed.
• Take specimens to radiology for imaging studies as needed.
• Assist with regulatory inspections and assignments as needed.
• Follow through with assigned projects.
• Support Pathology department as necessary.

Non-Essential Duties:

• Assists with routine phlebotomy as needed.
• Helps stock supplies in the various departments.
• Transports specimens and supplies between the main hospital lab and satellite locations.
Adds support to other laboratory staff as necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge

• Knowledge of basic computer operations.
• Knowledge of safe handling of biological specimens.
• Knowledge of specimen collection requirements.
• Knowledge to recognize deviations from normal standards.
Demonstrates knowledge regarding special needs and behaviors of age specific groups and proficiency in required areas.

Skills

• Skill in performing venipuncture.
• Skill needed for accuracy and precision in processing specimens and testing.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

Abilities

• Ability to follow directions accurately.
• Ability to learn specimen and testing requirements.
• Ability to learn requirements of operation for different types of instrumentation.
• Ability to recognize instrument malfunction and take appropriate action.
• Ability to operate Hospital and Laboratory Information Systems.
• Ability to use reference materials to locate information.
Ability to exhibit courteous, helpful and professional behavior in dealing with patients, public and peers.

Core Competencies: All AVMC employees will effectively demonstrate these behaviors:

• Accountability
• Action Oriented
• Customer Focused
• Compassion
• Effective Communication
• Teamwork
• Ethics & Values
Integrity & Trust

Education and Experience:

Education

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent is required.

Experience

• Knowledge generally acquired through 1 year of clinical laboratory experience is preferred.
• Skill generally acquired through 1 year of phlebotomy experience is preferred.
Minimum of one year experience at an acute care hospital is desirable.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Possession of a current Certified Phlebotomy Technician I or II license issued by the State of California Department of Public Health.
Possession of current CPR certification (Blood Donor Center staff only).

AVMC Conduct/Compliance Expectations:

• Ability to adhere with AVMC Leaves of Absence Policy.
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy.
• Ability to adhere with AVMC Recording of Hours Worked Policy.
• Ability to adhere to the department dress code.
• Ability to organize work and establish priorities.
• Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
• Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards.
• Conforms to AVMC Standards of Excellence.
• Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
• Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with coworkers, managers and other hospital staff.
• Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVMC.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patient, hospital and department information.
• Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations.
• Safely and effectively uses all equipment necessary to carry out duties.
• Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures.
• Conforms with required and appropriate Joint Commission requirements.
• Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines.
• Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education.
• Display a willingness to work as a team player.
• Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times.
• Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVMC Board of Directors.
Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Corporate Compliance rules and regulations, complies with duty to report behavior standard, demonstrates understanding of purpose for Corporate Compliance hotline and importance of seeking guidance from a supervisor when in doubt regarding a possible corporate compliance issue.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to perform duties in a normal hospital clinical laboratory environment.
• Job may require long periods of standing or sitting.
Job requires frequent lifting & handling of biological specimens of less than 10 lbs.

A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.

Education and Experience:

Education

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent is required.

Experience

• Knowledge generally acquired through 1 year of clinical laboratory experience is preferred.
• Skill generally acquired through 1 year of phlebotomy experience is preferred.
Minimum of one year experience at an acute care hospital is desirable.

Required Licensure and/or Certifications:

• Possession of a current Certified Phlebotomy Technician I or II license issued by the State of California Department of Public Health.
• Possession of current CPR certification (Blood Donor Center staff only).