What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab Assistant/Phlebotomist position at Physicians Regional North?
- Demonstrates skillful, courteous competency in procedures for blood sample collection, selecting the best equipment and site for the tests requested. Serves as an expert venipuncture resource for difficult sticks which can’t be drawn by nursing staff.
- Evaluates specimen integrity for samples collected by lab staff, nursing, or medical staff, knowing whether a specimen is acceptable for the test requested. Understands process and reasons for specimen rejection, demonstrating good customer service skills and confidence when advising patients, nurses and medical staff of news they do not want to hear.
- Along with other lab assistants, answers 100% of phone calls coming into the laboratory, able to respond to over 50% of the requests personally. Communicates with patients, guests, medical staff, and other hospital staff in a courteous, professional and skillful manner, uses phone system and other communication tools to transfer calls, take messages, and locate the proper person to take care of any problem which the individual can’t provide himself.
- Responds to inquiries from medical staff and nurses, providing accurate information and instructions regarding proper specimen collection, containers, quantities, stability and specimen preservation for blood, urine, body fluid and other biological specimens for general laboratory, microbiology and pathology samples. Uses resources to investigate special requests, determining the specific test code and specimen requirements for orders written in non-standard format. Provides assistance to hospital employees regarding test orders, test synonyms, profile components and computer ordering processes utilized by nursing, unit secretaries and physicians. Resolves ‘non interfaced Labs’ with a high degree of accuracy.
- Knows the correct procedures for handling samples to maintain integrity, being aware of limitations of various specimen types, test requirements, containers and storage conditions. Is able to demonstrate how safety separate blood cells from plasma and knows when it is required and when it can destroy the specimen. Handles specimens safely to maintain sterility and reduce cross contamination, pour-off errors, and exposures.
- Proficiently uses multiple computer systems and reference resources including, Pathnet, Quest 360, using accurate keyboarding and computer skills. Carefully performs duties, ensuring that specimens receive the proper testing required without being lost or compromised; Utilizes Powerchart to view orders, place orders, and investigate the status of samples. Performs patient registration and test selection/order entry with a high degree of speed and accuracy utilizing many different requisitions, clients, and internal or reference lab computer system.
- Proficiently uses multiple computer systems and reference resources including, Pathnet, Quest 360, using accurate keyboarding and computer skills. Carefully performs duties, ensuring that specimens receive the proper testing required without being lost or compromised; Utilizes Powerchart to view orders, place orders, and investigate the status of samples. Performs patient registration and test selection/order entry with a high degree of speed and accuracy utilizing many different requisitions, clients, and internal or reference lab computer systems.
- Properly identifies and track all specimens coming into the lab, organizing and packaging samples transported to different laboratory sections and multiple reference labs. Organizes post-testing samples, able to retrieve samples as requested.
- Organizes, assesses, schedules and dispatches phlebotomy requests in a systematic manager in order to minimize patient venipunctures. Recognizes specimens and tests which must be performed at specific times to monitor drug therapy, etc.
- Evaluates, accessions, documents, processes incoming specimens and delivers samples rapidly to support the customer services turnaround times of the laboratory, while performing all functions with a high degree of accuracy, detail and speed.
- Demonstrates proper techniques to secure specimens for shipping, avoiding leakage, exposure, and loss of specimens.
- Recognizes deviation from procedures and specimens which must be rejected due to issues with stability, preservation, labeling, or specimen integrity, reports to supervisor for variance reporting. Investigates incidents and discusses immediate problem resolution with lab technical staff and nursing staff, advising supervisor of trends requiring follow-up by manager.
- Provides patient reports to healthcare providers, ensuring the principles of HIPPA are observed.
- Reviews computer reports to ensure that tests are in progress, preventing lost specimens and delays; Follows up on incomplete orders, communicating with nurses in a professional manner with focus on problem resolution.
- Manages own time with little supervision to accomplish immediate duties of rapidly processing incoming specimens as well as periodic duties to create specimen transfer lists for shipping to other locations.
- Applies knowledge of culture media types, inoculation techniques, and temperature/incubation requirements to process specimens for culture.
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