MEDICAL LAB ASSISTANT / PHLEBOTOMIST

Position Title: Laboratory Assistant Phlebotomist

Department: Lab

Supervisor’s Title: Lab Manager

Lab Assistant

I) Position Summary:

• Discerns appropriate orders for laboratory testing and maintains patient confidentiality. Performs various modes of phlebotomy for laboratory testing in accordance to established blood collection standards and practices. Interfaces with the patient in a friendly and safe manner, consistent with Valor Health values to provide the best experience. Collaborates with the Medical Laboratory Scientist to provide quality care for the patient by ensuring specimen, testing and documentation integrity.

II) Principal Functions and Responsibilities:

• Responsibilities include those articulated in 42 CFR Standard §493.1230-1232 for General laboratory systems, Confidentiality of patient information and Specimen identification and integrity.
• Must meet 2 CFR Standard §493.1423 for any non-waived testing or meet facility determined minimum requirements and have records of training and competency assessment for waived testing.
• Performs duties in compliance with CLIA, OSHA and NIAHO standards.
• Ensure HIPPA is always followed. Maintain patient rights and confidentiality of patient information and abides by established communication code. Assures accurate maintenance of patient’s medical records and that patient records are treated as confidential information.
• Maintains established policies and procedures, objectives, quality improvement program, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Communicates effectively both verbally and in writing. Assures continuity of care by conducting verbal and/or written reports with incoming staff regarding any pertinent information to their shift.
• Maintains excellent customer service and professionalism when communicating with patients, colleagues, and vendors.
• Obtains blood specimens by venous, capillary, and arterial.
• Follows strict principles of asepsis and antisepsis while performing phlebotomy duties.
• Utilizes proper technique and equipment to prevent injury.
• Plans, organizes, and prioritizes work duties to accomplish daily objectives.
• Uses all equipment for work use only.
• Performs CLIA Waived testing as appropriate.
• Maintains positive and effective relations with relationships with team, patients and/or other disciplines to ensure continuity of care.
• Solves procedural problems and makes independent decisions concerning emergent situations. Understands appropriate triage and multitasking.
• Precepts and orients new laboratory employees, interns, and students.
• Maintains integrity of patient medical record while scanning documents or making changes to the patient medical record.
• Attend in-services and meetings as required.
• May collaborate with InReach and use the LifePoint system portal for documentation purposes, as needed.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

Lead Lab Assistant

In addition to meeting the responsibilities and qualifications, the Lead Lab Assistant is responsible for the following:

• Keeping track of and ordering phlebotomy and miscellaneous supplies.
• Troubleshooting more complex sample issues with our reference laboratory
• Overseeing all training:
  • Training coworkers on how to collect and process samples
  • Training co-workers how to perform waived point-of-care tests
  • Training co-workers how to process and send out samples to our reference lab
  • Computer training of new employees
• Troubleshooting Laboratory billing issues
• Creating the Laboratory Assistants’ schedules
• Miscellaneous other responsibilities as requested

Required Experience and Skills:

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Phlebotomy certification required and is kept current.
• Fine motor skills, clear communication skills, good visual acuity, physical mobility.

Work Environment:

Primarily indoors, occasionally in vehicles and outdoors. Indoor includes: the phlebotomy room, inpatient hospital rooms, Operating Room, Emergency Department, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities. Indoor environment may include all levels of acuity.

Working Conditions:

Potential exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Potential exposure to toxic chemicals. Potential exposure to biohazardous specimens. Potential exposure to sharps. Potential exposure to electrical hazard. Occasional prolonged standing, moderate amounts of stooping and bending, occasional lifting of not more than 20 pounds. Schedule may include working 12-hour shifts, evenings, nights, weekends, holidays on-call and overtime.

Physical Requirement:

Sitting, standing, walking, stooping, use of various laboratory equipment, use of computers, use of laboratory analyzers, use of all forms of phlebotomy equipment, lifting, reaching, walking, hand-eye coordination, repetitive motions, speaking clearly and adequate hearing.