Clinic Lab Assistant - Float in St. James, Salem, and Vienna | Full-Time, Day Shift

About the Role

Phelps Health is a 2000-employee-strong hospital and healthcare system serving the heart of small-town Missouri. The Clinic Laboratory Assistant performs specific pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical tasks in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Responsibilities

• Prioritizes incoming specimens and processes in accordance with department safety guidelines.
• Reviews pending log during and at the end of shift.
• Reviews orders received for accuracy of physician request and integrity of specimen collected.
• Generates labels and attaches them accurately to specimens/blood samples, always verifying the name on the specimen with the order.
• Distributes all specimens in a timely manner, orders, and processes them to achieve or exceed established turn-around times.
• Resolves any processing conflicts with orders, notifying providers of necessary re-draws and arranging for re-collection.
• Performs all required quality control, notifying supervisor of any values that do not meet set criteria.
• Demonstrates appropriate skills and ability based on scope of practice and level of training to assess and care for patient’s age-specific needs.
• Collects chain of custody drug screens and follows guidelines for glucose tolerance testing, including appropriate patient glucose dosage.
• Researches orders for reference work, comparing with orders to ensure the correct test was requested.
• Reviews each specimen for proper type, volume required, storage requirements, and processes accordingly.
• Inventories laboratory supplies, contacts the purchaser for re-order, and maintains adequate stock at workstations.
• Daily, reviews pending reference test lists and resolves any problems with overdue or missing specimens.
• Generates batches for specimen pickup and maintains a neat and clean work area.
• Stocks storage areas with supplies, inventories, and rotates stock to minimize wastage.
• Cleans equipment and small instruments, documenting actions as required.
• Receives orders from the storeroom and distributes them to various areas.
• Cleans outpatient contact areas.
• Collects adequate and correct specimens with all necessary information, minimizing trauma to patients of varied ages via venipuncture, capillary puncture, or arterial collections.
• Follows protocol for collection, including verifying patient name and date of birth, using the correct order of draw, and adhering to collection volume limitations for pediatric patients.
• Reviews all outpatient orders for completeness and accuracy, filing completed orders in the appropriate location.
• Maintains a blood culture contamination rate of less than 3%.
• Enters all specimen comments as needed and follows hand hygiene protocols.
• Provides proper instructions to patients for urine collection and diet restrictions.
• Assists with the administration of medications (oral, IM, and SQ) as ordered.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• One-year experience as a phlebotomist or lab assistant preferred.

Mental/Physical Requirements

• Close mental and visual attention required for short periods of time.
• 50% of time spent standing and walking throughout the department and facility.
• Must be able to lift and/or carry up to 20 lbs.

Working Conditions

• Constant exposure to infectious material.
• Works in an air-conditioned environment with moderate noise levels.
• May be required to work any time of day.