Clinical Lab Assistant - Phlebotomist - UNMH Senior Health Clinic, (1643)

Location: UNMH Senior Health Clinic

Schedule

• Monday-Friday 07:30–16:30 with a 1-hour lunch
• Other shifts as needed

About the Role

The Clinical Lab Assistant Phlebotomist works independently with minimal supervision and performs one or more identified modalities. Compensation varies by the number of modalities performed. Candidates without experience may be considered for a paid apprenticeship level. Regular in-person attendance during scheduled work hours is essential.

Responsibilities

• Perform duties in a professional and courteous manner
• Maintain supplies and inventory necessary for departmental functions
• Observe students and/or new staff as needed
• Exhibit basic problem-solving skills to ensure exceptional customer and patient care service levels
• Handle hospital communication responsibilities, including on-call duties during scheduled hours (cell phone) by location
• Demonstrate effective telephone and verbal communication skills
• Actively exercise professional judgment when dealing with clients, patients, and co-workers
• Perform clerical functions as needed, including documenting critical communication such as call-ins in the absence of a supervisor
• Maintain confidentiality associated with the position and access to personal and confidential information
• Participate in and maintain coverage levels for on-call as needed to meet service levels
• Cover holidays, evenings, and weekends as required
• Basic PC skills

Modalities

• Check-in and Order Entry/Reconciliation (Clinical, Anatomic, Research, Referral Testing)
  • Identify patients in the system
  • Reconcile electronic orders
  • Manual entry when necessary
  • Handle insurance/payment as needed
• General Phlebotomy (ages 10 and above)
  • Vacutainer, butterfly, and syringe collections
• Special Collections and/or External Shipping Certification
  • Arterial blood gas, pediatric and infant draws, sweat collection, breath collections
  • Occupational health/drug screen collections, MRSA and COVID collections, therapeutic phlebotomies
• Assisting Provider-Performed Procedures
  • Fine-needle aspiration (FNA), bone marrow, EBUS, bronchial lavage
• Specimen Processing
  • Specimen receipt, sorting, delivery/loading, decanting, and retrieval for send-out testing
  • Surgical sample triage, specimen storage, and disposal
• Non-Conformity Investigation/Problem Resolution
  • Problem desk/Portal, TLC, NCE responses, client service, including proper documentation
• Lab Equipment Maintenance and Support
  • Superuser for non-testing instrumentation (cryostats, stainline)
  • Chemical and biohazard waste management
• Sample Testing (waived to moderate)
  • Appropriate instrument maintenance, including biohazard disposal and QC
  • Review results for defined parameters
  • Identify and resolve technical specimen problems
  • Report results
  • Research and resolve specimen, QC, or instrument problems
• Training and Competency Assessments
  • Consistent training and assisting in competency assessments for employees and students
  • Complete initial training documentation, including N95 fit testing
• Department-Specific Technical Assistance
  • Blood Bank (BB): Product prep (irradiating units, thawing cryo/plasma, splitting plasma/platelets)
  • Infectious Disease: Planting patient specimens (tissue/bone processing, plate inoculation, knowledge of anaerobic vs. aerobic incubation)
  • Genetics and Cytometry: Nucleic acid extraction, cell culture/harvesting, renal transplant kit oversight, patient testing scheduling/monitoring
  • Histology and Cytology: Cytology specimen processing, slide prep/staining, histology specimen processing (bone marrow grossing, tissue-type processing knowledge)
  • TRI Honest Broker: Department-specific clerical/support functions
  • Organization of AP/HP Cases: Slide distribution, FFPE block/slide filing, material retrieval
  • Consult Case Management: Ordering, material retrieval, billing, Client on the Fly, report upload
  • Client Material Return
  • Unit Allocation & Issue: Cryo, plasma, platelet, bone, tissue
  • Skilled Inventory Management: Ordering, receiving, monitoring par levels, end-of-month reconciliations (blood supply, reagents, supplies), TriBuy training/competency

Requirements

• Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Preferred Certification: PBT (ASCP) or equivalent
• Preferred Education: Completion of a relevant Clinical Lab Assistant or comparable program
• Immunization Requirements:
  • Prove immunity to Hepatitis B, be immunized, or sign a waiver refusing immunization
  • Provide documentation of a PPD test conducted within 90 days prior to hire or complete a PPD test through TriCore
  • In departments with direct patient contact: Prove immunity or be eligible to receive rubella, rubeola, and varicella immunizations
• General Requirements:
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Good driving record and insurable by lab insurance carrier as required by location
  • Eligible to work in a healthcare facility per the New Mexico Caregivers Criminal History Screening Act or other applicable law

Experience

Candidates with no training or experience may be considered for an apprenticeship. Selected candidates will be placed into CLA Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 based on the number of modalities completed regularly. Assigned modalities are determined by department leadership.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching
• Paid time off (PTO) and paid holidays
• Opportunities for continuous learning and education assistance
• Wellness programs
• Career advancement opportunities