Clinical Lab Assistant - Woodward/Chemistry Automation, (1646)

About the role

The Clinical Lab Assistant is able to work independently and with minimal supervision and/or oversight. Successful candidates have the experience and skillset to perform one or more identified modalities. Compensation is dependent on 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.

Schedule

• PRN shifts as needed with weekends and holidays

Responsibilities

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

Modalities

• Check-in and Order Entry/Reconciliation (modality per system: Clinical, Anatomic, Research, Referral Testing)
  • Identifying patient in system
  • Reconciling electronic orders
  • Manual entry when necessary
  • Insurance/payment when necessary
• General Phlebotomy (ages 10 and above), including 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, including but not limited to FNA, Bone Marrow, EBUS, Bronchial lavage
• Specimen Processing
  • Specimen receipt, sorting, delivery/loading, decanting and retrieval for send-out testing and surgical sample triage
  • Specimen storage and disposal functions
• Non-conformity investigation/Problem Resolution
  • Proper documentation (e.g., Problem Desk aka Portal, TLC, NCE responses, client service)
• Lab Equipment Maintenance and/or support (superuser), including chemical and biohazard waste management for non-testing instrumentation (cryostats and stainline)
• Sample Testing (waived to moderate), including appropriate instrument maintenance, biohazard disposal, and QC
  • Review results to see if they are within defined parameters
  • Identify and resolve technical specimen problems
  • Report out results
  • Identify, research, and resolve specimen, QC, or instrument problems
• Consistent training and/or assisting in competency assessments of modalities to employee and/or students with completing initial training documentation
• Department-specific skilled technical assistance
  • BB-Product prep: irradiating units, thaw cryo and plasma, splitting plasma and platelets
  • Infectious Disease: Planting patient specimens including tissue and bone processing (grinding and cutting), plate inoculation, knowledge of anaerobic versus aerobic incubation requirements
  • Genetics and Cytometry: Nucleic acid extraction, cell culture and harvesting, renal transplant kit oversight and patient testing scheduling and monitoring
  • Histology and Cytology: Cytology specimen processing, slide preparation and staining; Histology specimen processing including bone marrow grossing and knowledge of processing for each tissue type
• TRI Honest Broker Department-specific clerical or support functions
  • Organization of AP/HP cases and slide distribution
  • FFPE Block and slide filing and 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 and tissue
  • Skilled Inventory management: ordering, receiving, monitoring par levels, end of month reconciliations, includes blood supply, reagents, supplies, TriBuy training and competency

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum Education: High school diploma or equivalent
• Preferred: PBT (ASCP) or equivalent certification
• Completion of a relevant Clinical Lab Assistant or comparable program

Immunization Requirements

• Prove immunity to Hepatitis B, or be immunized, or sign a waiver refusing Hepatitis immunization
• Provide documentation of a PPD test conducted not more than 90 days prior to date of hire, or have a PPD test conducted through TriCore
• In departments/locations with direct patient contact: Prove immunity or be eligible to receive rubella, rubeola, and varicella immunization

General Requirements

• Valid driver’s license
• Good driving record
• Must be insurable by lab insurance carrier as required by location
• Eligible to work in a health care facility as provided by the New Mexico Caregivers Criminal History Screening Act or other applicable law

Minimum 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 on a regular basis
• Assigned modalities are determined by the department leadership