Clinical Laboratory Scientist Assistant (Per Diem, Day Shift)

Centrally located within the heart of California, Adventist Health Tulare has been serving the Central Valley since 2018. We are comprised of a 108-bed acute care hospital, emergency department and provide primary and specialty care services to best serve our community. Tulare is situated in a delightful and geographically diverse region with opportunities for all-season outdoor recreation such as camping, hiking, water and snow skiing, fishing, and boating. It is also within an hour's travel time to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks. The area offers a great cost of living and close-knit communities.

About the role

Performs duties primarily in support of analyzing Laboratory quality control and patient specimens as well as quality assurance tasks. Operates, maintains, and does basic troubleshooting of Laboratory analyzers that perform testing classified as "waived" and "moderate complexity". Collects blood specimens and interacts with patients of diverse ages, backgrounds, values, beliefs, and behavior. Receives, handles, and processes a variety of specimens for Laboratory testing. Completes computerized tasks related to patient registration and/or test order entry, specimen collection, receiving, and processing. Performs basic post-analytic tasks, including distributing reports, storing, and/or retrieving specimens. Provides guidance to phlebotomists and lab assistants to promote optimal workflow and rapid problem resolution.

Responsibilities

• Loads quality control and patient specimens onto analyzers for testing; follows procedures to ensure the appropriate functioning of the analyzer to ensure testing accuracy and precision.
• Completes analyzer start-up sequence and function checks according to standard protocol.
• Prepares reagents and maintains analyzer on-board reagent stock.
• Collects blood specimens for a variety of Laboratory tests using age-appropriate techniques; handles/transports Lab specimens and provides post-phlebotomy care to patients.
• Completes computerized tasks as appropriate for affiliate to ensure complete patient registration and/or test order entry into the lab information system, as well as generation of collection lists and/or labels.
• Receives specimens for testing; assesses specimens upon receipt according to established criteria to determine acceptability; takes action according to protocol including escalating to licensed or certified personnel for direction.
• Handles and processes a variety of specimen types to prepare them for analysis; adheres to protocols to maintain specimen integrity at all times.
• Prepares and/or packages specimens for transport to another Adventist Health or outside reference laboratory and may complete computer steps necessary for processing referred specimens, such as compiling tracking lists.
• Verbally communicates released/reported results. Routes, distributes, and retransmits released/reported results.
• Stores and retrieves specimens.
• Operates and/or uses basic pre-analytic lab equipment and waived/moderate complexity analytic lab equipment; escalates according to protocol when equipment is malfunctioning.
• Performs preventive maintenance and minor troubleshooting for Laboratory analyzers.
• Monitors temperatures and other indicators of environmental and equipment functionality.
• Maintains an adequate inventory of supplies in work area and/or on phlebotomy cart.
• Participates in managing the laboratory workflow by performing duties such as monitoring pending work, escalating priority work, locating specimens, and coordinating specimen recollections.
• Maintains required records by completing basic documentation of pre-, post-, and analytic work, as well as quality-related tasks.
• Provides guidance to Lab Assistants to promote optimal workflow and rapid problem resolution.
• Receives incoming calls for the laboratory and assists the caller as appropriate or transfers these calls to the appropriate laboratory section or person.
• Communicates with customers to clarify ambiguous, unclear, or duplicate test orders.
• Answers patients’ questions within scope of job; appropriately escalates questions that can’t be answered.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Education/GED or equivalent: Required in CA; Preferred in OR and HI.
• Associate’s/Technical Degree or equivalent combination of education/related experience: Preferred.
• Two years' relevant clinical laboratory experience: Preferred.
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) license: Preferred.

Pay

The estimated base pay for this position is $25.00 to $31.36 per hour. Additional individual compensation may be available for this role through differentials, extra shift incentives, bonuses, etc.

Schedule

• Shift: Day Shift
• Shift Length: 8 Hours
• Assignment Category: Per Diem