Lab Assistant

About the role

Assists the technical and professional laboratory staff in completing analytical processes. Answers and routes technical inquiries, and works to facilitate the throughput of STAT and inpatient workload. May participate in the technical process, including loading samples onto automated instrumentation and performing waived testing.

Department

The laboratory teams at Samaritan Health Services have responsibilities for testing samples that may include blood, body fluids and tissue to aid in diagnosis of diseases, illnesses or conditions that may need medical attention. Lab tests are processed for hospital inpatients and emergency room patients twenty four hours a day. In addition, testing is performed on outpatient and clinic specimens. All Samaritan Health Services labs are licensed by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CLIA) and accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent required. One of the following is also required:

• Associate's degree in Science/Healthcare.
• Two years of undergraduate coursework in a Science/Health related Bachelor's (BS or BA) program.
• Two years Phlebotomist experience and current Phlebotomy Certification.
• Two years related experience in a laboratory setting.

Experience and/or training with computer applications, including Microsoft Office, required. Bachelor's degree in sciences or college-level coursework in sciences (biology, microbiology, chemistry) preferred. Experience in a healthcare setting preferred.

Skills

• Analytical/Problem Solving Skills: Ability to collect and analyze data and other information, solve problems, and make decisions using clear and logical steps.
• Clinical Laboratory Technology: Working knowledge in areas of laboratory medicine and technology including clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology.
• Quality Assurance Fundamentals: Basic knowledge and understanding of clinical quality assurance and quality control techniques and activities.
• Compliance Monitoring: Ability to monitor performance of self, other individuals, and processes by applying knowledge of established performance standards from regulatory agencies as well as employer and understanding regulatory licensure and conditions.
• Customer Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service within the healthcare community, including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. Ability to communicate technical concepts and make presentations and demonstrations to customers and new employees.
• Training and Education: Ability to communicate technical concepts and make presentations and demonstrations to customers and new employees.

Physical Demands

The following physical demands are required for this role:

• Rarely (1 - 10% of the time): Climb ladder, kneel (on knees), rotate trunk sitting.
• Occasionally (11 - 33% of the time): Climb stairs, lift (knee to chest: 24"-54") 0 - 20 lbs, lift (waist to eye: up to 54") 0 - 20 lbs, carry 1-handed 0 - 20 pounds, bend forward at waist, sit, rotate trunk standing, reach forward, reach upward, push (0 - 20 pounds force), pull (0 - 20 pounds force).
• Frequently (34 - 66% of the time): Stand, walk on level surface.
• Continually (67 - 100% of the time): Manual dexterity (hands/wrists), finger dexterity, pinch (fingers), grasp (hand/fist).
• Lift (Floor to Waist: 0"-36"): 40 - 60 lbs.