Lab Asst Donor Center

About the role

The Lab Assistant receives and processes all incoming specimens to prepare them for technical assay, ensures the specimens are handled safely to reduce cross contamination, pour-off errors, mislabeling, and missed tests. The Lab Assistant is responsible for ensuring that specimens are stored under proper conditions for optimal results. The Lab Assistant delivers prepared specimens to appropriate areas in a timely manner. The Lab Assistant is responsible for the skillful procurement of blood samples for all age groups, using knowledge of blood collection devices, order of draw, techniques, age specific needs and human anatomy.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates skillful, courteous competency in procedures for blood sample collection, selecting the best equipment and site for the tests requested.
• Serves as an expert venipuncture resource for difficult sticks which can’t be drawn by nursing staff.
• Evaluates specimen integrity for samples collected by lab staff, nursing, or medical staff, knowing whether a specimen is acceptable for the test requested.
• Understands process and reasons for specimen rejection, demonstrating good customer service skills and confidence when advising patients, nurses and medical staff of news they do not want to hear.
• Answers 100% of phone calls coming into the laboratory, able to respond to over 50% of the requests personally.
• Communicates with patients, guests, medical staff, and other hospital staff in a courteous, professional and skillful manner, Uses phone system and other communication tools to transfer calls, take messages, and locate the proper person to take care of any problem which the individual can’t provide himself.
• Provides assistance to hospital employees regarding test orders, test synonyms, profile components and computer ordering processes utilized by nursing, unit secretaries and physicians.
• Resolves 'Unlisted Labs' with a high degree of accuracy.
• Handles specimens safely to maintain sterility and reduce cross contamination, our-off errors, and exposures.
• Proficiently uses multiple computer systems and reference resources including, Pathnet, Quest360, using accurate keyboarding and computer skills.
• Carefully performs duties, ensuring that specimens receive the proper testing required without being lost or compromised; Utilizes Powerchart to view orders, place orders, and investigate the status of samples.
• Completes collections on schedule to enhance physician and nursing satisfaction as well as patient care.
• Supports other members of the team by being cooperative and flexible in carrying out departmental assignments.
• Organizes, assesses, schedules and dispatches phlebotomy requests in a systematic manager in order to minimize patient venipunctures.
• Evaluates, accessions, documents, processes incoming specimens and delivers samples rapidly to support the customer services turnaround times of the laboratory, while performing all functions with a high degree of accuracy, detail and speed.
• Applies knowledge of culture media types, inoculation techniques, and temperature/incubation requirements to process specimens for culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in phlebotomy and/or clinical lab preferred.
• High School Diploma or GED Required.
• Excellent customer services skills, basic computer skills and ability to multitask are required.
• On-the-job-training provided as necessary.
• Intermediate computer knowledge: Uses Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Windows.