LAB - Medical Laboratory Assistant (PRN)

This is a temporary position not to exceed 12 weeks.

Purpose of the Role

The primary purpose of this position is to follow departmental standard operating procedures and routines for specimen handling, including but not limited to: receiving, registering, accessioning, processing, staining, plating, and labeling of clinical laboratory specimens. This includes processing shared clinical laboratory, microbiology, cytology, and pathology specimens, care of department instruments and analyzers, related housekeeping duties, maintenance of instrument logs, logging specimens into the computer, receiving stock, performing QC on culture media, and maintaining a clean and safe environment.

Interacting with customers both internally and externally, the associate will be a productive team member of the laboratory and work closely with medical technologists and other members of the clinical and anatomical pathology laboratory staff. The associate may be responsible, at the direction of laboratory management and medical technologists, for preparing specimens for culture, send-out, packaging, ordering, and assisting with other clerical duties as needed. The associate will set up equipment, prepare solutions, and prepare supplies for distribution to physician offices.

The associate must perform accurate and complete registration of all specimens delivered to the laboratory, ensuring all specimens are ordered correctly in the LIS. Performs day-to-day laboratory tasks in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, guidelines, and regulations as directed by the Laboratory Director, Laboratory Manager, Department Coordinators, or medical technologists. The associate will handle clerical tasks concerning patient orders, resolution of problems, charge auditing, inventory duties, department set-up duties including temperature checks and blood culture management, and data management of QC, QA, and instrument maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Practices effective communication skills (e.g., listening, phone skills) and maintains a respectful and courteous attitude. Communication reflects the organization’s culture of Service Excellence. Makes suggestions in a positive, tactful manner. Maintains a clean, neat, professional appearance, wears an ID badge, slip-resistant shoes, and complies with the department dress code.
• Properly processes incoming specimen requisitions, ensuring accuracy of all demographic information for registration and submission in the LIS system. Uses two patient identifiers to ensure identification accuracy. Checks all corresponding specimens for accuracy and completeness of information, investigates specimen problems, receives specimens in the LIS, and evaluates the quality and appropriateness of specimens received.
• Accurately prepares working reagents and stains to ensure good quality of slides or culture media. Maintains quality control and instrument maintenance records. Keeps accurate inventory of supplies and reagents and assists in ordering as directed by the department coordinator. Distributes supplies to necessary locations within the laboratory. Maintains a proper filing system for patient requisitions, log sheets, and other documentation.
• Performs technical tasks such as culturing biologic specimens, preparing specimens for testing, staining slides, and other processing under the supervision of technologists. Conducts limited testing with supervision and may report CLIA-waived tests with proper training and competency documentation. Recognizes and reports technical and analytical errors, loads instruments, identifies critical values and STAT results, and calls them in. Performs daily temperature checks, manages blood culture bottles, handles hold-over specimens, and sends specimens to reference labs. Performs limited instrument maintenance, QC documentation, enumeration of QA data, printing of LIS reports and worksheets, and organism maintenance and sub-culturing.
• Completes all mandatory learning requirements for the specific job, including assigned laboratory competency requirements and documentation. Works within and consistent with the Mission, Vision, and Values of the association and pursues completion of personal and departmental goals. Exhibits self-directed motivation for continuing education related to maintaining and enhancing skills for the current job title and beyond. Demonstrates thorough knowledge of current job duties and stays aware of changes in technology. Attends in-services and laboratory meetings. Aids in teaching and directing other laboratory assistants, phlebotomy, or specimen processors, students, or new associates.
• Ensures proper disposal of cultures, specimens, tissues, and chemicals. Maintains department cleanliness. Performs inventory control of supplies, unloading stock, receiving supplies, and keeping accurate QC and lot records while keeping work areas stocked. Properly disposes of all specimens according to laboratory policy.
• Maintains organization in a fast-paced environment, plans the day to ensure effective completion of duties, and prioritizes tasks to ensure quick response times for critical areas. Works at a suitable pace and adjusts as workload increases. Maintains organization despite frequent interruptions. Follows instructions with little or no supervision. Demonstrates thorough knowledge of current job duties and follows all laboratory and hospital safety regulations. Organizes specimens correctly to ensure timely processing according to priority.
• Adheres to attendance policy: is punctual and present when scheduled. Documents absences, occurrences, and tardiness.
• Stays informed of posted information from memos, meeting minutes, and department communication logs. Participates actively in laboratory staff meetings. Maintains a respectful attitude when dealing with other professionals.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• A valid driver’s license is required (if you do not have a valid Ohio driver’s license, you must obtain one within 30 days of residency in the state). Must meet BVHS’s company fleet policy, insurance company requirements, and any other requirements to operate a vehicle.
• Previous experience or knowledge of computers, telephone operations, and equipment maintenance.
• Knowledge of clinical or anatomical laboratory functions, medical terminology, or a science background.
• Must be organized, able to prioritize, work in a fast-paced environment, and have excellent problem-solving skills.
• Must be customer-focused, service-oriented, and able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Must be able to work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Must demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patient served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of patient status.
• Positive service-oriented interpersonal and communication skills required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in an Allied Health field.
• 1-3 years’ experience in a clinical laboratory setting.

Physical Demands

This position requires a full range of body motion with intermittent walking, lifting, bending, climbing, squatting, kneeling, twisting, sitting, and standing. The associate will be required to walk, bend, and stand for seven hours or more a day. The individual must be able to lift twenty to fifty pounds and reach work above the shoulders. This associate must have excellent eye-hand coordination, finger dexterity, and the ability to grasp different items. The associate must be able to visually identify appropriate color indicators specific to testing interpretation and hear audible alarms. This position requires working at a high rate of speed, remaining focused while multitasking, and continually performing all duties error-free. This position is classified “at risk” for possible occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens (HBV, HIV, etc.).