Laboratory Assistant - UH Lab Histology - University Hospital

About the role

USA Health is transforming medicine along the Gulf Coast to care for the unique needs of our community. The team provides advanced medical care at multiple facilities, offering patients convenient access to innovative treatments that improve health and overall well-being.

Responsibilities

• Provides support to laboratory staff by performing supervised laboratory functions and services under moderate supervision.
• Recognizes, accessions, and verifies receipt of properly labeled, collected, and preserved specimens in writing or electronically.
• Enters laboratory test orders into the Laboratory Information System (LIS).
• Centrifuges and prepares specimens for testing, including aliquoting specimens into additional tubes or containers as required.
• Labels specimens and distributes them to the appropriate laboratory sections.
• Stores specimens in refrigerators/freezers or prepares them for transport to reference laboratories.
• Completes requisitions and logs for specimens sent to reference laboratories and provides required collection information for send-out testing.
• Files send-out test results and initiates charge documentation for send-out testing.
• Draws blood specimens for both inpatients and outpatients, demonstrating competent patient care across all populations (Neonate, Pediatric, Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric).
• Utilizes proper body mechanics when moving, positioning, or transferring patients and handling equipment or supplies.
• Uses computer programs to perform laboratory functions and operates the pneumatic tube system for sending and receiving specimens.
• Organizes and supports phlebotomy rounds and assists with clerical duties of the laboratory as needed.
• Communicates effectively and professionally with physicians, patients, families, and the healthcare team in person and via telephone.
• Correctly reads laboratory test results over the telephone and directs callers to appropriate laboratory sections.
• Facilitates information flow to laboratory users regarding specimen collection, test ordering, and general laboratory operations.
• Maintains accurate and complete records, including laboratory requisitions, reports, and quality control data.
• Documents customer complaints, ordering errors, and registration issues, reporting them to the supervisor for corrective action.
• Maintains clean, neat, and efficient work areas, including supply inventory and ordering replacements as needed.
• Abides by and enforces compliance requirements, hospital policies, confidentiality standards, infection control, and safety standards.
• Utilizes cost-effective practices in all aspects of the job.
• Participates in continued education and completes all mandatory unit, educational, and hospital requirements.
• Assists in training new laboratory personnel and students.
• May assist with scheduling lower-level staff and managing supplies and inventory.
• Accepts and completes all assigned duties positively and without conflict.
• Works cooperatively with others to improve unit performance.
• Completes all mandatory department, educational, and hospital requirements.
• Adheres to current Infection Control and Safety Standards.
• Regular and prompt attendance; ability to work schedule as defined and overtime as required.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent (required).
• Comparable combination of education and experience may substitute for the above requirements.

Skills

• Organization skills with attention to detail (high).
• Knowledge of basic human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology (medium).
• Communication skills, written and verbal (medium).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office technology: Outlook, Word, Excel (medium).

Benefits

Employees must be in a regular position, working 20 hours or more per week (.50 FTE or greater) to qualify for benefits.