Medical Technologist

JOB SUMMARY

Waived testing personnel are responsible for a variety of direct patient contact duties related to drawing blood via venipuncture or capillary stick which include proper patient identification, sample collection, and specimen labeling. Assisting with collection and sample processing of waived tests are included in daily duties. Reference lab specimens also must be prepared and processed daily including drug screen collections.

FUNCTIONS

• Assist the lab manager with various tasks such as inventory and ordering, and keeping temperature logs current.
• Collect specimens at nursing homes and travel to these facilities may be necessary.
• Train students for phlebotomy and MLT.
• Acquire and maintain knowledge of related topics to include, but not limited to, infection control, disposal of biohazardous material, proper handling of requisition, interpersonal skills, communications, and dealing with difficult situations.
• Perform waived testing including urine pregnancy tests, urinalysis testing (dip only), rapid strep testing, influenza testing, rsv testing, glucose meter testing, and rapid drug screens.
• Care for patients by collecting blood samples for testing in the laboratory occasionally.
• Label all samples submitted to the laboratory.
• Document controls and patient results for waived tests.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Mobility, reaching, bending, talking, typing, sitting, carrying, standing, grasping, fine hand coordination, ability to hear, ability to read and write, and the ability to remain calm under stress.
• Specific vision abilities include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Involvement in acute, critical and or life-threatening patient care areas and situations is required.
• May be required to assist in administering emergency life-sustaining procedures until such time as judgment and decision-making responsibilities may be assumed by a physician.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Hospital and nursing home facilities - exposure to infectious disease (OSHA Risk Category II. In some departments, this is a Risk Category I position).
• Must follow universal/standard precautions.

SKILLS

• Must be able to perform phlebotomy in addition to performing waived laboratory testing.
• Proficiency with computers is necessary as well as reading and writing legibly.
• Some lifting of reagent containers less than 30 pounds is required.
• Also may have to bend or stoop changing reagents on instruments or collecting patient samples.

COMPENSATION

Position is paid hourly.

REQUIREMENTS

• MT/CLS and MLT/CLT state licenses are REQUIRED.
• CPR certification is required.