Certified Phlebotomy Technician

Sutter Health•San Jose, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Certified Phlebotomy Technician position at PAMF-Palo Alto Medical Foundation CAD involves collecting blood specimens, as well as receiving, handling, and processing specimens for Laboratory testing. The role requires interacting with patients of diverse ages, backgrounds, values, beliefs, and behaviors. Key responsibilities include completing computerized tasks related to patient registration, test order entry, specimen collection, receiving, and processing. The technician will also perform basic post-analytic tasks such as distributing reports, storing, and retrieving specimens. Quality-related tasks, including documentation, maintaining a clean, stocked, and safe work area, monitoring pending work, and escalating priority work, are essential. The role requires operating and using basic pre-analytic lab equipment and adhering to all local, state, and federal regulations, codes, policies, and procedures to ensure patient privacy and safety while delivering optimal patient care.

Requirements

High School or General Education Diploma (GED) provided prior to start date.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPTI) provided prior to start date OR Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II) provided prior to start date.
For Sutter Coast Hospital, Lab Department: Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPTII) provided prior to start date.
Knowledge and practice of standard principles, processes, procedures, and equipment related to: 1) ordering Laboratory testing, 2) collecting blood specimens, 3) compassionately and effectively interacting with patients, 4) handling and processing biological specimens routinely submitted to the Laboratory for analysis.
Ability to accurately, precisely, and reliably perform job duties and assigned tasks.
Ability to organize and prioritize job duties and assigned tasks for completion within expected timeframes.
Ability to compassionately and effectively interact with patients of diverse ages, backgrounds, values, beliefs and behaviors.
Ability to appropriately respond to: 1) fluctuations in volume, 2) unexpected situations or problems such as equipment or IS failure, 3) shift-to-shift hand-offs, 4) STAT test orders, 5) specimen integrity issues, 6) regular review of pending logs, priority assignments, etc.
Ability to follow standard practices, processes, and procedures in sequence.
Knowledge of applicable local/state/federal regulations, codes, policies, and procedures aimed at ensuring the privacy and safety of patients.
Solid critical thinking in applying knowledge and decision-making.
Knowledge of and ability to recognize and appropriately escalate complex and unusual deviations, problems, unusual occurrences and unexpected outcomes.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to work in a collaborative setting where the communication of current, factual, and relevant work information is required.

Responsibilities

Collects blood specimens for a variety of Laboratory tests using age-appropriate techniques.
Handles/transports Lab specimens and provides post-phlebotomy care to patients.
Completes computerized tasks as appropriate for affiliate to ensure complete patient registration and/or test order entry into the lab information system, as well as generation of collection lists and/or labels.
Receives specimens for testing; assesses specimens upon receipt according to established criteria to determine acceptability.
Takes action according to protocol including escalating to licensed or certified personnel for direction.
Handles and processes a variety of specimen types to prepare them for analysis; adheres to protocols to maintain specimen integrity at all times.
Processing specimens includes such tasks as sorting, centrifuging, aliquoting, decanting, racking, storing, and loading an auto-processor or automated line.
Prepares and/or packages specimens for transport to another Sutter or outside reference laboratory and may complete computer steps necessary for processing referred specimens, such as compiling tracking lists.
May load specimens onto automated "walk-away" analyzers.
Verbally communicates released/reported results.
Routes, distributes and retransmits released/reported results.
Stores and retrieves specimens.
Maintains an adequate inventory of supplies in work area and/or on phlebotomy cart.
Maintains required records by completing basic documentation of pre-analytic and post-analytic work, as well as quality-related tasks.
Maintains an organized and safe workspace; completes required cleaning/decontamination procedures and properly disposes of waste.
Operates and/or uses basic pre-analytic lab equipment (e.g., phone, computer, centrifuge, refrigerator, pipette, incubator, pneumatic tube system, auto-processor); escalates according to protocol when equipment is malfunctioning.
Remains knowledgeable of, and adheres to, Sutter and departmental policies, processes and procedures.
Participates in managing the laboratory workflow by performing duties such as monitoring pending work, escalating priority work, locating specimens, and coordinating specimen recollections.
Receives incoming calls for the laboratory and assists the caller as appropriate or transfers these calls to the appropriate laboratory section or person.
Communicates with customer (e.g., ordering provider, physician office staff or nursing personnel) to clarify ambiguous, unclear or duplicate test orders.
Interacts with patients consistent with role of a CPT and according to affiliate-specific practices and aligned with the Sutter Values.