CPT Lab Assistant

Sutter Health•Berkeley, CA

About The Position

The CPT Lab Assistant collects blood specimens and receives, handles, and processes specimens for laboratory testing. The role interacts with patients of diverse ages and backgrounds, receives, sorts, and accessions specimens, and directs them to the appropriate pre-analytic and analytic workflows. It also completes computerized patient-registration and test-order tasks, specimen collection and processing tasks, and basic post-analytic work such as distributing reports and storing or retrieving specimens. The assistant completes quality-related work, including documenting work, maintaining a clean, stocked, and safe work area, monitoring pending work, and escalating priority work. The position uses basic pre-analytic laboratory equipment and follows applicable regulations, codes, policies, and procedures to protect privacy and safety and support optimal patient care.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED provided prior to the start date.
Certified Phlebotomy Technician I (CPT I) or Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II) certification provided prior to the start date.
For Sutter Coast Hospital, Laboratory Department: Certified Phlebotomy Technician II (CPT II) certification provided prior to the start date.
Knowledge and practice of standard principles, processes, procedures, and equipment for ordering laboratory tests, collecting blood specimens, interacting compassionately and effectively with patients, and handling and processing biological specimens.
Ability to perform duties accurately, precisely, and reliably, and to complete assigned tasks within expected timeframes.
Ability to compassionately and effectively interact with patients of diverse ages, backgrounds, values, beliefs, and behaviors.
Ability to follow standard practices, processes, and procedures in sequence and knowledge of applicable regulations and policies concerning patient privacy and safety.
Critical-thinking and decision-making skills, effective verbal and written communication skills, and ability to collaborate and communicate current, factual, and relevant work information.

Responsibilities

Collect blood specimens.
Receive, handle, sort, and accession specimens, assigning them to the appropriate pre-analytic and analytic workflows.
Complete computerized tasks related to patient registration, test-order entry, specimen collection, receiving, and processing.
Perform basic post-analytic tasks, including distributing reports and storing or retrieving specimens.
Document work and maintain a clean, stocked, and safe work area.
Monitor pending work and escalate priority assignments.
Use basic pre-analytic laboratory equipment.
Follow applicable local, state, and federal regulations, codes, policies, and procedures to protect patient privacy and safety.
Prioritize and organize work, respond to workflow fluctuations and unexpected problems, manage hand-offs and STAT orders, and address specimen-integrity issues.
Recognize and appropriately escalate complex or unusual deviations, problems, occurrences, and outcomes.