Hospital Lab Technician 1

UCSF•San Francisco, CA

4d•$42 - $52

About The Position

The Clinical Laboratory at Zuckerberg San Francisco General provides testing services for inpatients and outpatients of ZSFG, Laguna Honda Hospital, District Health Centers, and other facilities under the San Francisco Department of Public Health. The Hospital Lab Technician 1 primarily performs pre-analytical laboratory procedures for blood, urine, stool, and other body-fluid specimens. Additional duties include answering laboratory phone inquiries, communicating critical results and specimen requirements, registering outpatients, and performing phlebotomy. The role includes receiving, prioritizing, registering, processing, centrifuging, aliquoting, labeling, routing, and, when assigned, preparing specimens for referral laboratories. The technician enters and verifies patient and test information in laboratory systems, resolves or escalates specimen and workflow issues, supports laboratory instruments and automation, and helps maintain turnaround times. The position also provides patient and healthcare-provider instructions for specimen collection and responds to questions about results, testing, and specimen status. The technician follows applicable infection-control, health-and-safety, quality-assurance, privacy, and institutional procedures. Other responsibilities include supporting data management and downtime procedures, maintaining a clean and organized work area, assisting with supplies and clerical tasks, participating in training and team projects, and lifting, pushing, or pulling containers and supplies weighing up to 60 pounds as needed. Duties must be performed accurately and efficiently, in accordance with UCSF, ZSFG, and Clinical Laboratory policies and the team’s patient-care mission.

Requirements

Blood-drawing experience and a California Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT 1) license are required.
Knowledge of medical or clinical laboratory terminology.
Ability to communicate clearly in English, verbally and in writing.
Strong interpersonal skills and willingness to work as a team player.
Strong personal-computer and typing skills.
Graduation from college with a major in an applicable natural science and coursework in biology or chemistry; or two years of college natural-science coursework including biology or chemistry plus two years of applicable experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Required certification: California Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT 1).
The qualifications section lists a B.S. degree in biology or chemistry and one year of appropriate clinical laboratory experience as required licenses and/or certifications.

Nice To Haves

B.S. degree in biology or chemistry.
One year of appropriate clinical laboratory experience.

Responsibilities

Perform pre-analytical laboratory procedures for Chemistry, Hematology, and Serology specimens, including blood, urine, stool, and other body fluids.
Prioritize incoming STAT and routine specimens according to priority and stability requirements; review requisitions and apply specimen acceptance and rejection policies.
Enter and verify patient information and test requests in the laboratory information system, complete computer registration, and contact clinics or physicians to clarify incomplete or unclear requests.
Centrifuge, aliquot, label, route, and deliver specimens according to test requirements; prepare and package referral-laboratory specimens when assigned.
Monitor add-on requests and maintain an efficient flow of specimens for processing.
Answer and transfer laboratory calls, provide testing and specimen-collection information, communicate specimen problems, and report critical results to healthcare providers.
Provide specimen containers and instructions for urine and stool collections and other specimen types described in laboratory procedures.
Identify patients and perform blood collection using established venipuncture techniques, including timed collections and appropriate post-venipuncture care; collect blood-culture specimens when required.
Receive, document, rack or bag, clock, and route specimens to the appropriate laboratory processing area; maintain phlebotomy-station inventory.
Operate laboratory instruments and the APTIO automation line; manage workflow, replenish reagents and supplies, perform scheduled maintenance, troubleshoot issues, document corrective actions, and escalate problems appropriately.
Complete assigned training, follow current policies and procedures, manage workflow to meet turnaround-time standards, and notify appropriate personnel of anticipated delays.
Support colleagues, residents, researchers, laboratory divisions, supervisors, and specialists with specimen retrieval and questions about specimens, testing, availability, and turnaround times.
Perform assigned quality-assurance activities; document and communicate issues and corrective actions; assist with investigations, performance-improvement work, and patient-safety projects.
Assist with data collection, processing, statistics, data entry, file creation, and approved laboratory software while complying with data-security and privacy requirements.
Continue assigned duties during laboratory or hospital information-system downtime and follow downtime procedures, including forwarding specimens with appropriate barcode labels.
Participate in team huddles, meetings, projects, instrument validation, and training of new employees.
Maintain a clean, safe, and organized work area; assist with supplies, statistics, and clerical duties; lift, push, or pull containers, reagents, parts, boxes, or supplies up to 60 pounds as needed.