Hospital Lab Technician 1 - Per Diem

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Laboratory at Zuckerberg San Francisco General provides laboratory testing services for inpatients and outpatients of ZSFG, Laguna Honda Hospital, District Health Centers, and other facilities under the auspices of the SF Public Health Department. The primary responsibility of this position is pre-analytical laboratory testing procedures. Additional responsibilities include: 1) answering telephone inquiries for laboratory results, including critical results and laboratory-related questions, and instructing patients and healthcare providers for specimen collecting; 2) outpatient laboratory registration; 3) Phlebotomy. Under supervision, the Hospital Laboratory Technician 1 PD performs repetitive, technical laboratory procedures that require special training and skill typically with theoretical background in one scientific field. Incumbents usually perform duties of limited variety and work under close technical supervision, in their initial assignments. The laboratory services described below are expected to be performed efficiently and accurately, and all University, ZSFG, and departmental policies are strictly adhered to. Errors in these laboratory services can be dangerous to patients and could be highly disruptive to the patient, the individuals caring for the patient, and the laboratory staff. This position performs all duties in a manner that denotes the team concept and reflects the UCSF and ZSFG mission, vision, and values. The Hospital Lab Technician 1 is required to follow all health and safety precautions and procedures as mandated by regulatory agencies and comply with all UC, ZSFG, and Clinical Laboratory policies.

Requirements

Blood drawing experience.
Knowledge of medical/clinical laboratory terminology.
Ability to communicate clearly in the English language both verbally and in writing.
Possess strong interpersonal skills and demonstrate a willingness to be a team player.
Demonstrate strong personal computer and typing skills.
Graduation from college with a major in an applicable natural science plus one year of experience in the kind of work to be performed; or an equivalent combination of education and experience; and knowledge and ability essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
California Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT 1)

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Perform pre-analytical laboratory testing procedures for patient specimens requiring various Chemistry, Hematology, or Serology testing.
Enter patient data and test requests into the laboratory information system.
Clarify test requests by contacting the physician/unit/clinic.
Handle all specimens in accordance with infection control guidelines and use appropriate personal protective equipment.
Prioritize blood, urine, stool, and body fluid specimens based on ordered priority or stability requirements.
Timestamp requisitions and review tests requested.
Follow the laboratory’s specimen and requisition acceptance and rejection policy.
Resolve problems/discrepancies or notify a supervisor to assist.
Complete data entry and process all STAT and routine specimens within the laboratory’s stated turnaround time standard.
Minimize data entry errors by verifying all typed data.
Centrifuge, aliquot, and label all specimens accurately according to test requirements.
Deliver specimens to the appropriate testing area.
Follow procedures for preparation and sending specimens out to reference labs.
Perform the computer registration process.
Ensure requisition data is complete and contact the clinic or physician for missing/unclear information.
Communicate with a supervisor and engineering when there are issues with the pneumatic tube system.
Maintain a continuous flow of specimens for aliquoting by organizing workload efficiently.
Package specimen for sending out to the Referral Laboratory when assigned to that rotation or when a send-out person is not available.
Monitor and complete add-on requests.
Accurately and clearly communicate and provide excellent customer service, whether in person or by phone.
Use a multi-line telephone system to answer and transfer incoming calls into the laboratory.
Connect callers to appropriate areas of the laboratory.
Use the overhead paging system or take messages as needed.
Answer questions and communicate information obtained from the Clinical Lab Processing Guide (e.g., specimen collection requirements and instructions, turnaround times).
Read patient test results found in the laboratory computer system (Epic-Beaker) to hospital healthcare providers.
Telephone healthcare providers to report specimen problems and critical patient results.
File patient requisitions for scanning.
Provide specimen containers and give instructions for the collection of random urine, clean catch urine, 24-hour urine collections (with or without preservatives), and stool specimens for bacteriology and parasitology.
Consult with the supervisor for inquiries concerning esoteric testing.
Properly identify patient by checking patient ID card/wrist band to ensure proper match of patient with test requisition/lab labels.
Verify the patient's name and birth date to confirm identification.
Use established blood draw techniques, including venipuncture site identification and preparation.
Skillfully use appropriate equipment and employ post-venipuncture care.
Administer a glucose drink for glucose tolerance or post-loading tests.
Determine collection time(s) and properly collect/store timed and labeled sequential blood draws for glucose tolerance.
Ensure proper specimen transport by proper racking and/or bagging specimens, proper clocking and routing of specimens in a timely manner to the appropriate Lab processing area.
Inventory of phlebotomy station.
Operate the instrument and manage workflow efficiently, which includes, but is not limited to, prioritizing and sorting samples and assessing sample and/or container integrity.
Troubleshoot and address issues with samples and workflow accordingly and promptly.
Perform emergency, routine, and scheduled preventive instrument maintenance in accordance with procedures.
Recognize and address instrument issues in a timely manner.
Troubleshoot the instrument with minimal or no assistance from the service technical team/vendor hotline and/or lab supervisor.
Troubleshoot the instrument correctly and appropriately using good judgment and knowledge of the instrument.
Utilize troubleshooting time efficiently while minimizing negative impacts on turnaround time and patient testing.
Document and communicate all instrument issues and corrective action/s promptly and accurately to team members, specialist/s, and supervisor/s.
Use appropriate documentation and/or logs specific to issue/communication/ QA activity.
Appropriately escalate issues to CLS and/or specialists and/or department supervisor/s.
Inventory and replenish on-board instrument reagents and/or supplies.
Review and add tests appropriately, promptly, manually, and/or using LIS tools and capabilities.
Successfully complete all training in areas assigned by supervisor/s.
Read, comprehend, and keep pace with new and/or modification/s in policies and procedures.
Fully understand and follow established procedures and policies.
Appropriately refer any question that is beyond the scope of the policies to a senior team member and/or specialist/s and/or supervisor/s.
Manage workflow in the area to meet established turnaround-time standards for all tests—Notify appropriate laboratory and hospital personnel when turnaround times are expected to be impacted or delayed.
Appropriately and correctly respond to inquiries regarding sample requirements, laboratory testing, and sample status with minimal assistance.
Promptly and effectively follow through on issues.
Demonstrate awareness and recognition of the team’s need.
Assist co-workers when help is needed to meet team and departmental goals.
Assist colleagues and laboratory leadership when samples need to be prioritized and/or during events when laboratory operations and/or patient safety/care may be significantly compromised.
Assist Residents and other divisions in retrieving specimens needed for further testing.
Assist Division managers and supervisors from all lab divisions with questions related to specimens, tube type, stability, test availability, turnaround times, and send out tests.
Assist researchers with questions about the availability of tests and required specimens.
Assist in data entry and file creation.
Demonstrate proficiency in different applications and software products routinely used in business settings, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Zoom, statistical software, etc.
Coordinate orderly storage of department documents.
Lift/push/pull containers/ reagents/ parts/boxes/supplies, etc., to 60 lbs, as needed.
Perform all Quality Assurance (QA) tasks as indicated by job assignments and/or as directed by supervisor and/or management.
Document and communicate all QA issues and corrective action/s promptly and accurately to team members, specialist/s, and supervisor/s.
Maintain and submit laboratory, institution, and state requirements in a prompt and timely manner.
Maintain a clean, safe, and neat work area.
Actively participate and assist in quality assurance activities to ensure the laboratory meets all standards.
Assist in follow-up and investigation of problem specimens and computer issues.
Actively participate and assist supervisors and specialists with investigating and resolving data for Performance Improvement and Patient Safety (PIPS) projects and other improvement projects.
Answer appropriately and competently to questions related to role, tasks, and required working knowledge.
Participate in the training of new employees.
Teach basic instrument operations, workflows, and standard operating procedures/policies.
Actively participate in huddles, meetings, and projects as requested by supervisor/s and specialist/s.
Assist in instrument validation experiments, other testing assays, and quality assurance processes, as directed or assigned by specialist/s and supervisor/s.
Assist specialist/s and supervisor/s in projects as needed and/or requested.
May assist in ordering tests, calling critical results, and/or processing samples when needed.
If the HLT II is licensed to perform phlebotomy, the HLT II may be requested to perform or assist in phlebotomy as needed.
Perform basic operations of the APTIO automation line, which includes loading specimens on the track and retrieving tubes from the collection tray.
Perform daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance of the automation line.
Check the outstanding log.
Help in troubleshooting and escalating any automation line issues to the HLT2 or the CLS.
Assist Clinical Lab Scientists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Specialists, and Supervisors in data collection, handling, and processing.
Process data derived from normal computer operations.
Assist in the collection of statistical data as directed and/or as needed.
Use LIS, laboratory, and institutionally approved software applications appropriately and efficiently.
Comply with all regulatory and institutional policies on data access, security, and privacy requirements.
Continue to efficiently perform duties and responsibilities as assigned when the Lab or Hospital information system is not functioning.
Follow the Lab Information Downtime Procedures.
Forward specimens to the proper testing sections with appropriate bar code labels.
Maintain a clean and organized work area.
Assist in maintaining supplies, calculating miscellaneous statistics, and performing clerical duties as needed.