Hospital Lab Technician 1

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Hospital Lab Technician 1 receives, labels, and processes specimens for analysis in the Clinical Laboratories. This role involves inputting patient data into computer systems, answering telephone inquiries about tests and results, and accessioning specimens. The technician will also maintain, troubleshoot, and operate the Total Lab Automation (TLA) system and monitor the TUG sample delivery system. The position requires the ability to perform all tasks efficiently and accurately without supervision to ensure excellent patient care. Within the first six months, employees must be able to routinely perform all tasks at the required standard level, which will involve instruction from supervisors and personal initiative. Adherence to all University and departmental policies is mandatory.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience OR two years of college including courses in the natural, physical, or social sciences, and one year of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Must speak and write clearly and be readily understood to permit accurate transmission of laboratory data, messages, etc.
Must be able to communicate effectively with physicians, requesting departments, and other staff.
Must be able to work well under pressure.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of a clinical lab setting and medical terminology preferred.
Typing and computer experience preferred.
Valid California Phlebotomy CPT license preferred.

Responsibilities

Receive, label, and process specimens received for analysis in the Clinical Laboratories.
Input patient data into computer systems (e.g., Sunquest).
Process work in a specific order: STATs, Process Immediately, Routine Racks, Urine and Body Fluids, Research/Budget.
Receive and sort STAT, pre-op, or routine specimens from internal and external sources.
Check for proper patient identification on specimens and requisitions, and verify clear test requests.
Obtain and verify specimen collection requirements from the Laboratory Manual or other available sources.
Resolve discrepancies or labeling problems by telephone, involving appropriate laboratory sections or residents.
Place blood samples and requisitions in racks for computer entry and labeling, setting aside specimens requiring special processing.
Process specimens from outside institutions only if accompanied by proper authorization.
Label specimens with appropriate computer-generated labels, paying attention to the risk of mislabeling when multiple specimens are submitted together.
Prepare pour-off vials for aliquoting as necessary.
Verify correct computer entry of tests by checking orders on labels against requisitions.
Flag specimens for analytical sections to facilitate sharing.
Initial requisition upon completion of labeling.
Centrifuge specimens and separate cells and/or plasma where appropriate, operating equipment properly and safely.
Add buffers or preservatives to samples or perform other special processing as required.
Aliquot correct amounts of specimens into appropriate containers for testing.
Determine if the amount and quality of the specimen meet testing requirements, communicating issues to nursing units, physicians' offices, or referring laboratories.
Package specimens for send-out to Referral laboratories.
File requisitions in the bin for scanning.
Verify urine labels against requisitions and check for proper preservative addition.
Measure all timed urine collections using an electronic scale, performing quality control checks.
Aliquot urines into proper tubes or containers.
Handle specimens as directed by lab manual instructions.
Initial requisition upon completion of urine aliquoting.
Write Urine Volume and Hours of Collection on the Urine Volume worksheet.
Review Volume/Hrs of Collection on worksheet for daily discard specimens.
Resolve problems arising from improper handling of specimens.
Sort STAT specimens with labels and transport them to the appropriate testing sections.
Verify test ordered against requisition during the sorting of labels with specimens.
Follow instructions for processing STAT and routine orders on the same specimen.
Communicate non-technical information accurately and clearly to physicians, requesting departments, and other staff.
Answer telephone extensions in the work area in a timely manner.
Process test sent out to a Referral Laboratory, packaging specimens according to instructions.
Give priority to drug and toxicology specimens for courier pickup.
Refer any test requiring prior approval to the laboratory resident before submitting to a Reference Laboratory.
Use basic computer functions (Sunquest GUI Order Entry, General Lab, Smart, Laboratory Inquiry) to retrieve patient data and resolve specimen identification problems.
Process specimens when the computer system is not functioning, following the internal crash plan.
Track Master function: Sort samples, identify correct labeling format, identify QNS samples, receive samples manually, deliver samples to departments, identify and handle blood bank sample tubes, investigate sample issues, send samples for archiving, and pull samples from storage.
Troubleshoot automation track system errors, call vendor support, open tickets for field service engineers, fill out problem forms, perform software and hardware reboots, and follow manual procedures for storage system issues.
Perform automation track storage temperature checks and daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance.
Ensure the PTS (Pneumatic Tube System) bin is not full and unload carriers, inspect samples, and separate samples with paper order requisitions for manual receiving.
Continuously monitor, operate, and troubleshoot the TUG robot delivery system, recovering it if stuck and calling vendor support.
Credit tests without results and add credit reasons.
Properly fill out problem report forms for mislabeled or unlabeled specimens.
Process Add-On test requests within specified timeframes.
Log refrigerator, freezer, and heating block temperatures daily and notify lead or supervisor of any issues.
Review tests on the problem template, locate specimens, or endorse unresolved issues to the next shift.
Monitor un-received DPL within the shift.