Hospital Lab Technician - Per Diem

University of California, San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

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. They are responsible to receive, label, and process specimens received for analysis in the Clinical Laboratories, to input patient data into the computer, answer telephone inquiries regarding test information and results, and accession (enter) specimens. To maintain, troubleshoot and operate (TLA) Total Lab Automation system. To monitor and operate TUG sample delivery system. Must be able to perform all tasks well without supervision in an efficient and accurate manner to ensure good patient care.

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 the 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 for clear test requests.
Obtain and verify specimen collection requirements from the Laboratory Manual or consult supervisor/residents/technologists when necessary.
Resolve discrepancies or labeling problems via telephone, involving Laboratory Medicine sections or Residents as appropriate.
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 clearly to 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 carry out other special processing as required.
Aliquot the correct amounts of specimens into appropriate containers for testing.
Maintain a continuous flow of specimens for aliquoting by organizing workload efficiently.
Provide the correct number of aliquots and label them correctly.
Determine if specimen amount and quality meet testing requirements, communicating issues to nursing units, physicians' offices, or referring laboratories.
Place specimens in racks or cups for storage according to computer labels.
Package specimens for send-out to Referral laboratories.
File requisitions in bin for scanning.
Aliquot urine collections, verifying labels against requisitions and checking for proper preservative.
Measure all timed urine collections and perform quality control checks on electronic scales.
Pour samples into appropriate containers if collected in nonstandard containers.
Handle specimens as directed by lab manual instructions.
Write Urine Volume and Hours of Collection on 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 appropriate testing sections.
Verify test ordered against requisition during sorting of labels with specimens.
Follow instructions for processing STAT and routine orders on the same specimen.
Communicate non-technical information accurately, clearly, professionally, and courteously.
Answer telephone extensions in the work area in a timely manner.
Process test sent out to a Referral Laboratory when assigned that responsibility.
Package specimens according to instructions on computer-generated labels.
Give top priority to drug and toxicology specimens.
Refer tests requiring prior approval to the laboratory resident before submitting to a Reference Laboratory.
Use basic computer functions (Sunquest GUI Order Entry, General Lab, Smart and Laboratory Inquiry) to retrieve patient data and resolve specimen identification problems.
Process specimens when the computer system is not functioning, following instructions in the written internal crash plan.
Perform additional duties or projects as assigned.
Operate as a "Track Master" operator of the automation track system.
Sort samples and identify correct labeling format before loading to track input lanes or BIM.
Identify QNS (Quantity Not Sufficient) samples and not load to automation line.
Receive in lab system manually and deliver samples to departments.
Identify blood bank sample tubes and not load to automation line.
Deliver sample tubes to Blood Bank department and alert personnel if blood bank specimens are accidentally received.
Investigate samples that do not have download to the automation line.
Investigate samples and troubleshoot samples that go to automation Priority Output Error lanes or unknown lanes.
Send samples for archiving to storage module.
Pull samples from storage module.
Identify automation track system errors.
Call vendor hotline support and troubleshoot track.
Open a ticket to vendor to schedule field service engineer if unable to resolve track issues.
Fill out automation track problem form documenting issues.
Perform software reboot of modules for track troubleshooting.
Perform hardware reboot of modules or whole track for track troubleshooting.
Follow manual procedure of pulling samples from storage system if storage module is not operational.
Ensure PTS (Pneumatic Tube System) bin is not full and consistently unload PTS tube carriers.
Open PTS tube carrier and inspect samples for loading to automation track input lanes or BIM.
Separate samples with paper order requisition for manual receiving in the lab system.
Continuously monitor, operate, and troubleshoot TUG robot delivery system throughout the shift.
Recover the TUG robot if it gets stuck.
Call TUG vendor hotline for troubleshooting assistance.
Communicate with nursing units if TUG is non-operational.
Credit test without result and add credit reason.
Properly fill out problem report form for mislabeled or unlabeled specimens.
Process Add-On test requests within specified timeframes.
Log refrigerator, freezer, and heating block temperatures daily.
Notify lead or supervisor of any issues, alarms, or failures.
Review tests on the problem template and locate specimens.
Endorse un-resolved issues to the next shift as needed.
Monitor un-received DPL within the shift.