Lab Assistant Lead, UWMC Northwest Lab

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

13d • $31 - $44

About The Position

The UW Medicine - Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Seattle, WA has a fantastic opportunity for a Lab Assistant Lead with the Specimen Procurement Team at the University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest. The Lab Assistant Lead provides leadership primarily to the pre-analytical staff in the clinical laboratory. This area includes receiving, processing, and distributing routine and STAT specimens for analytical testing, as well as phlebotomy. Our team prides itself on its patient-centered care, our collaborative nature, and our efficient work ethic. Our Lab Assistant Leads stand out as leaders in a fast-paced setting by bringing confidence and knowledge to any situation or issue. Work schedule: 100% FTE Monday - Friday Evening shift

Requirements

• High school graduation or equivalent AND three (3) years of chemical, clinical, or public health laboratory experience or equivalent education/experience.
• Phlebotomy course or current Medical Assistant-Phlebotomy Certification (MA-P) with the Washington State Department of Health.
• If you do not have the MA-P, you must obtain the certification within 90 days of your start date

Nice To Haves

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in science.
• Experience in a major medical hospital laboratory.
• Experience with electronic health record (EHR) information systems.
• Experience with Laboratory Information System(s) (LIS).

Responsibilities

• Responsible for smooth day-to-day operations in the laboratory processing area: Plans, organizes, and assigns staff work assignments and training to maintain a smooth workflow regardless of workload.
• Calls staff in to work during low or critical staffing as needed.
• Communicates with the supervisor concerning the lab’s operational status, training needs, personnel issues, and staff concerns.
• Works with manager/supervisor to review workplace procedures and policies.
• Reports issues or concerns from other laboratory divisions or hospital staff through hc1 or other reporting mechanisms.
• Must be able to perform tasks on all benches in processing areas to oversee and fill in on all benches whenever needed during short staffing periods.
• Performs limited test setup and reporting as required.
• Perform routine benchwork to effectively oversee staff, making process improvements, and fill in during short staffing.
• Perform other duties as required or as assigned by supervisor or manager.
• Solves specimen problems promptly, thoroughly, and accurately, providing appropriate documentation for manager/supervisor review.
• Makes constructive suggestions for improvements in the laboratory and staffing distribution.
• Keeps laboratory staff informed regarding specimen and/or handling problems or procedural changes.
• Oversees training of new staff to ensure that training is complete and documented on time.
• Updates and provides training materials.
• Works with supervisor to perform, assess, and document competency evaluations of current employees in MediaLab.
• Informs staff about continuing education opportunities.
• Directs staff to ensure the workplace is clean, neat, and professional in appearance.
• Oversees and ensures that biohazardous precautions are always followed, including the disposal of biohazard waste in a timely manner.
• Wears personal protective equipment and ensures staff properly use personal protective equipment as required.
• Performs computer functions required for completion of tasks and acts as a resource to others.
• Ensures that specimen processing runs smoothly during scheduled and unscheduled computer downtimes.
• Understands how to use the Laboratory Information System (LIS), PuTTY, Epic/Beaker (HIS), Hc1, OnBase, MediaLab and Sunquest Collect for problem resolution.
• Ensures that staff follow established departmental policies and division-specific processes and guidelines.
• Integrates new or revised processes into the workplace.
• Authors new guidelines and job aids under the direction of the manager/supervisor.
• Performs a biennial review of current documentation per CAP requirements.
• Maintains patient confidentiality regarding all written, verbal, and computerized patient information per UW Medicine requirements.
• Maintains confidentiality regarding staff and personnel issues.
• Reports equipment and/or facility problems promptly and provides adequate notice to staff.
• Ensures temperatures are monitored daily and takes corrective action in case of equipment failure.
• Provides support to the department to ensure we have adequate supplies and tools for the staff to do their job.
• Maintains and/or notifies manager/supervisor of supply inventory needs; orders as needed.
• Provides safety checks of equipment, reagents or bench practices as needed.
• Under the direction of a manager and/or supervisor, may serve in several other specialized roles.

Benefits

• Vacation time and sick time off that accrue monthly, including 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at the University of Washington or other participating colleges or universities.
• Fully subsidized public transit pass (U-PASS) that covers multiple forms of public transportation in the region.
• Excellent healthcare, dental, disability, retirement, and other plan options.
• Lots of free fantastic fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes offered through the Whole U.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees