Lab Assistant

Covenant Health•Morristown, TN

About The Position

The Lab Assistant supports the General Laboratory by collecting and properly handling venous and capillary blood specimens from inpatients and outpatients, ensuring customer safety and comfort, performing clerical and computer duties, and completing courier responsibilities as required. Customer service and specimen collection are the first priorities. The role also involves specimen processing, order entry and follow-up, communication with patients and clinical staff, and compliance with laboratory policies and applicable regulatory standards. The position is full time, with 80 hours per pay period and varied shifts, at Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown, Tennessee. The hospital is a 170-bed facility serving an eight-county region in East Tennessee’s Lakeway Area.

Requirements

Education or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and ability needed to perform the essential tasks; typically equivalent to a high school diploma or GED.
No minimum experience specified.

Nice To Haves

A high school diploma or GED may be preferred.
Certification by NCA, ASCP, ASPT, or a comparable institution is desirable.

Responsibilities

Provide customer service and collect specimens as the first priority.
Transcribe medical orders promptly and order appropriate laboratory tests for patients, lab contracts, and specimens.
Follow up on verbal orders by requesting written orders.
Answer departmental telephones, transfer calls to the appropriate laboratory or pathology section, and follow through on problem resolution.
Assist physicians and staff in obtaining, faxing, or receiving laboratory test results by telephone, while maintaining confidentiality of test results.
Use HIS, LIS, and reference laboratory computer systems as appropriate for the facility; use manual systems for ordering, collection, verification, and charting during computer failures.
Process specimens, including accessioning, recognizing test priorities, centrifuging, separating and processing, logging, and meeting special collection requirements.
Collect blood samples from venous and capillary sites, including heel or finger sites, as required by the facility.
Use aseptic technique when collecting blood culture specimens.
Label specimens accurately and use the blood bank armband and labeling system properly.
Verify patient identity using the hospital armband and by asking the patient’s name and date of birth, or by asking the RN to visually identify the patient.
Dispose of needles, sharps, and used gloves properly during phlebotomy.
Keep clerical and phlebotomy work areas neat and sanitary.
Participate in Laboratory performance improvement activities and quality improvement initiatives as requested.
Comply with Laboratory policies and procedures, including the Exposure Control plan, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Disaster Plan, Joint Commission standards, CLIA, and state regulations.
Serve as a resource for difficult blood draws when needed.
Follow policies, procedures, and safety standards; complete required annual education assignments; and work toward goals and objectives.
Perform other duties as assigned.