Lab Prep Tech | UF Health Jacksonville - Downtown | Full-Time | Days

UF Health•Jacksonville, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lab Prep Tech contributes to the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients by preparing or processing specimens for analysis while maintaining positive patient identification. The role handles specimen retrieval and verification, accessioning, slide preparation, pathology case distribution, block and slide filing and retrieval, record retention, equipment maintenance, chemical and hazardous-waste handling, work-area upkeep, supply monitoring, and related laboratory support. The position also answers phones and uses pathology Laboratory Information Systems. Work must be accurate, professional, ethical, confidential, and trustworthy, including when dealing with people in stressful situations. The position is based at UF Health Jacksonville Hospital, 655 8th St W, Jacksonville, Florida, and follows a Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. schedule. It is a full-time, day-shift role.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Vocational training.
1–2 years of data-entry or laboratory experience.
Data-entry skills.
Good verbal and electronic communication skills with internal and external laboratory customers and associates.
Knowledge of laboratory departments, specimen types, equipment, and processing.
Ability to prioritize tasks and organize workflow, with good decision-making skills.
Attention to detail.
Ability to resolve stressful situations professionally.

Nice To Haves

Coursework in phlebotomy, medical terminology, and data entry.
Experience with specimen processing and test preparation in microbiology, histology, or cytology.

Responsibilities

Accession laboratory specimens into the LIS, apply appropriate specimen protocols, add tasks such as blocks or stains, complete gross descriptions and other relevant information, verify billing codes, create blocks or slides as needed, and notify pathologists about rush and frozen cases; perform registration as needed.
File and retrieve paperwork, ship and file blocks, maintain specimen-slide and block retention, and maintain quality-control logs.
Answer telephone calls professionally and courteously and forward them to the appropriate person.
Organize and prioritize work to support section workflow, productivity, and turnaround-time standards, adjusting to increased activity when needed.
Assist with other departmental tasks when requested, including morgue census and quality control when support coverage is absent.
Process samples from all body sites, assess specimen adequacy, follow established protocols, and use instrumentation to prepare slides.
Prepare, stain, label, and coverslip slides.
Maintain the projectile log; prepare materials for monthly JSO pickup; and prepare Gross IDs for unique holds and medical examiner office pickup.
Prepare consultation materials for pathologist review, register patients and submitters, label received materials, and prepare them for pathologists.
Register specimens and order additional testing for sendout.
Verify patient identification, diagnosis codes, specimen source, collection date and time, and other required information; identify discrepancies, escalate unresolved issues, independently troubleshoot specimen and order issues by contacting relevant departments or offices, create an IDinc for specimen or order issues, and create and monitor Epic chats and follow up with providers and nurses as needed.
Pick up specimens and deliver them to appropriate laboratory areas; ensure specimens have information needed for billing and data entry; add formalin to unpreserved tissue containers when needed.
Monitor Case Receiving and Outstanding Lists, follow up with ordering departments or offices to locate missing specimens, and help maintain turnaround times.
Operate and maintain instrumentation, processors, and stainers; prepare and replenish solutions according to established protocols; document daily quality-control checks; report equipment failures or error codes; troubleshoot instrumentation issues; and contact IT for laboratory labeling or scanning issues.
Monitor inventory, request supplies before depletion, stock and maintain supplies, label received items according to reagent-labeling policies, and store them in appropriate locations.
Dispose of specimens and hazardous chemical waste according to departmental procedures and timelines; label waste containers in satellite and central accumulation areas; transfer hazardous waste to the central accumulation area; and respond appropriately to spills, fires, or other hazardous-waste emergencies.
Clean, disinfect, and maintain work areas according to established procedures and document the work on daily quality-control forms; notify Facilities and EVS about needs such as morgue cleanup or biohazardous-waste pickup; and follow hospital, laboratory, and safety policies and procedures.
Attend staff meetings and mandatory training; train new employees when asked.
Follow dress code, core values, policies and procedures, time-and-attendance guidelines, and confidentiality requirements.
Perform other duties assigned by the supervisor within the job scope.