Lab Support Svcs Specialist - Lagrange, GA

Wellstar Health System • LaGrange, GA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager or designee, the Lab Support Services Specialist performs technical and non-technical duties in laboratory service areas on the hospital campus. The role supports laboratory information systems, customer service, specimen receipt and processing, phlebotomy, and pre-analytical and specimen-storage robot operations. The specialist may assist in multiple areas as workload and staffing change.

The position includes entering and troubleshooting orders in hospital and laboratory information systems; resolving specimen and order issues; supporting laboratory inventory, supplies, storage areas, and quality checks; and providing courteous service to patients, visitors, health care providers, and hospital personnel. Responsibilities also include processing specimens for in-house testing and transport to reference laboratories, performing microbiology preparation, collecting blood specimens, maintaining patient privacy and safety, and supporting staff training and required competencies.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED from an accredited program.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) is required; the posting also lists BLS Instructor and BLS Provisional as required credentials.
• Strong written and verbal communication, customer service, multitasking, and organizational skills.
• Professional, detail-oriented, team-oriented approach.
• Data-entry skills, typing speed of 40 words per minute, and working computer knowledge.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in phlebotomy and/or specimen processing in an outpatient or hospital laboratory environment.
• Phlebotomy certification from a national organization.

Responsibilities

• Enter orders and data in HIS/LIS and other computer systems; use laboratory knowledge and critical thinking to resolve order and sample issues.
• Report and troubleshoot HIS/LIS, printer, and fax malfunctions, and organize specimen intake during system downtime and recovery.
• Assist with inventory control, maintain organized laboratory storage areas, restock consumables, and perform required refrigerator and freezer quality checks.
• Provide courteous customer service to patients, visitors, health care providers, and hospital personnel; comply with AIDET standards and maintain patient privacy and confidentiality.
• Receive and route calls, resolve or refer complaints, provide test results to care providers, maintain organized records, and make follow-up calls about problem specimens and recollections.
• Perform call-back functions for critical and notification values.
• Check specimens for adequate quality and quantity; cancel unacceptable specimens after notification and documentation; centrifuge, decant, split, combine, and deliver specimens as needed.
• Measure and aliquot 24-hour urine samples and enter required information in the LIS.
• Prepare specimens for reference-lab transport using tracking and pending logs; check outpatient, physician, drop-off, and home-health orders for accuracy and resolve discrepancies.
• Resolve insurance or billing problems noted with PAS or Outreach staff.
• Process microbiology specimens, including plating, preparation, and preparation of Gram stains.
• Prepare and maintain phlebotomy supplies and perform venous and capillary collections according to patient-identification, confidentiality, safety, infection-control, PPE, sharps-disposal, and handwashing guidelines.
• Collect quality blood specimens at a minimum rate of 10 venipunctures per hour; review collection lists to identify duplicate or combinable orders and question unusual orders.
• Use two patient identifiers before blood collection, notify nursing of missing or incorrect wristbands, follow Blood Culture and Blood Bank procedures, and ensure the patient is safe and the puncture site has clotted before leaving.
• Deliver specimens to the laboratory within specified timeframes and resolve unreceived-specimen pending logs, retrieving acceptable samples when possible.
• Assist with orientation and training of new employees as assigned; check Sunquest email daily and complete assigned training and competency testing on time.
• Participate in 80% of staff meetings and read all posted meeting minutes.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED