Laboratory Assistant III

Orlando Health•Orlando, FL

About The Position

Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is seeking a Laboratory Assistant III for its laboratory. The role performs specimen receiving and processing, patient registration, order entry, specimen centrifugation, labeling and aliquoting, delivery to testing sites, and storage of samples and pathology materials. The position provides specialized support for patient registration and specimen workflow, supports customer service and laboratory operations, and helps ensure patient care and safety. It may include training and directing staff, processing pathology specimens, coordinating courier pickups, ordering supplies, and communicating department status and patient care issues to the immediate supervisor. The role also supports quality improvement, maintains confidentiality, follows safety and infection control practices, and may perform phlebotomy or IV starts when appropriately trained and approved.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalency.
Phlebotomy licensure or certification.
Three years of laboratory or patient care experience.
Current enrollment in a higher-education degree or certification program in a science field, such as nursing, medical technology, pre-med, or a related clinical field, may substitute for up to two years of the required experience.
Knowledge of specimen collection and handling requirements.
Excellent interpersonal skills to work cooperatively with team members and respond to customer phone calls.
Ability to work flexible hours to meet departmental needs.

Responsibilities

Perform patient registration and provide specialized support while following third-party reimbursement requirements and regulations.
Receive, process, centrifuge, label, aliquot, deliver, and store specimens and related pathology materials.
Apply knowledge of specimen collection and handling requirements and research customer requests or issues.
Follow up on patient care issues and communicate them to the immediate supervisor.
Perform departmental functions involving hospital and laboratory information systems, specimen processing, billing, reference testing, and scheduling.
Maintain positive customer service relationships and proactively respond to customer service issues.
Train staff as required and direct staff to meet corporate and departmental specimen workflow expectations.
Coordinate, organize, or perform tasks necessary to ensure patient care and safety.
Serve as a liaison among the laboratory, physicians, nursing personnel, ancillary departments, clients, and outside vendors.
Order and stock necessary supplies and schedule courier pickups as needed.
Communicate issues and department status to the immediate supervisor.
Maintain regular, punctual attendance and comply with Orlando Health policies and procedures.
Participate in the laboratory Quality Improvement Program and maximize productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability.
Document specimen quality issues and follow established policies.
Adhere to infection control and safety practices and maintain a clean, organized work area.
Maintain confidentiality of patient records and hospital and departmental matters.
File reports and requisitions and assist with report distribution.
Perform phlebotomy or IV starts when necessary, provided required competency or training approvals are on file.