LAB ASSISTANT

Covenant Health•Morristown, TN

11d

About The Position

The Laboratory Assistant, General Laboratory, collects and properly handles venous and capillary blood specimens from inpatients and outpatients, and is responsible for customer safety and comfort, clerical and computer duties, and courier responsibilities as required. Customer service and specimen collection are the first priorities. The role also involves specimen processing, laboratory order entry and follow-up, communication of test results, and maintaining accurate and confidential records. The employee must follow laboratory policies, safety procedures, and applicable regulatory requirements, and participate in education and quality improvement activities.

Requirements

No specific minimum education is required; an equivalent combination of formal education and/or prior work experience must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for the job.
No minimum experience is specified.
Ability to perform specimen collection, specimen handling, clerical/computer duties, and courier responsibilities as required.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or GED is 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, order appropriate laboratory tests, and follow up verbal orders with requests for written orders.
Answer departmental telephones, transfer calls to the appropriate laboratory or pathology section, follow through on problem resolution, and assist physicians and staff with obtaining, faxing, or receiving laboratory test results by telephone.
Handle confidential test results appropriately.
Use hospital, laboratory, and reference laboratory computer systems as appropriate.
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 observing special collection requirements.
Collect venous and capillary blood samples, including heel or finger samples, using aseptic technique for blood cultures.
Accurately label specimens and properly use the blood bank armband and labeling system.
Verify patient identity using the hospital armband and patient name, or by asking an RN to visually identify the patient.
Dispose of needles, sharps, and used gloves properly during phlebotomy.
Maintain clerical and phlebotomy work areas in a neat and sanitary manner.
Participate in Laboratory performance improvement activities and quality improvement initiatives as requested.
Comply with Laboratory policies and procedures, including the Exposure Control and Chemical Hygiene plans, Disaster Plan, Joint Commission standards, CLIA, and State regulations.
Serve as a resource for difficult blood draws when needed.
Complete required annual education assignments, work toward goals and objectives, and perform other duties as assigned.