LABORATORY ASSISTANT: 32 HOURS/WEEK 10A-6:30P WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY ROTATION

Riverview Health•Westfield, IN

10d

About The Position

The Laboratory Assistant provides general laboratory services, including greeting patients, entering test orders, collecting blood, transporting specimens, processing specimens before testing, and distributing samples for in-house testing or dispatch to reference laboratories. The role responds to inquiries and collection requests from off-site facilities, nursing units, physician offices, and reference laboratories about test orders, specimen requirements, and reporting. It also includes routine clerical and computer work related to patient samples and maintaining collection and testing supplies at healthcare facilities and the main hospital. The schedule is 32 hours per week, with 8-hour shifts from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, plus a regular rotating weekend and holiday schedule. Specimen collection at off-site facilities requires use of a personal or Riverview-provided vehicle. Use of a personal vehicle requires proof of insurance, a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, and compliance with the Vehicle Safety Policy.

Requirements

High school diploma.
Experience with data entry, medical terminology, and customer service, or an equivalent combination of education and experience providing comparable job knowledge.
BLS certification through the American Heart Association within 30 days of hire.
For off-site specimen transport using a personal vehicle: proof of insurance, a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record, and compliance with vehicle safety requirements.

Nice To Haves

Phlebotomy certificate.
Associate degree in chemical, physical, or biological sciences and at least one year of full-time laboratory training or experience, or both.
One to two years of previous laboratory or phlebotomy experience.

Responsibilities

Support the hospital’s mission through customer-focused service.
Respond professionally and courteously to customer inquiries about laboratory services, specimen requirements, turnaround times, reference ranges, and reporting protocols.
Collect STAT, timed, and routine venous and capillary blood specimens from off-site facilities and hospital inpatients and outpatients according to laboratory standard operating procedures.
Instruct patients on proper collection and handling of non-blood specimens.
Generate and review collection lists and pending logs in the Laboratory Information System (LIS), and contact nursing units and off-site facilities to track pending collected and uncollected specimens.
Transport specimens from outside facilities using a personal or Riverview-provided vehicle, following applicable vehicle safety requirements.
Stock phlebotomy supplies on inpatient nursing units and fill orders for off-site facilities.
Receive and process specimens, including entering data into the LIS; verifying patient and specimen identification and test requests; documenting rejected specimens; centrifuging and distributing specimens; preparing referral testing specimens; reviewing surgical specimens and requisitions; and storing specimens at required temperatures.
Communicate with technical staff to support efficient turnaround of results.
Review orders for completeness and enter patient test orders in the LIS.
Check Medicare orders for diagnosis and medical necessity; notify physicians or representatives when codes or diagnoses do not meet Local Medical Review Policy criteria; and obtain an ABN before collection when necessary.
Recognize problems in laboratory ordering, testing, and reporting operations, take appropriate corrective action, or notify the area coordinator or department manager.
Perform and document daily temperature and function checks in assigned areas and take corrective action when results are outside acceptable limits.
Use personal protective equipment according to hospital and laboratory policies.
Comply with applicable departmental and functional policies and procedures, including attendance, punctuality, safety, waste disposal, dress code, and Standards of Excellence.
Treat others respectfully and pleasantly, remain sensitive to their needs and capabilities, and fulfill commitments to team members.
Perform CLIA-waived testing according to CLIA ’88 standards, as trained and applicable.
Assist with new employee training and orientation and train staff on Medical Necessity Guidelines.
Perform other duties as assigned.