Laboratory Assistant

United Health Services•Johnson City, NY

9d•$17 - $22

About The Position

The Laboratory Assistant at United Health Services (UHS) supports laboratory services and patient care by ensuring specimens are handled accurately and efficiently from collection through testing. The role helps maintain quality standards and information flow within the laboratory, manages supplies, supports laboratory processes, and works with patients, caregivers, providers, and colleagues to deliver reliable service and coordinated care. The position is in Lab Services, UHS Hospitals and Physician Practices, with a rotational shift and 40 regularly scheduled hours per week. Compensation is $17.05–$22.17 per hour, depending on experience. The position works under supervision and handles assigned laboratory support, clerical, and patient-facing responsibilities across inpatient, outpatient, and reference testing workflows. It contributes to turnaround time, specimen integrity, laboratory quality, and patient experience by completing work accurately, safely, and on schedule. The Laboratory Assistant applies judgment within defined procedures, identifies specimen quality concerns, validates collection details, and escalates issues that could affect testing or patient safety. The role requires compliance with laboratory, departmental, infection control, NYSDOH, CDC, blood and body fluids, HIPAA, confidentiality, and data-security requirements. It also involves completing required training and competency validations, using personal protective equipment and safe work practices, maintaining accurate documentation, and reporting quality, safety, equipment, specimen, or security concerns. The employee supports a clean, organized, and well-stocked work environment, participates in improvement efforts and customer service training, adapts to changing workflows, and demonstrates UHS values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork, and Innovation. UHS describes itself as a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system in New York’s Southern Tier, comprising four hospitals, long-term care and home care services, and physician practices. It has more than 6,300 employees and providers.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Follow applicable laboratory, infection control, NYSDOH, CDC, blood and body fluids, HIPAA, confidentiality, and data-security requirements.
Complete required training and competency validations within established timelines.
Use required personal protective equipment and safe work practices when handling specimens and hazardous materials.
Communicate clearly and professionally with patients, providers, and colleagues.

Nice To Haves

Up to 1 year of direct experience performing the exact or very similar duties required by the job within the same role or function.
Up to 1 year of customer- or patient-facing experience directly interacting and communicating with the public.
Up to 1 year of technical or systems experience using specialized tools, software, or equipment required for the role.

Responsibilities

Receive, label, assess, centrifuge, aliquot, store, and retrieve specimens to support accurate and timely laboratory testing.
Enter patient demographics, insurance information, and test orders into laboratory systems accurately.
Prepare, track, package, and ship specimens to internal laboratory sites and external reference laboratories; resolve routine specimen issues according to established guidelines.
Maintain laboratory supplies and inventory, support reagent and consumable ordering, and assist with supply evaluations.
Monitor and document environmental, refrigerator, and freezer temperatures to help protect specimen integrity and maintain laboratory quality standards.
Transport specimens, requisitions, and reports within the hospital and between laboratory departments.
Support analyzer setup by loading carriers, cassettes, and specimen racks.
Identify specimen quality concerns, validate collection details, and escalate issues that could affect testing or patient safety.
Follow laboratory, departmental, infection control, NYSDOH, CDC, blood and body fluids, HIPAA, confidentiality, and data-security requirements.
Complete required training, education, and competency validations within established timelines.
Use required personal protective equipment and safe work practices when handling blood, body fluids, hazardous materials, and potentially infectious specimens.
Maintain accurate documentation and promptly report quality, safety, equipment, specimen, or security concerns through appropriate channels.
Communicate clearly and professionally with patients, providers, and colleagues.
Support a clean, organized, and well-stocked work environment.
Participate in departmental improvement efforts, adapt to changing workflows and priorities, and apply principles learned in Customer Service Training.
Demonstrate UHS Values of Compassion, Trust, Respect, Teamwork, and Innovation and perform additional responsibilities as required.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees working 24 or more hours per week, starting the first of the month after hire.
Discounted childcare through Bright Horizons.
Voluntary pet insurance, legal services, and identity theft protection.
PTO accrual starting on day one.
403(b) retirement plan with company match.
Flexible spending accounts.
Access to financial advisors.
Up to $400 per year in wellness rewards.
24/7 EAP counseling and virtual mental health support.
Food pantry and PTO donation program.
Professional attire through the Classy Closet.
Access to more than 100,000 online courses and leadership programs.
Tuition reimbursement, clinical ladders, and internal mobility.
Team events and volunteer days.