LABORATORY ASSISTANT

Care Resource Community Health Centers, Inc.•Fort Lauderdale, FL

54d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves a combination of clinical, clerical, and administrative duties within a laboratory setting. The Laboratory Assistant is responsible for verifying patient information, performing clinical intake, collecting biological samples, and ensuring specimen integrity. Additionally, the role includes managing laboratory supplies, maintaining equipment, ensuring compliance with regulations, and contributing to a positive service culture. The position requires attention to detail, adherence to protocols, and effective communication with patients and staff.

Requirements

Constant standing, talking in person, talking on the phone, hearing/ visual acuity.
Exposure to blood borne pathogens and hazardous materials.
Frequent walking, sitting and bending.
Work performed in office and laboratory setting.

Nice To Haves

Assists supervisor in the training of new staff (peers).

Responsibilities

Verify patient identity using two identifiers (Name & Date of Birth).
Perform clinical intake prior to lab procedures.
Complete venipuncture questionnaire with patients.
Scan all venipuncture documents within 24 hours of blood draw.
Verify lab requisitions in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).
Identify and separate frozen orders, creating new accession where applicable.
Explain venipuncture procedures to patients.
Select appropriate blood sample collection tubes and use in the correct order of draw.
Obtain blood samples via venipuncture, fingersticks, heel sticks, or PKUs.
Ensure accuracy of preprinted requisitions and labels.
Ensure accurate labeling of all specimens delivered to the Lab.
Ensure PCAs/Support staff accurately identify collected specimens by initialing labels.
Ensure referring provider matches ordering provider.
Apply venipuncture charges to the system.
Maintain specimen integrity using aseptic technique and following department procedures.
Confirm timely collection of specimens from after-hours boxes for Quest/LabCorp.
Perform all CLIA waived inhouse testing (excluding urine drug screens).
Maintain credibility of inhouse waived testing results by performing quality controls.
Maintain quality results by following department protocols and accurately recording results in the quality-control log.
Scrub Lab schedule the day prior to lab appointments for FIT Test, offer and perform on arrival.
Introduce seasonal vaccines (e.g., influenza) to patients with lab appointments.
Check Lab schedules to ensure Provider(s) order the day prior to patient(s) appointment.
Maintain inventory control of laboratory supplies & equipment.
Generate and resolve TNP/TIQ reports daily.
Check Laboratory inventory and discard expired items.
Clean and maintain work area and all laboratory equipment and supplies.
Organize and prioritize work for timely completion.
Ensure updated calibration of all lab equipment.
Ensure medical laboratory operations comply with Agency and HIPAA requirements.
Maintain strict confidentiality of laboratory results and records.
Comply with professional standards, health center policies, federal, state, and local requirements, and JCAHO standards.
Ensure online trainings are current as required.
Assist supervisor in training new staff.
Ensure timely submission of monthly QA assessments to Laboratory Compliance Manager.
Greet internal or external customers with courtesy, making eye contact, and responding with appropriate tone and nonverbal language.
Listen attentively to customers, reassuring and understanding requests, and providing appropriate options or resolutions.
Provide services by following established protocols and seeking assistance when needed.
Take initiative and anticipate customer needs by engaging them and following up.
Prioritize customer requests for prompt and effective response.
Ensure proper handwashing according to CDC guidelines.
Understand and appropriately act upon the assigned role in the Emergency Code System.
Understand and perform assigned roles in the organization’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP).
Participate in health center developmental activities as requested.
Perform other duties as assigned.