Laboratory Assistant

Mercy Cedar Rapids•Baltimore, MD

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing clerical and limited technical services to the laboratory. The Laboratory Assistant assures quality test results by following policies and procedures, communicating effectively with co-workers, providers, and patients.

Requirements

Knowledge of laboratory testing procedures
Knowledge of regulatory requirements, including CAP, COLA, CLIA, TJC, and FDA
Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure without sacrificing quality
Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work with interruptions
Skilled in use of standard laboratory instrumentation
Skilled in use of the laboratory information system (LIS)
Ability to recognize and correct problems with quality control
Ability to recognize problems and troubleshoot laboratory equipment
Ability to detail-oriented
Ability to complete appropriate documentation and paperwork clearly and completely
Knowledge of different patient populations and their needs, including neonatal, pediatric, and, geriatric
Six months' phlebotomy experience required for Marion ED Lab
High school diploma or equivalent required.

Nice To Haves

Medical laboratory experience preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Ensures that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients, their families, and co-workers at hand offs and other times as needed.
Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information in order to allow for the best possible patient outcome
Reads and records temperatures and other daily chores
Completes required department documentation
Performs instrument maintenance
Prioritizes workload to ensure timely reporting of results
Maintains and improves skills by participating in at least one continuing education activity annually
Actively seeks and identifies opportunities for process improvement
Assists in procedure writing, updating, and validating
Acts as a resource for laboratory medicine information to providers and others
Uses laboratory information system access information and enter information
Properly identifies patients and samples during the pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical phases of testing.
Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.
Core Laboratory: Responsible for documenting and setting up new cultures according to sources and types
Performs gram stains, performs and results Strep screens, RSV, Influenza A&B and other tests
Collects nasal, nasal aspirates and throat cultures in the outpatient area and administers and reads TB skin tests
Performs waived testing and other duties as assigned.
Follows laboratory procedures for specimen collection, order entry, specimen receiving and all other duties.
Prioritizes workload to ensure timely collection of patient samples.
Performs specimen collection including phlebotomy and other specimen types as directed, with skill and compassion.
Answers incoming phone calls and places outgoing calls in a timely manner using proper phone etiquette.
Receives specimens into the laboratory and delivers to proper locations.
Microbiology: Responsible for documenting and setting up new cultures according to sources and types
Performs gram stains, performs and results Strep screens, RSV, Influenza A&B and other tests
Collects nasal, nasal aspirates and throat cultures in the outpatient area and administers and reads TB skin tests
Phlebotomy: Responsible for documenting and setting up new cultures according to sources and types
Performs gram stains, performs and results Strep screens, RSV, Influenza A&B and other tests
Collects nasal, nasal aspirates and throat cultures in the outpatient area and administers and reads TB skin tests