Laboratory Technician - Full Time - Evenings

Best Care•Omaha, NE

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Technician provides technical and pre-analytic support for designated divisions of laboratory technical operations and outreach client services at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. The role handles specimen evaluation and processing, exception resolution, reporting, supply maintenance, customer service, data entry, and basic operation of the laboratory automation system. The technician communicates with hospital and clinic staff about specimen requirements, orders, and other requests, manages outpatient orders, and serves as a professional point of contact by phone, electronically, in writing, and in person. The position requires multitasking and teamwork in a fast-paced environment. The technician processes, labels, identifies, prepares, distributes, and stores patient specimens; enters and reviews information in laboratory and electronic health record systems; prepares specimens for reference laboratories; and supports automation operations, maintenance, troubleshooting, and specimen tracking. Additional duties include client services, order and result management, communication of critical values and specimen issues, supply fulfillment, laboratory informatics and interface support, documentation, and training of staff and students. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., with rotating weekends once a month. The position is based at Nebraska Methodist Hospital, 8303 Dodge Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

Requirements

Ability to effectively use a personal computer and standard office applications; knowledge of computers.
Knowledge of HL7 interfaces.
Ability to organize and prioritize work demands and handle multiple tasks.
Knowledge of basic specimen collection, selection, handling, and storage activities.
Good customer service skills.
Ability to handle stressful situations calmly and professionally.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work the stated schedule, including rotating weekends once a month.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
Prior experience as a phlebotomist, data-entry worker, or specimen processor in a clinical laboratory or physician office preferred.

Responsibilities

Process patient specimens appropriately and safely, including centrifuging, aliquoting, distributing, storing, labeling, and preparing them for automation or reference laboratories.
Perform specimen accessioning, sorting, data entry, and patient identification tasks accurately and in a timely manner.
Use Laboratory Information System and Electronic Health Record functions to enter patient information, orders, results, and other required data.
Prepare specimens for shipment and communicate with reference laboratories about handling requirements and exceptions.
Operate and troubleshoot the automation line and other equipment for which training and supervisor approval have been received; complete and document routine maintenance.
Track patient storage, manage exceptions, and recover specimens from AOB.
Prioritize multiple tasks and identify issues requiring follow-up with the Technical Coordinator, Section Leader, or Medical Director.
Process and distribute anatomic pathology specimens and assist with pathology send-outs and required demographic information.
Respond to client, patient, and care-team needs; answer calls professionally and follow up on requests and issues.
Manage outpatient orders, answer client order questions, obtain verbal provider orders according to standard procedures, and support imaging and access draw stations.
Monitor pending tests, communicate with technical staff to prevent delays, manage test results, and review daily discern lists and scan manual reports into the medical record.
Call or page critical values to providers, document calls in the EHR, communicate specimen rejections, and handle add-on test requests through the EMR.
Maintain requisitions, filing systems, transfer lists, and add-on forms according to training guidelines.
Fill and pack outreach client supply orders and communicate about questions, shipping delays, or back orders.
Review and release patient laboratory orders in the EHR and manage provider records and duplicate MRNs in Cerner and Care Evolve.
Manage send-out lists and unlisted orders, and verify that interfaces transmit correct information.
Document orientation, training, education, competencies, and understanding of new or revised procedures.
Assist with training new and existing staff and support the education of clinical laboratory scientist students.
Accommodate patient and laboratory needs by responding professionally to requests for flexibility in duties, schedules, and staffing.
Follow PPE guidelines and maintain section materials, supplies, and equipment according to policies and procedures.