Med Office Lab Assistant

Covenant Health•Knoxville, TN

About The Position

The Medical Office Laboratory Assistant performs venipunctures and processes clinical laboratory specimens for use in patient diagnosis and treatment. The role also performs test analyses, reports results, and maintains patient records for waived and moderately complex clinical laboratory testing validated for the specific physician office laboratory. Testing is referred to a reference laboratory when required by policy. The employee performs only processes authorized by the laboratory director and appropriate to their education, training, experience, and technical abilities. This position is in Medical Oncology at Covenant Oncology Group and is full-time, 80 hours per pay period, on the day shift. It requires local travel. The assistant supports laboratory operations, quality control, patient registration and service, specimen handling, equipment maintenance, documentation, and coordination with reference laboratories and other departments.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Basic computer skills, medical terminology, registration, and phlebotomy skills, or an equivalent combination of clinical and clerical skills.
Valid Tennessee driver's license and state-mandated minimum insurance coverage; driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at hire and throughout employment.
Ability to perform only laboratory processes authorized by the laboratory director and commensurate with the employee's education, training, experience, and technical abilities.

Responsibilities

Register patient accounts when indicated, verify patient identification and billing accuracy, submit testing records to financial departments, and assist with account and billing issues.
Direct, escort, or provide wheelchair assistance to patients and explain the next step of their visit.
Collect venous blood samples using established procedures and patient-identification safeguards; label specimens accurately and follow special Blood Bank and blood culture collection procedures.
Provide patients with collection supplies and instructions for specimens they collect themselves.
Process, handle, label, store, and track specimens according to procedures and requirements, including specimens sent to off-site reference laboratories.
Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment; report repair or replacement needs and document maintenance and corrective actions.
Follow laboratory quality-control and corrective-action policies and document quality-control activities, calibrations, maintenance, and related records.
Prepare and store calibrators, quality-control materials, reagents, consumables, and linearity kits according to manufacturer instructions; perform parallel testing when policy requires and submit quality-control data when required.
Perform laboratory testing accurately and promptly, document patient results, evaluate specimen quality and result validity, and refer testing for validation when indicated by policy.
Identify and correct problems that could affect testing or reporting, or promptly notify the Laboratory Manager.
Participate in an external proficiency-testing program and maintain associated performance records.
Assist the Laboratory Manager with instrument validations, linearity studies, and other investigatory work; support Genetic Testing and Clinical Trials departments when needed.
Communicate with reference laboratories about incomplete test orders, specimen requirements, and quality metrics.
Maintain and disinfect the work area; follow standard precautions, biohazard-waste procedures, PPE requirements, and sharps-safety practices.
Use the EMR and related systems to manage schedules, test orders, results, and incomplete testing or collection lists.
Plan and prioritize work to maximize productivity and minimize carryover and overtime; communicate relevant patient-sample and equipment information to staff.
Use HIS, LIS, registration, scheduling, and reference-laboratory computer systems; activate manual processes during network downtime and notify leadership of unscheduled downtime.
Monitor inventory expirations and rotation and order supplies as needed.
Assume responsibility for the area in the Laboratory Manager's absence.
Participate in department meetings, communicate professionally with patients and colleagues, and maintain patient confidentiality.
Assist with orientation and training of employees.
Follow policies, procedures, and safety standards; complete annual education assignments; work toward goals and participate in quality-improvement initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.