Medical Lab Assistant

Emory Healthcare•Decatur, GA

3d•$22 - $26

About The Position

The Medical Lab Assistant performs and evaluates semi-technical laboratory procedures involving patient specimens, test materials and reagents, blood products, and quality control material in clinical and anatomic pathology laboratories. Duties may include patient registration, test ordering, sample collection, and specimen acceptability assessment; specimen preparation and processing; supporting clinical testing; and waived or point-of-care testing. The role provides customer service throughout pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes and communicates with nursing staff, physicians, procurement agencies, and others about laboratory testing. The position reviews patient information and test orders, manages laboratory computer programs and records, resolves incomplete or questionable orders, tracks specimens, and ensures specimens are correctly packaged, labeled, collected, received, processed, and preserved. It processes referral specimens for shipping and takes action to address registration, collection, and processing problems. The assistant may support technicians or clinicians, maintain and order supplies, work with vendors, operate and troubleshoot laboratory equipment, perform maintenance and calibration, and assist with new equipment setup and validation. The role participates in quality activities and improvement initiatives, collects and reports quality data, and maintains documentation for processes, patient information, and equipment maintenance in compliance with accreditation requirements. It follows infection-control, sterile-technique, and safety procedures. The assistant escalates issues as needed, may back up the department lead and distribute daily work, trains and mentors new staff, assists with procedure writing, and may perform venipuncture. The position also includes attending training and educational sessions and working with a leader on professional development.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent and four years of experience.
A degree in Biology, Science, or a related major may be considered in lieu of experience.

Responsibilities

Perform and evaluate semi-technical laboratory procedures on patient specimens, test materials and reagents, blood products, and quality control materials.
Register patients, order tests, collect samples, and assess whether samples are acceptable for testing, as applicable.
Review patient information and test orders, receive and enter laboratory tests, and follow up on incomplete information or questionable orders.
Reconcile outstanding test orders, check daily logs and summaries for accuracy, cancel authorized tests, and verify courier deliveries.
Enter specimen tracking, laboratory data, and patient information into computer systems; maintain computerized records and resolve outstanding specimen issues.
Verify specimen packaging, labeling, collection requirements, and receipt; initiate appropriate action for unacceptable specimens.
Accurately label, process, preserve, and distribute specimens according to priority and required time frames.
Prepare referral specimens for shipment to reference laboratories and promptly address problems with specimen registration, collection, or processing.
Support clinical testing by preparing slides, loading instruments, reporting results, and potentially performing waived or point-of-care testing.
Assist technicians or clinicians with procedures and perform venipuncture when required.
Maintain and inspect commonly used supplies, order and evaluate supplies, and work with vendors to resolve supply issues.
Operate laboratory equipment and instruments; troubleshoot, arrange repairs or service, perform preventative maintenance, and calibrate instruments as required.
Assist with setting up and validating new equipment.
Participate in quality activities and improvement initiatives; collect, maintain, and report quality data.
Maintain accurate documentation for processes, procedures, patient information, and equipment maintenance in compliance with accreditation regulations.
Follow universal precautions, barrier protection, infection-control, isolation, sterile-technique, and other safety procedures.
Escalate issues, problems, and opportunities to supervisory staff as needed.
Provide backup to the department lead and may assign daily tasks or distribute workload.
Train, onboard, and mentor new staff; complete new-staff training and orientation packets.
Assist in writing procedures, attend educational in-services and training classes, and work with a leader to plan professional development.
Perform other duties as required.