Medical Laboratory Assistant - Laboratory - FT - Day

Stormont Vail Health•Topeka, KS

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Laboratory Assistant supports laboratory technical professionals and technicians in performing clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory testing. The role reviews and verifies laboratory test orders, receives and processes specimens, supports testing activities, maintains supplies and equipment, and assists internal and external customers. The position is on-site, full-time, first shift, and not patient-facing, with no supervisory or budget responsibility.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Follow OSHA guidelines and hospital and laboratory safety procedures.
Ability to multitask and prioritize work, particularly during busy periods.
Ability to read and understand oral and written instructions.
Ability to follow directions accurately.
Strong attention to detail.
One year of phlebotomy or laboratory experience is preferred.
Knowledge of laboratory operations, policies, and procedures is preferred.

Nice To Haves

One year of phlebotomy or laboratory experience.
Knowledge of laboratory operations, policies, and procedures.

Responsibilities

Review, clarify, and verify healthcare provider orders for laboratory tests; order tests and receive specimens in the electronic health record while following patient and specimen identification protocols.
Understand specimen collection basics and potential complications affecting analytical results, and communicate collection information to healthcare providers and patients as needed.
Assess specimen integrity, acceptability, type, and volume; process specimens according to protocol, including centrifugation, aliquoting, storage, transport, and special handling requirements.
Distribute specimens and prepared slides to appropriate testing personnel or sections.
Support internal and external customers with problem-solving and answer questions about test orders and specimen requirements.
Perform and report results on waived test systems.
Monitor supplies and inventory, and clean and maintain specimen-processing and testing benches and equipment.
Support testing in assigned departments, which may include preparing, labeling, and staining slides; microbiology setup and plating; preparing reagents, standards, and controls; operating analytical instrumentation under technical staff supervision; and performing quality control or routine equipment maintenance.
Watch for sources of error, identify duplicate and incorrectly ordered tests, and follow procedures for confirming frequently misordered tests.
Package specimens according to IATA regulations and facilitate transfer to primary or reference laboratories.
Intake, document, and discharge deceased patients from the morgue.
Support and train new team members as directed.
Comply with Stormont Vail Health policies, standards, mandatory training, and requirements; perform other duties as assigned.