Phlebotomist, Laboratory

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

21h•$20 - $30

About The Position

The Phlebotomist properly identifies patients and follows procedures for specimen collection. The role performs venipuncture and capillary puncture to obtain blood from neonatal, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. It uses a computer system to monitor workflow, generate specimen labels, receive specimens, and enter or edit outreach orders. The position also processes paperwork in the Laboratory Outpatient drawing room, Central Processing, and Laboratory Office. The employee must have a valid driver’s license from their state of residence and provide reliable personal transportation to travel to area nursing homes, healthcare facilities, outreach accounts, and patient homes for specimen collection. This is a per-diem position with hours as needed.

Requirements

Completed phlebotomy training course or equivalent phlebotomy experience.
High school diploma or equivalent.
Valid driver’s license from the state of residence.
Reliable personal transportation for travel to area nursing homes, healthcare facilities, outreach accounts, and patient homes.
Required behavioral attributes include achievement motivation, concern for order, flexibility, initiative, self-confidence, customer-service orientation, interpersonal effectiveness, teamwork, analytical thinking, and information seeking.

Nice To Haves

Phlebotomy training certificate.
Registry with ASCP.
Six months to one year of experience.

Responsibilities

Correctly identify patients using identification wristbands, patient statements, or confirmation by a healthcare professional.
Verify physician orders to ensure tests are ordered correctly.
Assess patients based on age, disability, and other factors to select a collection method and area appropriate for their comfort and the comfort of others.
Review testing requirements and ensure necessary collection supplies are available.
Perform venipunctures and capillary punctures, obtain suitable samples, and label specimens according to policies and procedures; assist with specimen collection when requested.
Prioritize specimen collection according to routine, timed, urgent, or stat status to support timely workflow.
Notify technical laboratory staff when timed, urgent, or stat specimens are delivered.
Assess weekly and monthly phlebotomy and laboratory supply needs and submit orders to the Laboratory Manager.
Assist Central Processing, including picking up samples at doctors’ offices, processing samples for order entry, labeling samples, filling outreach supply orders, and researching sample problems.
Educate patients and co-workers about proper specimen collection and assess the quality and acceptability of specimens they collect.
Orient and train new employees and students in phlebotomy procedures.
Maintain personal transportation for specimen collection at long-term care facilities, outreach accounts, and patient homes.
Follow safety regulations and promptly remove or arrange removal of safety hazards.
Maintain a safe, organized, and clean work area for co-workers, patients, and visitors.
Assist supervisors with tasks needed to meet or exceed department goals and objectives.
Enter and edit patient and specimen ordering information in the computer system to maintain accurate testing records and patient billing.
Communicate pertinent information professionally with staff and co-workers, both verbally and in writing.
Respond appropriately and promptly to patient and customer requests and needs.
Maintain knowledge through educational in-services or seminars, including knowledge of technology advances, disease processes, and regulatory changes; retain, apply, and teach this knowledge.
Evaluate specimens for testing acceptability and take appropriate action when specimens are unacceptable.
Use department supplies and reagents cost-effectively and develop cost-benefit analyses for testing protocols.
Keep sharp objects, toxic substances, and other potentially harmful objects inaccessible to children.
Maintain an environment free of objects and spills that could contribute to patient falls, slips, or trips; make ambulation assistive devices readily available and comply with policies for gait belts and similar devices.
Consider older patients’ increased risk of falls and possible hearing difficulties, and communicate at an appropriate volume while distinguishing hearing problems from comprehension problems.