Phlebotomist, Laboratory Services, West End (Full-Time, Days)

St. Luke's University Health Network•Allentown, PA

About The Position

The Phlebotomist provides patient-centered laboratory support services in Patient Service Center (PSC) settings. The role collects blood specimens through venipuncture, capillary collection, and heel sticks for patients of all ages, including newborns, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients. The position ensures accurate patient identification, order verification, specimen labeling, and compliance with laboratory collection, safety, infection prevention, and regulatory standards. The role also supports PSC workflows as assigned, including Epic patient registration, kiosk assistance, collection of approved non-blood specimens, outpatient EKGs, specimen processing, preparation, and packaging for transport to the core laboratory. The Phlebotomist is expected to demonstrate technical skill, sound judgment, service excellence, and maintain required competencies while supporting safe, efficient, high-quality care. Duties may be added or modified according to departmental, operational, regulatory, or organizational needs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Phlebotomy program completion certificate or documented competency through a recognized training program, including at least 100 successful venipunctures.
Basic computer skills and the ability to accurately use Epic or other electronic health record systems, registration tools, kiosk workflows, and related laboratory applications.
Strong customer service skills.
Reliable transportation to arrive at work locations as scheduled.

Nice To Haves

Associate or bachelor's degree.
One year of phlebotomy experience.
Experience with outpatient laboratory workflows, patient service center operations, specimen collection and handling, processing, registration, and patient identification practices.
Experience using Epic or another electronic health record, registration, or laboratory information system.

Responsibilities

Provide patient-centered registration, laboratory, and diagnostic services in PSC settings while maintaining professionalism, service excellence, patient safety, confidentiality, and compliance with Network and departmental standards.
Interpret verbal, written, and electronic laboratory orders; verify patient identity and test requirements; and confirm orders before specimen collection.
Transcribe non-SLUHN laboratory orders from outside laboratories and providers into the St. Luke's EHR system according to established workflows.
Assist patients with kiosk registration, explain check-in prompts and next steps, and escalate registration issues when needed.
Perform Epic registration workflows, including accessing the appropriate application, creating or updating Hospital Account Records, entering demographic and clinical service information, and completing encounter documentation.
Contact ordering providers, financial representatives, or insurance companies as needed to obtain referrals, pre-certifications, benefit verification, and other required registration information.
Verify insurance or self-pay eligibility through online systems or phone verification when required and applicable.
Collect and record applicable self-pay liabilities, co-pays, and deductibles; post credit card payments in Epic or Trust Commerce; collect cash; close the daily cash drawer; and prepare deposits as assigned.
Complete applicable patient notification and signature processes, including Important Message from Medicare and Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice workflows.
Collect blood specimens from patients of all ages using appropriate venipuncture, capillary collection, and heel-stick techniques.
Label specimens accurately, verify specimen integrity, and follow laboratory collection, handling, safety, infection prevention, and SLUHN policies.
Collect approved non-blood specimens, including throat and nasal swabs, using proper identification, collection, labeling, infection prevention, and PPE practices.
Maintain competency for respirator fit testing and use N95 or respirator-level protection when indicated.
Perform outpatient EKGs as assigned, including patient preparation, lead placement, image acquisition, quality review, troubleshooting, and Epic routing workflows.
Process specimens as required, including centrifuging, verifying requirements, preparing specimens for transport, and ensuring proper transfer and storage.
Prepare and pack specimens for transport to the core laboratory, ensuring proper labeling, storage, tracking, packaging, and transfer.
Complete accurate and timely EHR documentation supporting patient care, account activity, and downstream claim processing.
Operate and maintain PSC equipment, including centrifuges, EKG equipment, kiosks, and related technology, and promptly report equipment or workflow issues.
Maintain site cleanliness and support supply inventory management.
Communicate effectively with patients, central scheduling, operational lab leadership, registration teams, courier services, cardiology, and laboratory processing areas to resolve workflow issues and support continuity of care.
Travel between PSC locations when needed to support absences, staffing gaps, service needs, EKG coverage, specimen collection, or emergency operational needs.
Maintain required competencies, training, and documentation for phlebotomy, patient care, specimen collection and handling, PPE, respirator fit testing, EKGs, Epic and registration workflows, insurance and payment workflows, and specimen processing and packaging.
Comply with Network and departmental policies, procedures, safety standards, infection prevention practices, regulatory requirements, service expectations, and current workflows.