Phlebotomist - Primary Care

The University of Kansas Health System•Liberty, MO

About The Position

The Phlebotomist works in the clinical laboratory and interprets laboratory orders from providers within The University of Kansas Health System and from outside providers. The role involves selecting the correct tube type, collecting and processing specimens, and following regulatory, accreditation, safety, and hospital standards, policies, and procedures. The Phlebotomist performs positive patient identification before blood draws and confirms identification after labeling specimens. In ambulatory settings, labeled tubes are presented to patients for confirmation; in inpatient settings, labeled tubes are matched with the patient's wristband. The role requires understanding how pre-analytical variables—including patient identification, tube type, specimen conditions, and specimen integrity—affect laboratory results, and participating in quality assurance and improvement activities. Duties include releasing orders in the Hospital Information System (HIS), receiving specimens in the Laboratory Information System (LIS), and processing specimens, including centrifugation, aliquoting urine, and separating plasma or serum when needed. Ambulatory work also includes preparing specimens for transport by scanning bar-coded samples onto an LIS packing list. The Phlebotomist represents the clinical laboratory and is expected to be professional, respectful, courteous, and patient-focused. The position follows AIDET customer-service guidelines, troubleshoots difficult orders and missing specimens, performs data entry, manages requisitions, and answers telephone inquiries. The role may also include assisting nursing staff, mentoring others, maintaining supplies, performing specified swab collections with appropriate PPE, and providing coverage at alternate locations when requested by management.

Requirements

High school graduate.
At least one of the following: six months of experience in an internal phlebotomy training program; one or more years of experience in specimen collection and processing; or completion of an external phlebotomy program.
Fluent in English, with the ability to understand, read, write, and speak English.
Ability to perform the professional, clinical, and/or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.

Nice To Haves

Advanced skill in adult and pediatric phlebotomy.
Phlebotomy Technician (PBT) certification from the American Society for Clinical Pathology Board of Certification (ASCP).
Valid driver's license is recommended.

Responsibilities

Perform venipuncture blood draws according to standard protocol while ensuring patient safety and quality specimen collection.
Collect specimens using appropriate techniques and following collection requirements.
Provide patients and/or care providers with specimen-collection instructions and necessary materials.
Provide immediate patient care when a patient shows signs of a post-venipuncture reaction; proactively assess patients and escort those at higher risk to a draw room with a recliner.
Enter data in applicable information systems in compliance with departmental and organizational policies.
Ensure specimens use the proper container type and meet centrifugation and transport requirements.
Assess whether specimens are appropriate for add-on testing.
Release ambulatory patient orders in HIS and enter outside orders in LIS when an outside order is scanned into HIS.
Receive samples in LIS, print bar-code labels, and affix labels to specimens.
Consult the Phlebotomy Coordinator, Supervisor, or Lab Leadership when assistance is needed.
Assist nursing staff when requested.
Process specimens, including aliquoting urine and separating blood samples when required.
Respond to telephone inquiries, address callers' needs, and troubleshoot issues.
Instruct, orient, and mentor students, employees, patients, and other health care providers as applicable.
Maintain an adequate inventory of supplies.
Perform other assigned duties, potentially including NP, oral, or nasal swab collections using appropriate PPE.
Provide coverage at alternate locations when requested by management to help meet critical staffing needs.