Phlebotomy Tech

Emory•Atlanta, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Phlebotomy Tech is responsible for collecting, labeling, and transporting patient specimens for testing in a timely manner, including routine and advanced venipuncture. This role requires upholding organizational values, demonstrating exemplary customer service, and adhering to strict patient identification protocols. The tech processes emergency orders, accurately labels specimens, and operates departmental computer programs for order management and troubleshooting. Key responsibilities also include reconciling outstanding test orders, practicing universal precautions and infection control, maintaining supply stock, and performing preventive maintenance on equipment. The position involves resolving issues related to specimen registration, collection, or processing, and may include specimen processing procedures. Phlebotomy Techs may assume coordinator responsibilities in the absence of supervisory staff, document and escalate problems, perform basic clerical duties, and assist in training new staff or students. They participate in quality improvement activities, work with supervisors on professional development, and attend necessary educational in-services and training. For Clinic Based positions, responsibilities include reviewing test requisitions, providing patient instruction for non-blood specimen collections, maintaining standing order files, scheduling lab appointments, preparing and triaging specimens, and obtaining Medicare waivers. For Hospital Based positions, duties involve maintaining and utilizing computerized WOW carts, adhering to patient isolation procedures, maintaining phone availability for emergent collections, and interacting with clinical staff to manage and troubleshoot computerized records and specimens.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Basic computer skills with ability to type minimum 35 words per minute required for Clinic based positions.
Basic medical terminology.
Customer service skills.

Nice To Haves

2 years relevant phlebotomy experience.
Phlebotomy certificate.
Basic computer skills with ability to type minimum 35 words per minute preferred for Hospital based positions.

Responsibilities

Collects, labels, and transports patient specimens for testing in a timely manner including routine and advanced venipuncture.
Upholds the values of the organization including providing and demonstrating exemplary customer service skills throughout the preanalytical and analytical processes.
May initiate intervention on unacceptable specimens.
Adheres to strict protocol regarding patient identification; ensures that each patient is positively identified prior to any specimen collection.
Collects patient blood samples by performing venipunctures as ordered and within the prescribed time-frame following strict medical protocol.
Processes all emergency orders (STATS and Timed Studies) within the required time frame.
Labels each specimen accurately according to established laboratory procedures prior to processing or transport.
Operates departmental computer programs to activate orders, performs order management through test consolidation or cancellation as authorized, orders laboratory tests, enters comments and performs troubleshooting as necessary.
Reconciles outstanding test orders that have not been resolved through standard operating procedures.
Practices universal precautions, barrier protection methods, and infection control.
Maintains the stock of commonly used supplies, performing routine inspections of stock levels and reviews expiration dates to ensure adequate availability.
Performs preventive maintenance on equipment.
Takes prompt action to resolve any problem with the registration, collection or processing of all specimens including referral specimens using available test catalog or reference materials.
May perform specimen processing procedures as required.
May assume coordinator responsibilities in the absence of supervisory staff.
Identifies, understands, and documents issues, problems, and opportunities and escalating to supervisory when appropriate.
Performs basic clerical duties as needed.
May assist in training new staff or students in blood collection and/ or specimen processing as directed.
Participates in quality improvement activities.
Works with supervisor to formulate plan for professional development.
Attends educational in-services and training classes for various computer systems necessary for patient registration and referral testing.
Performs other duties as required.
May review test requisitions and order tests appropriately following up on all tests with incomplete information or questionable test orders (Clinic Based).
Provides patients and outreach clients instruction as necessary regarding non-blood specimen collections (Clinic Based).
May maintain standing order files and schedule/ arrive lab appointments (Clinic Based).
Prepares and triages specimens to the proper testing facility (Clinic Based).
Obtains waivers for Medicare coverage when applicable (Clinic Based).
Maintain and utilize computerized WOW carts insuring adequately charged and operational (Hospital Based).
Adheres to patient isolation procedures as required to ensure a safe work environment (Hospital Based).
Must maintain phone availability for emergent collections (Hospital Based).
Interacts with clinical staff on unit to maintain computerized records, resolve, and troubleshoots outstanding specimen/collections (Hospital Based).