Phlebotomy Tech

Emory•Decatur, GA

About The Position

The Phlebotomy Tech collects, labels, processes, and transports patient specimens for testing, including routine and advanced venipuncture. The role follows strict patient-identification and medical protocols, meets required time frames for routine, STAT, and timed orders, and provides exemplary customer service throughout preanalytical and analytical processes. The technician may address unacceptable specimens and resolve registration, collection, processing, and order issues using established procedures and available reference materials. The position uses departmental computer programs to activate and manage orders, order laboratory tests, enter comments, consolidate or cancel tests when authorized, and troubleshoot unresolved orders. It also involves following infection-control and universal-precaution practices, maintaining commonly used supplies, checking expiration dates, performing preventive equipment maintenance, and participating in quality-improvement and professional-development activities. Other duties may include clerical work, training new staff or students, and assuming coordinator responsibilities when supervisory staff are absent. For clinic-based assignments, duties may include reviewing requisitions, following up on incomplete or questionable orders, instructing patients and outreach clients on non-blood specimen collection, maintaining standing-order files, scheduling or arriving lab appointments, preparing and triaging specimens, and obtaining Medicare coverage waivers when applicable. For hospital-based assignments, duties may include maintaining and using computerized WOW carts, following isolation procedures, remaining available by phone for emergent collections, and working with clinical staff to maintain computerized records and resolve outstanding specimen or collection issues.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Basic computer skills.
Basic medical terminology and customer service skills.
For clinic-based positions, ability to type at least 35 words per minute is required.
For hospital-based positions, ability to type at least 35 words per minute is preferred.

Nice To Haves

Two years of relevant phlebotomy experience preferred.
Phlebotomy certificate preferred.

Responsibilities

Collect patient blood samples by venipuncture as ordered and within prescribed time frames, following medical protocols.
Positively identify each patient before collecting specimens.
Process STAT and timed orders within required time frames.
Label specimens accurately according to laboratory procedures before processing or transport.
Operate departmental computer programs to activate and manage orders, order tests, enter comments, and troubleshoot as needed.
Reconcile outstanding test orders that are unresolved through standard procedures.
Apply universal precautions, barrier protection, and infection-control practices.
Maintain commonly used supplies, inspect stock levels and expiration dates, and perform preventive equipment maintenance.
Take prompt action to resolve specimen registration, collection, or processing problems, including referral specimens.
Perform specimen-processing procedures as required.
Identify, understand, and document issues and escalate them to supervisors when appropriate.
Perform basic clerical duties as needed.
Assist in training new staff or students in blood collection or specimen processing as directed.
Participate in quality-improvement activities and work with a supervisor on professional development.
Attend educational in-services and training for computer systems used in patient registration and referral testing.
For clinic-based assignments, review requisitions, follow up on incomplete or questionable test orders, provide non-blood specimen collection instructions, maintain standing-order files, schedule or arrive lab appointments, prepare and triage specimens, and obtain Medicare coverage waivers when applicable.
For hospital-based assignments, maintain and use computerized WOW carts, follow patient-isolation procedures, maintain phone availability for emergent collections, and work with clinical staff to maintain computerized records and resolve specimen or collection issues.
Perform other duties as required.