Phlebotomy Technician 1

Mercyhealth•Rockford, IL

20h

About The Position

Responsible for collecting, labeling, and processing blood and other patient specimens while ensuring accurate patient identification, specimen integrity, and adherence to safety protocols. The role supports patient registration, laboratory order entry, specimen handling, and timely delivery of samples, while providing professional patient care and assisting with daily laboratory operations. The technician performs phlebotomy and other specimen collections, assesses patient responses, provides collection instructions, and processes specimens for laboratory testing or reference-laboratory transport. Depending on location, duties may include waived testing, electrocardiogram tracing, critical-result communication, and other specialized collections. The role also supports supply management, quality procedures, staff training and mentorship, and department improvement. The technician must work independently with minimal supervision. Schedule: Full-time, Monday–Friday, 7 AM–4 PM, with rotating weekends and holidays. Pay range: $17.57–$26.36.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Successful completion of a phlebotomy course or previous phlebotomy experience preferred.
Phlebotomy certification preferred.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Experience as a Paramedic, EMT, CNA, or MA is helpful.
Phlebotomy certification is preferred.
Successful completion of a phlebotomy course or previous phlebotomy experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Use hospital and laboratory information systems to release orders, register patients, enter orders, receive specimens, and enter results.
Register patients; collect payments; enter demographic and insurance information; and support efficient sample processing.
Transfer test requests from scripts, requisitions, and verbal orders into information systems; resolve unclear orders and refer unresolved issues to a supervisor.
Answer and screen telephone calls professionally; generate labels and lists; run daily reports; and review order and collection-monitor reports.
Assess special collection requirements, patient preparation, and appropriate order of draw.
Identify patients using two identifiers and perform phlebotomy across the patient population.
Follow safety and infection-control practices; assess patient responses, adjust procedures as needed, and obtain medical or supervisory assistance when necessary.
Label specimens accurately and preserve specimen integrity using aseptic technique and appropriate procedures.
Collect other specimens as indicated, including swabs, urine, heel and finger sticks, blood cultures, blood-bank specimens, and specialized collections.
Perform adult arterial punctures for specimen collection at RMH, where applicable.
Collect glucose-tolerance and hormone-stimulation specimens at specified time intervals and prepare patients appropriately.
Collect research-program, Lab One, and special-collection-kit specimens; instruct patients on collecting and handling specimens themselves.
Perform breath-alcohol testing and random, pre-employment, and legal urine drug screens.
Accession and assess collected specimens, centrifuge and aliquot as needed, route specimens to laboratory sections, and notify testing personnel of stat requests.
Accept and sort specimens from internal and external customers; resolve identification or requisition issues; and package and track samples sent to reference laboratories.
Apply working knowledge of reference-laboratory insurance processes and general registration and billing rules, including proper use of collection dates.
Drive a laboratory personal vehicle to client sites, patient homes, or facilities; collect and transport specimens properly and ensure their receipt by the laboratory.
Perform limited waived testing, including blood-glucose monitoring, and, when assigned, rapid flu and strep tests, mono testing, pregnancy testing, and dipstick urinalysis.
Perform quality-control procedures and proficiency testing; communicate critical results to authorized personnel and chart reports as needed.
Perform ten-lead and pediatric EKGs if required by location; communicate critical results to authorized personnel at legacy Rockford locations only.
Perform temperature checks; clean and check laboratory glassware; and assist with inventory, supply orders, stocking, and fulfillment of client and provider supply requests.
Assist with onboarding and training new partners, assess their competence before release from training, provide customer-service coaching and mentorship, and provide performance-evaluation input to the phlebotomy supervisor.
Collaborate with the supervisor on staffing and skill mix; evaluate new products and document evaluations as required by regulatory agencies.
Serve as a phlebotomy resource, take ownership of the department, identify improvement opportunities, make suggestions to the Phlebotomy Supervisor, and resolve issues.