Phlebotomy Technician, Full-Time - Days

Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois•Rockford, IL

2d•$18 - $26

About The Position

The Phlebotomy Technician collects blood and other specimens, processes specimens accurately, and supports daily laboratory operations while providing a positive patient experience and maintaining safety, accuracy, and customer-service standards. The role includes patient registration and order entry, phlebotomy and other specimen collection, specimen receipt and preparation, limited waived testing, and support for laboratory supplies and operations. The technician may travel to client sites, patient homes, or facilities to collect and transport specimens. Depending on location, the role may also include electrocardiogram tracing. The technician works independently with minimal supervision and collaborates with the supervisor and phlebotomy team.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Successful completion of a phlebotomy course or previous phlebotomy experience preferred.
Phlebotomy certification preferred.
Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
Experience as a Paramedic, EMT, CNA, or MA is helpful.

Nice To Haves

High school diploma or equivalent.
Completion of a phlebotomy course or previous phlebotomy experience.
Phlebotomy certification.
Experience as a Paramedic, EMT, CNA, or MA.

Responsibilities

Use the Hospital Information System (HIS) and Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) to release orders, register patients, enter orders, generate labels and lists, run reports, and enter results.
Register patients; collect payments; and enter demographic and insurance information to support sample processing.
Transfer test requests from scripts, requisitions, and verbal orders into the HIS and laboratory computer systems.
Answer and screen telephone calls professionally; resolve unclear or unusual orders by contacting the appropriate clinician or laboratory and documenting actions, escalating unresolved issues to a supervisor.
Review order monitors and collection summary reports; assess special collection requirements, patient preparation, and order of draw.
Identify patients using two identifiers and collect blood specimens from the patient population; assess patient responses and adjust procedures as needed, obtaining medical or supervisory assistance when necessary.
Follow safety, infection-control, aseptic, and specimen-integrity procedures; accurately label specimens with required patient and collection information.
Collect other specimens as indicated, including throat and MRSA swabs, urine, heel sticks, finger sticks, blood cultures, blood bank specimens, and specialized collection kits.
At RMH, perform arterial punctures on adults, including the appropriate collection charge.
Perform glucose tolerance and hormone stimulation collections at specified time intervals and prepare patients appropriately.
Provide instructions for personally collected specimens and perform specialized breath alcohol and random, pre-employment, and legal urine drug-screen collections.
Receive and accession specimens using LIS; assess acceptability; centrifuge and aliquot as needed; deliver or batch specimens for courier pickup; and notify testing personnel of stat requests.
Accept, sort, and receive specimens from internal and external customers; resolve identification or requisition issues; package and track specimens for reference laboratories; and follow insurance processes and billing rules for reference laboratory testing.
Drive a laboratory personal vehicle to client sites, patient homes, or facilities; collect and transport specimens and ensure their receipt by the laboratory.
Perform limited waived testing, including blood glucose monitoring, and, at supervisor discretion, rapid flu and strep, mono, pregnancy, and dipstick urinalysis testing; perform quality control and proficiency testing and communicate critical results to appropriate authorized personnel.
Depending on location, perform ten-lead and pediatric EKGs; at legacy Rockford locations, communicate critical results to authorized personnel.
Perform temperature checks and clean and check laboratory glassware.
Maintain supplies by assisting with inventory, submitting supply orders, receiving and stocking supplies, and filling client and provider requests.
Assist with orientation and training of new partners, coach in customer service, verify competence before training completion, and provide performance-evaluation input to the phlebotomy supervisor.
Mentor phlebotomy staff as needed and collaborate with the supervisor to ensure adequate staffing and skill mix.
Evaluate new products and document evaluation activities as required by regulatory agencies.
Demonstrate exemplary phlebotomy skills and serve as a resource to the phlebotomy team; take ownership of the department, identify improvement opportunities, suggest improvements, and resolve issues.