Specimen Processor

UPMC•Altoona, PA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a full-time position with day/evening shifts and rotation as needed, including weekends and holidays. It is a union position with AFSCME. The role involves participating in the orientation and training of new laboratory employees and students, performing related clerical duties, and adhering to all health and safety regulations concerning biohazard or sharps patient samples and work area disinfection. The Specimen Processor must use utmost care to prevent personal exposure and environmental contamination, observe all laboratory and hospital safety, infection control, and compliance regulations, and notify supervisors of problems or requests needing clarification. They will complete quality forms for unacceptable specimens or other issues, handle complaints, investigate and resolve requesting mistakes or specimen problems, and prepare, package, and send specimens to outside locations as needed. The position also includes promptly delivering specimens to testing areas, measuring, aliquoting, and distributing urine samples, and separating serum and plasma by centrifugation. Ensuring proper patient identification, sample type, and stability, determining and entering collection and receive times into the computer, and verifying patient specimens against requisitions are key duties. The role involves receiving, sorting, and prioritizing specimens, monitoring pneumatic tube and courier deliveries, and using good customer service etiquette when answering the telephone and responding to inquiries about specimen collection, results, and basic laboratory operations. Professional interaction with customers and staff, and offering assistance in completing departmental work are also expected.

Requirements

High School diploma or GED equivalent.
Good oral and written communications skills required.
Ability to communicate effectively with all age groups and populations of external and internal customers (as well as co-workers) both by telephone and in person.
Act 34

Nice To Haves

3 to 6 months of experience in a clinical laboratory, physician's office, or other medical environment preferred.
Training as a Medical Assistant or Medical Secretary preferred.
Knowledge of medical terminology and laboratory information systems experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Participates in the orientation and training of new laboratory employees and students.
Performs related clerical duties as directed.
Follows all regulations regarding health and safety concerning the handling of Biohazard or Sharps patient samples and the disinfection of the work area.
Uses the utmost care to prevent personal exposure and avoid environmental contamination.
Observes all laboratory and hospital safety, infection control and compliance regulations and policies.
Notifies supervisor of problems and of any requests that need credited or clarified.
Requests assistance when needed.
Completes quality forms for unacceptable specimens, for requesting errors, or for other problems.
Effectively handles any complaints or reports of problems.
Investigates and resolves any requesting mistakes or other specimen problems.
Prepares, packages and sends specimens to outside locations as needed.
Promptly delivers specimens to the respective testing areas.
Measures, aliquots, and distributes urine samples when needed.
Separates serum and plasma from red blood cells by centrifugation.
Labels aliquot tubes and transfers serum or plasma according to policy.
Stores samples at the appropriate temperature.
Shares specimens interdepartmentally as necessary.
Ensures adequacy of patient identification / labeling as well as sample type and stability.
Determines and enters the correct specimen collection and receive time into the computer where needed.
Verifies patient specimens such as blood, urine and other body fluids with any requisitions, bar codes or labels making certain that information on the specimens match any paperwork received, and that all submissions are appropriate for the work requested.
Receives, sorts and prioritizes all specimens according to laboratory policies.
Monitors pneumatic tube and / or courier sample deliveries to ensure timely processing of specimens.
Uses good customer service and conversation etiquette while answering the telephone.
Responds professionally to inquiries concerning proper specimen collection, patient results, normal values, and basic laboratory operations information as needed.
Transfers calls to appropriate parties when appropriate.
Interacts courteously and professionally with all customers and laboratory staff.
Shows initiative and offers assistance in the completion of the department's work.