Specimen Processor

UPMC•Everett, PA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

UPMC Bedford is looking for a fulltime Specimen Processor to work daylight hours with rotating weekends. This role involves demonstrating a service orientation approach by conveying courtesy, respect, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude in work situations. The Specimen Processor will show initiative and offer assistance in the completion of the department's work. Key responsibilities include monitoring pneumatic tube and courier deliveries, investigating and resolving specimen issues, completing quality forms, separating specimens by centrifugation, labeling and transferring tubes, determining and entering specimen receive time, answering telephone inquiries, following health and safety regulations, verifying patient specimens, preparing and packaging specimens for outside locations, receiving, sorting, and prioritizing specimens, disinfecting the work area, participating in training new employees, and performing routine technical and clerical duties.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent.
Good oral and written communication 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.

Nice To Haves

Three to six months of experience in a clinical laboratory, physician's office, or other medical environment preferred, including knowledge of or experience in Medical Terminology and Laboratory Information systems.
Three to six months of experience in a service environment including call center, customer service center, or product distribution/fulfillment center preferred.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate service orientation approach by conveying courtesy, respect, enthusiasm and a positive attitude in work situations.
Show initiative and offer assistance in the completion of the department's work.
Monitor pneumatic tube and courier deliveries to ensure timely processing of specimens.
Investigate and resolve any requesting mistakes or other specimen problems. Request assistance when needed.
Complete quality forms for unacceptable specimens, requesting errors or other problems.
Separate by centrifugation. Label appropriate aliquot tubes and transfer as defined by policy; store samples at the appropriate temperature.
Determine and enter the specimen receive time into the computer.
Answer all telephone inquiries concerning proper specimen collection, result, and normal range information.
Follow all regulations regarding health and safety concerning the handling of biohazardous patient samples or sharps to prevent exposure.
Verify patient specimens such as blood, urine and other body fluids with requisitions or labels, making certain that information on the specimens match any paperwork received and correct specimen.
Properly request in the Laboratory Information System laboratory information system if needed.
Prepare, package and send specimens to outside locations as needed.
Receive, sort and prioritize ALL specimens according to the laboratory policies.
Share specimens as necessary.
Notify supervisor of problems and of any requests that need credited or clarified.
Disinfect the work area after shift and during shift, if needed.
Participates in the orientation and training of new laboratory specimen processors.
Perform routine technical and related clerical duties as directed.