LAB ASSISTANT

Overview

Lab Assistant, General Laboratory

Full Time, 72 Hours Per Pay Period, Night Shifts

Roane Medical Center Overview: 

Proudly serving our community, Roane Medical Center is committed to your healthy future! Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with modern technologies and expert staff to provide you the best possible patient care. From our quality medical, surgical, emergency and critical care services to our diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation support, you will find the right blends of technical expertise, medical professionalism, and patient quality and satisfaction at Roane Medical Center.

Position Summary:

An employee in this position must be able to perform at a high level in the following areas:  collection and proper handling of venous and capillary blood specimens throughout the hospital, collection of arterial blood specimens for arterial blood gas studies as required by the facility, responsibility for the safety and comfort of customers, and clerical and computer duties as required for the position.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the training and orientation of new employees.
• Properly collects blood samples from venous, and capillary (both finger and heel) sites as required by the facility.
• Properly handles all specimens including prompt transport to the lab, special tube requirements, on ice as needed, preparation and preservation, without contamination, etc.
• Deliver all specimens to proper department within the laboratory.
• Correctly identify patients by hospital armband and by asking the patient his/her name and date-of-birth, by asking a family member or an RN the patient's name and date-of-birth.
• Properly use Typenex Armband System for labeling blood bank specimens
• Accurately label all specimens.
• Maintain phlebotomy tray and work area in a neat and sanitary manner.
• Responsible for care and maintenance of equipment and supplies (for example, maintaining appropriate supplies) and for notifying supervisor when items are in need of repair or replacement.
• Must comply with OSHA standards, Universal Precautions, hospital safety manuals, and laboratory policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of how to manually obtain orders when computers are down.
• Responsible for working on Lab and/or HIS computer systems as appropriate for specific hospital facility.
• Responsible for checking uncollected work lists several times during the shift and following up on any uncollected specimens or misplaced orders.
• Responsible for answering department telephone, transferring calls to the correct section, looking up test results, etc.
• Participates in quality improvement and assurance activities as deemed necessary.
• Responsible for accessioning and centrifuging specimens.
• Responsible for the following duties as required by the facility; posting billing summaries for physician office accounts; processing laboratory supply orders, receiving and storing stock; mailing and faxing reports to all clients; charting laboratory reports; and handling specimen send-outs.
• Assist with coverage of the pneumatic tube system, processing and distributing specimens.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested by manager.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:          

None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED.  Preference may be given to individuals possessing a HS diploma or GED.

Minimum Experience:         

None.

Licensure Requirement:      

Certification by NCA, ASCP, ASPT, or comparable institution is desirable.