LABORATORY ASSISTANT: 32 HOURS/WEEK 4A-11A WEEKEND AND HOLIDAY ROTATION

Job Summary

Responsible for providing general laboratory services including greeting patients, test order entry, blood collection (including off-site facilities which does require driving of personal vehicle), specimen transport, pre-analytic processing of specimens, distribution of blood and other samples for in-house testing and/or dispatch to reference laboratories. Respond to inquiries and collection requests from off-site facilities (i.e. Health/Nursing Care Centers), nursing units, physician offices, and reference laboratories regarding test orders, specimen requirements and reporting. Perform routine clerical duties and computer functions associated with processing patient samples. Responsible for maintaining appropriate collection/testing supplies needed at each of the different healthcare facilities and in the main hospital. Work a regular, rotating weekend and holiday schedule as required.

Hours are 4A-11A, 6.5-hour shifts, Monday-Friday with rotating weekends and holidays.

Job Responsibilities

• Supports the hospital’s mission through customer-focused service.
• Responds to inquiries from customers regarding all aspects of laboratory services including but not limited to specimen requirements, turnaround times, reference ranges and reporting protocols. Communications are conducted in a positive, professional and courteous manner.
• Collects STAT, timed and routine venous and capillary blood specimens from off-site facilities along with hospital inpatients and outpatients in accordance with laboratory standard operating procedures.
• Instructs patients in the proper collection and handling of non-blood specimens. 
• Generate and review collection lists and pending logs from the Laboratory Information Systems (LIS). Contacts nursing units and off-site facilities to track pending collected and uncollected specimens.
• Must either use personal vehicle for transporting specimens from outside facilities or Riverview provided vehicle.  Must provide proof of insurance and valid driver's license and have a clean driving record. Must keep personal vehicle in good working order and follow all the requirements listed in the Vehicle Safety Policy.
• Stocks phlebotomy supplies on inpatient nursing units and fills orders for off-site facilities.
• Performs all aspects of specimen processing, including: receiving specimens via pneumatic tube, entering required data into LIS, verifying patient/specimen identification and test requests, documenting rejected specimens, centrifuging and dispersing specimens to appropriate areas, communicating with technical staff to ensure efficient turnaround time of results, preparing specimens for referral testing, reviewing surgical specimens/requisitions for accuracy and completeness, storing specimens at appropriate temperatures according to testing requirements.
• Reviews orders for completeness and enters test orders for patients in LIS.
• Compliance checks Medicare orders for diagnosis and medical necessity. Notifies physicians or physician representatives when ICD-9/10 codes or narrative diagnosis do not meet Local Medical Review Policy (LMRP) criteria for medical necessity. Obtain ABN from patients prior to specimen collection if necessary.
• Must be familiar with basic laboratory ordering, testing and reporting operations and recognize problem areas. Takes appropriate corrective action or notifies the area coordinator or department manager.
• Performs daily temperature and function checks for assigned areas, documents them appropriately and takes appropriate corrective action if any are outside acceptable limits.
• Use personal protective equipment in accordance with hospital and laboratory policies.
• Comply with all applicable policies and procedures, including, but not limited to: all departmental and functional policies and procedures, maintaining acceptable attendance records, arriving for duty punctually and leaving on time, safety and waste disposal, dress code and demonstrating the Standards of Excellence.
• Sensitive to the needs, feelings and capabilities of others. Approaches others in a non-threatening and pleasant manner and treats everyone with respect. Fulfills commitments to team members.
• Perform CLIA WAIVED testing per CLIA'88 standards as trained and applicable.
• Assists with new employee training and orientation, and trains staff on Medical Necessity Guidelines.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education Requirements

• Minimum: High School Diploma.
• Preferred: Phlebotomy Certificate and/or Associates degree in one of the chemical, physical or biological sciences and at least one year full-time laboratory training or experience or both.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum: Experience with data entry, medical terminology and customer service or equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable job knowledge can be acquired.
• Preferred: 1-2 years previous laboratory/phlebotomy experience.

License/Certification Requirements

• Minimum: BLS certification through the American Heart Association within 30 days of date of hire.