Laboratory Assistant - Cytology (Full Time)

Overview

This position plays an important role in the lab interacting with patients and nursing personnel. It is a non-credentialed position that supports preanalytical, analytical and post analytical laboratory workflows. Responsibilities include all the following: 1) registration, 2) inpatient, outpatient or outreach phlebotomy, 3) sample processing/aliquoting/prepping for transport/testing and 4) performs CLIA waived testing.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Pre-Analytic workflows

• Greets everyone with a pleasant and professional manner, using patient experience best practice guidelines (AIDET, 5/10 Rule and No-Point, etc.)
• Identifies patients and samples using two patient identifiers, always labeling samples in the presence of the patient.
• Performs medical venous and capillary blood collections independently for patients of all ages within specified safety parameters, timelines and pace.
• Performs sample receiving, accessioning, processing, aliquoting, preparation for transport and/or delivery to testing areas.
• Utilizes supply items in a cost-effective manner, recognizing when to reorder and assisting with unpacking and/or restocking items.
• Achieves basic understanding of lab tests to answer patient questions in an easy to understand way.

Analytic workflows

• Performs CLIA waived testing on medical samples in accordance with manufacturer specifications using good laboratory practice.
• Works efficiently with the workflow and workload.
• Documents routine instrument maintenance; elevates non-routine issues to management.

Post-Analytic workflows

• Follows appropriate reporting protocols including critical value reporting.
• Monitors pending logs and work queues and resolves pending tests and registration errors.
• Prepares and logs samples for proper storage and retention.

Committed Team

• Prioritizes work in the best interest of the patient, sharing the work with team members.
• Assists with training new employees and students, being helpful and supportive in their teaching.
• Attends department huddles, staff meetings and other required training.
• Checks emails regularly for huddle minutes and important communications relevant to assignment.

Qualifications

• High School graduate or equivalent.
• Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English.
• Multicultural sensitivity.
• Microsoft Office – basic computer skills.
• Customer/patient focused.
• Basic knowledge of computer systems used on analyzers, Sunquest and EPIC.
• Critical thinking skills using independent judgment in making decisions.
• Demonstrates knowledge of computer programs for patient identification, registration, order, and sample tracking.
• Demonstrates basic knowledge of computer programs for reporting test results.
• Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.