Lab Assistant

• this is a float pool position that requires travel to multiple Valley Health locations*
  
  

Job Summary: Requires excellent speaking and hearing abilities in order to communicate with staff and patients either in person or by telephone. Requires sitting, walking, bending/stooping, lifting and reaching in order to perform pre-analysis, analysis, and post analysis specimen testing activities. Requires excellent documentation and organizational skills and knowledge of good laboratory practices. Requires visual acuity for reading and interpreting CLIA waived lab tests, following technical procedures, and reporting test results. Must be able to operate a laboratory centrifuge and perform a variety of blood collection techniques. Requires regular contact with biohazardous specimens, therefore inherent risk of exposure to blood borne diseases (OSHA Risk Category I).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Performs analyses on specimens to aid in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients, following established quality control protocols.
• Maintains positive specimen identification throughout testing and reporting processes.
• Performs venipunctures and capillary draws on patients.
• Prepares specimens for shipment to reference lab.
• Performs patient and QC testing according to manufacturer written procedures; recognizes problems with specimens, test or instrument performance, and QC outcomes; proceeds to remedy or request assistance as appropriate. Informs Supervisor, and records remedial actions.
• Enters results for all in-house testing in the EHR.
• Creates requisitions/labels for all lab orders.
• Performs appropriate instrument startup, shutdown, and maintenance as required.
• Ensures lab supplies are well stocked and completes a lab supply order form for any supplies needing replenishment.
• Recognizes abnormal (Alert) values and follows established protocol for rechecking results and notifying physician.
• Maintains appropriate records (QC, specimen and test logs, instrument maintenance, troubleshooting/corrective actions, etc) as required for assigned tasks.
• Exhibits appropriate professional appearance and behavior in relating to clinic staff, patients and their families; consistently uses appropriate telephone manners; maintains confidentially both inside and outside the work setting.
• Actively participates in the medical home care team which is comprised of clinical and non-clinical staff working together towards a common goal: delivering quality care to our patients.
• Acknowledges the importance of a team approach when providing patient care.
• Maintain compliance with the organization’s confidentiality policy in accordance to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Communicates and coordinates effectively with all members of the care team.
• Assist in care coordination which may include obtaining test and referral results and communication with various entities including but not limited to community organizations. Health plans, facilities, and specialists.
• Proactively address needs of the patients and families through the concept of population management.
• Effectively communicates with all patients with specific attention to the vulnerable patient population.
• Provide self-management support in the form of patient coaching and motivational interviewing when appropriate.
• Demonstrates flexibility and cooperation in complying with scheduling needs of department.
• Performs other related duties assigned by supervisor.
  
  

Qualifications :

• MA or Phlebotomy certification
  
  

Working Conditions:

• Position requires manual dexterity for operating standard office equipment.
• Hearing must be within range of normal human conversation.
• Position requires the ability to maintain concentration and attention to detail for long periods of time in order to maintain accurate records pertaining to patient and/or account information.
• Position functions within a normal office environment.
• Occasionally required to lift and carry material weighing up to 25 pounds.