Asst-Laboratory III - A6302

Sr. Lab Assistant Technician

It's more than a career, it's a calling.

MO-SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital 1201 Grand

Job Summary:

All the duties and standards of this position will be performed according to established policies, procedures and guidelines within the department and the health system. These examples of work are not all-encompassing or restrictive and are expected to vary with changing needs and priorities.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements:

Performs duties in Phlebotomy, Processing, Transporting, Posting and/or Billing, Ancillary testing, Anatomical Pathology, Blood Bank, Special Testing and Microbiology, or other departments with the Pathology laboratory following prescribed procedures. The assistant laboratory III processes patients, specimens, orders, reports, requests; assists pathologists and residents in the performance of autopsies, collects and transports specimens in a courteous, timely and accurate manner. Refers unusual problems to appropriate superior. Sets priorities with changing workload to insure the final reporting of test results are within prescribed time limits.

Position Accountabilities and Performance Criteria (% of Time):

Essential Functions: The following are essential job accountabilities and are measured by: supervisory observation, quality assurance findings, written documentation, results of accreditation inspections and as reported by others.

People: Apply high-quality management and leadership principles to foster continued employee development. Treat each other and our patients with respect and dignity. Hold integrity and honesty as our most important principle and perform at the highest ethical standard always.

Growth: Maintains professional growth, development, competency and education through reading, seminars, workshops, conferences, and professional affiliations, always selecting activities which are relative to current/upcoming issues and concerns in area of responsibility and which will maximize benefits to the department and health system.

Quality: Achieve standards of excellence that become the benchmark of industry practices. Strive for daily improvement in everything we do. Use innovation and creativity to identify and solve problems.

Cost: Demonstrates ongoing fiscal accountability, using both time and supplies efficiently and effectively to minimize waste or overtime and maximize productivity.

Safety/Infection Control: Practices according to safety and infection control policies.

Service: Demonstrates Target 100 service at all times to department customers; patients, physicians, each other, visitors, other departments, and University employees. Meet the needs of each patient, whose care is our primary purpose and mission.

Quality Improvement (QI): Incorporates Quality Assessment into one's daily work.

Disclaimer: Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

• Puts supplies away and rotates stock.
• Helps maintain appropriate amount of supplies.
• Minimizes overtime.
• Crosstrain when necessary and maintain competency.
• Excels in current internal and external customer service expectations and has documented evidence.
• Knowledgeable in regulatory issues.
• Maintains proper documentation for all self-achievements.
• Consistently flexes schedule to accommodate department needs.
• Serves as a resource person for the department by informing senior personnel of unusual problems/issues, provides medical personnel of proper phlebotomy instructions for specific tests or specific department procedures and policies, and helps medical staff with finding results and proper specimen requirements for reference testing.
• Follows up with medical staff when inappropriate specimens are submitted.

Sr. Lab Assistant Technician Specific Tasks:

• Training of employees (new and/or incumbent); students; and residents.
• Training to be in an excellent clinical and Target 100 manner.
• Successfully complete a minimum of 1 special project annually.
• Assist in conducting quality assurance audits.
• Review and/or revise 2 policies/procedures annually as assigned by supervisor.
• Complete SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital training class for Mentoring/Train the Trainer.
• Assist with yearly competency completion for peers to include Age/Population Specific.
• Demonstrate the ability to respond to non-routine situations which require deliberate and timely decisions to be correctly resolved.
• Is able to troubleshoot and resolve minor equipment malfunctions.
• Identify problems and troubleshoot pneumatic tube system.
• Responsible for ensuring daily workload is completed accurately and on time.
• Collect, maintain and submit data/statistics and logs as assigned.
• Puts supplies away; rotates stock and maintains appropriate inventory level.
• Minimize overtime.
• Crosstrain when necessary and maintain competency.
• Excels in current internal and external customer service expectations and has documented evidence.
• Knowledge in regulatory issues.
• Maintains proper documentation of all self-achievements.
• Consistently flexes schedule to accommodate department needs.
• Serves as a resource person for the department by informing senior personnel of unusual problems/issues, provides medical personnel of phlebotomy instructions for specific tests or specific department procedures and policies, and helps medical staff in finding results and specimen requirements for reference testing.
• Follows up with medical staff when inappropriate specimens are submitted.

Rationale for Essential Functions:

1. The performance of this function is the reason the job exists.

2. There are limited employees among whom the performance of this function can be distributed.

3. This function occupies a great deal of the employee's time.

4. This function is highly specialized. Employees are hired for the skill/ability to perform this function.

5. Failure to perform this function may have serious consequences.

6. The function was performed by past employees and is performed by current employees.

7. Exposure to blood borne pathogens that requires the use of protective equipment.

8. Exposure to tuberculosis that requires the use of protective equipment.

Job Specifications:

Education and Training: High School Diploma, GED, or grandfathered through experience.

None necessary, but Medical Assisting or Phlebotomy Certificates preferred.

Licensing/Registration/Certification: None

Experience: None, but some preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

A) CPR certification is not required.

B) Good oral, written and electronic data communication skills enabling the translation of facts to/from a variety of sources both within and outside of the laboratory.

C) Good interpersonal skills.

D) Ability to work with and interpret numbers and figures.

E) Ability to manage time, organize daily schedule to meet productivity standards and cope with professional stress.

F) Work requires the knowledge and skills necessary to provide direct patient care appropriate to patient population of specialty:

• Adult (15 - 65 years)
• Geriatric (>65 years)

An individual without requisites stated above may present a written justification explaining the relevance of his/her background for a specific vacant position. Depending on organizational needs and availability of more qualified applicants, an applicant may have some or all requisites revised or waived at the health system's discretion.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions:

A) Manual dexterity, coordination and skillful use of hands when working with equipment.

B) Ability to tolerate exposure to hazardous chemicals.

C) Sufficiently sighted, including color discrimination, to perform analyses.

D) Physical limitations must not impede working with instrumentation and moving easily between multiple workstations.

E) Ability to physically perform necessary documentation in writing or using tape recorder.

F) Physical and mental abilities to meet expected turnaround times in the lab environment and customer service.

G) Exposure to blood and body fluids.

H) Exposure to blood borne pathogens and other biological hazards.

I) Subject to electrical hazards.

J) Exposure to tuberculosis that requires the use of protective equipment

K) Ability to input and retrieve information from instrumentation and laboratory information systems.

L) Ability to manipulate safely biological hazards.

M) Occasional prolonged standing/walking and sitting

N) Occasionally lifts, position push, and /or transfers supplies.

O) Occasional reaching stooping, bending, kneeling, crouch, lifting, pushes pulling 30+ pounds

P) Frequent lifting, pulling 100+ pounds