Lab Assistant- Referral Testing

Laboratory Assistant

The Laboratory Assistant provides assistance in the laboratory for assigned section(s) of the laboratory while working under the direct supervision of medical practitioners or laboratory personnel. Assists with simple collection of blood specimens from inpatients and outpatients, performs specimen labeling, handling, computer data entry, sample preparation, preservation, processing and/or transportation and storage. Responsible for compliance to all programs and policies.

Why a Great Place to Work

You're more than your job. Everyone is. And that's what makes you great at your joball the little extras you bring to work every day, the things that make you you . At LCMC Health we value those things about you, because we know that all those little extras add up to extraordinary. And we've built a culture that supports and celebrates the extraordinary. You'll see it when you come to work here, in the spirit of our places and the faces of our people. And every patient we heal, every family we comfort, every life we improve is the outcome of countless little extras adding up to an extraordinary result. Join LCMC Health, and you'll find that our everyday makes it easy to live your extraordinary.

General Duties

Patient Testing:

• Performs waived patient testing

General Laboratory:

• Performs daily temperature checks, analyzer maintenance, calibrations, and quality control for waived tests performed
• Notifies appropriate testing staff when expected quality control values are not achieved or quality control ranges are exceeded
• Ensure department supplies are appropriately stocked and available

Specimen Collection:

• Performs venipuncture and skin puncture on all patient age groups in accordance with department SOP
• Performs appropriate patient identification according to SOP, utilizing at least two patient identifiers when collecting and labeling specimens at the bedside in the presence of the patient
• Labels aliquots using at least two patient identifiers

• Transcribes orders from outside providers as necessary

• Responds to applicable code teams as needed

Adherence to Blood and Body Fluid Universal Special Precautions Outlined by Laboratory and Organizational Policies

Workload Management:

• Adheres to SOP in using handheld devices for specimen collection
• Monitors collection list and documents status of outstanding collections
• Monitors expected list for pending lab test
• Answers phone calls, demonstrating appropriate customer service skills
• Must work weekends and holidays as assigned

Inventory Management:

• Ensures specimen collection supplies are available and within expiration dates
• Notifies laboratory leadership when supplies are falling below thresholds or expiration dates are upcoming
• Stocks supplies when deliveries are received
• Stocks phlebotomy carts with supplies, ensuring adequate inventory available on cart for next shift

Specimen Handling and Receipt:

• Ensures that specimens are updated to received status and collection date/time, collector, and receipt date/time is accurate

• Delivers specimens to the appropriate Lab Section

Quality Assurance Related Duties:

• Communicates complaints or problems to department supervisor

Experience Qualifications

• Previous lab assistant experience preferred.
• High School Diploma or equivalent.

Licenses and Certifications

• Preferred: Basic Life Support Health Care Provider American Heart Association

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Accurately complete, maintain patient documents and records.
• Understand and follow specific clinical protocol and be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.