Laboratory Assistant

Laboratory Assistant

All KHI employees are expected to perform their respective tasks and duties in such a way that supports KHI's vision of providing the region's best clinical care and patient service through an environment that fosters respect for others and pride in performance.

Lab Assistants will have an in-depth understanding of AIDET, customer satisfaction, HIPAA, safety, and all regulatory agency rules and regulations. Additional items such as specimen types, test codes, ordering and cancelling tests, specimen acceptability per department, waived testing procedures, and proficiency in general lab assistant duties will be assessed. Lab Assistant will be able to show initiative by managing their workload without direction on a daily basis and helping their teammates when needed.

The overall purpose of the Laboratory Assistant is to assist the performing Medical Technologist with items such as filling printers, answering phone calls, faxing, dumping trash, restocking supplies, alongside their normal daily responsibilities. Time management, organization, and prioritizing are extremely important at the processing station.

Key Responsibilities

• Properly process all specimen types for the laboratory within the accepted time limits.
• Receive and collect patient orders in a structured and timely manner.
• Accurately process all reference lab specimens following container and storage requirements.
• Is able to correctly load specimens and reagents on their respective instrumentation.
• Accurately performs maintenance as required per area.
• Properly inspect specimens of all collection types hemolysis, quantity, and correct labeling.
• Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of quality control requirements.
• Use the hospital LIS to collect and receive samples, cancel specimens for necessary reasons, reprint labels, and all other job responsibilities.
• Keep work area clean, disinfected, organized, and stocked.
• Participate in proper inventory control by stocking laboratory supplies in respective areas during which receipt date, acceptability and expiration dates of supplies will be documented.
• Perform reagent sweeps and stock rotation to assist with expiration dates on consumable lab items.
• Appropriately handle most phone calls directed into the lab by answering callers' questions to the best of your ability, or forward caller on to area that covers the topic in question.
• Be present and ready to work for all scheduled shifts. Be versatile and willing to help cover other shifts in times of higher workloads, call offs, vacations, and short staffing.
• Complete initial and annual trainings, yearly competencies, CAP assignments, and any paper form proficiencies assigned by management.
• Assist with training new hires, students, or other hospital personnel when necessary.
• Adhere to KRMC behavioral expectations, HIPAA, and assure that patient confidentiality is maintained.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by management.

Core Lab Assistants

• Ensure that each outpatient order is collected using proper technique including positive patient identification, AIDET, sterile technique, anxiety reducers, and excellent customer service.
• Pay close attention to the tube station and process specimens by their priority.
• Processing of specimens includes delivering unspun specimens to proper area, centrifuging necessary specimens before delivery, pouring off send outs, and making sure correct labels are distributed with the specimens.
• Assist secretaries if time and workload permit.
• Be a knowledgeable resource for the PCT team and assist with hard sticks.

Microbiology Lab Assistants

• Practice sterile technique required for the plating of Microbiology specimens.
• Perform gram stain set up using proper identifiers.
• Have a thorough knowledge of environment and temperature requirements for agar plates to promote organism growth.
• Assist with test setup when appropriate.
• Must be able to follow written instructions without deviation to ensure proper patient care.

Qualifications

Education: High School graduate or equivalent.

Preferences

Certification by accepted national accrediting agency as phlebotomist preferred

Experience: One 1 year of laboratory experience preferred.

Exposure Categories

Category I: Expected duties have routine potential for exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues

Potential Hazard(s): Possible exposure to biological, chemical and radioactive hazards.

Work Requirements

Must be able to distinguish appropriate colors.

Must have sufficient manual dexterity to be able to properly handle specimen containers, utilize information systems, process specimens accordingly, and operate equipment such as centrifuges.

Frequent walking of about 3-4 miles per day is to be expected.

Occasional lifting of 40 -50 pounds or less.

Occasional bending, stooping, or reaching.

Frequent standing and or sitting.