Specimen Processing Specialist

Lab Support Specialist Location: Saratoga Hospital - Saratoga Springs, NY Employment Type: Part-time Shift/Schedule: Day shift Department: Laboratory Salary Range: $19.00 – $24.85 hourly, based on experience and qualifications About Saratoga Hospital At Saratoga Hospital , we’ve built a reputation for high-quality, compassionate care and a commitment to the health and well-being of our community. As part of the Albany Med Health System, we combine advanced technology with a deeply personal approach—creating a supportive environment for patients, staff, and providers alike. We believe that exceptional care starts with exceptional people. About The Role We’re looking for a dedicated Lab Support Specialist to join our team and help us continue delivering the level of care our patients and families deserve. In this role, you’ll be a vital part of our clinical team, ensuring excellent service, collaboration, and patient outcomes in a fast-paced healthcare environment. You will Perform phlebotomy techniques to obtain blood specimens on patients of all ages. The Lab Support Specialist will interpret and transcribe physician orders onto manual requisitions and into the computer Order Entry System. You will also perform all medically necessary activities required along with assisting in lab functions as required for proper specimen accessioning. Assist in training new employees. Assist in clerical functions of department. What You’ll Do Patient Care: Recognizes age-specific requirements including but not limited to determining a safe blood volume to be collected and choosing appropriate devices. Proficient to work independently in services; In-house, outpatient collection station(s), Urgent Care/Emergency Department, Cath Lab and medical imaging. Monitors patients for adverse reactions, which can include but are not limited to syncope, nerve damage, and hematoma formation. Is responsible for understanding patient limitations for collection site including but not limited to post mastectomy and dialysis access. Must be able to problem solve when faced with unusual circumstances in patient care areas. Blood Specimen Collection: Performs all phases of phlebotomy with a 95% success rate on neonate infant, children (1-7 years), and adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Must be able to collect a high quality specimen by determining the appropriate site for collection, as well as collect specimens in the correct order of draw, with appropriate equipment and prep, as well as labelling specimens with the appropriate identifiers. Ensures specimens are maintained according to requirements, and processes specimens. Must be able to problem solve issues involving collection equipment, and electronic equipment. Accessioning: Performs accessioning in Laboratory Information System with a high degree of accuracy. Must maintain specimen requirements by triaging incoming specimens. Reviews provider orders for all required elements and instructs providers on how to provide missing information. Accepts provider orders by phone and fax; sends patient results by fax. Must be able to use critical thinking and communication skills to solve problems concerning requisitions and incoming specimens. Communication: Provides information to technical staff through electronic communications regarding patient state, collection site, and resulting expectations to ensure results can be assessed accurately for interfering substances. Greets and identifies patients appropriately using Press-Ganey customer defined scripting. Explains venipuncture procedure fully and makes patient feel at ease. Time Management: Determines priority of tasks using available resources taking into consideration order priority, patient condition and ordering provider requests; determining what adjustments must be made when necessary. Client Services: Travels to offsite patient locations and couriers specimen collection supplies, used sharps containers, trash accumulated during collection, as well as blood and urine specimens. Records collection data at client site regarding patient interaction. Communicates with physician practices specimen collection, storage, and processing issues or concerns. Deliver compassionate, patient-centered care in alignment with Saratoga Hospital values Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support health, healing, and service excellence Perform clinical responsibilities with a focus on safety, quality, and efficiency Use hospital systems and tools to document care and support operations Continuously seek opportunities to improve processes and support patient and staff satisfaction Serve as a positive, professional representative of our hospital and community What You Bring High school graduate or GED required. Prior phlebotomy experience strongly preferred. Certification or eligible with a recognized board of registry recommended. Ability to organize and establish day-to-day priorities while utilizing critical thinking skills in all aspects of the job. Must be able to multitask while remaining professional, focused, composed and positive. Excellent customer service skills and must display integrity, friendliness and compassion. Must be able to establish an appropriate and effective rapport with others. Must be flexible to take initiative and embrace new opportunities to grow both personally and organizationally. Problem solving skills. Proficient with Microsoft Office products: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Strong organizational skills. Effective interpersonal skills. Ability to work as part of a team and independently. Strong communication and teamwork skills Commitment to providing patient-first, high-quality service Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment Why Saratoga Hospital A caring, community-focused culture rooted in teamwork and trust Supportive leadership that invests in your development and well-being Comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, retirement plans, tuition assistance, and wellness programs. Click here to view our complete benefits guide. Opportunities to grow within the Albany Med Health System Located in beautiful Saratoga Springs, known for its vibrant community, outdoor recreation, and cultural attractions Our Commitment We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage individuals of all backgrounds and experiences to apply. If you’re passionate about healthcare and community service—even if you don’t meet every qualification listed—we’d still love to hear from you. #J-18808-Ljbffr