Clinical Laboratory Assistant I, Phlebotomy

Laboratory Support Specialist

Under direct supervision, assists medical laboratory scientists by performing routine laboratory support duties and approved testing in any one of various specialized laboratories throughout UMMS, following departmental procedures and regulations stipulated by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Receiving and accessioning patient samples into the Laboratory Information System. Ensuring that all codes and information are entered accurately and timely. Maintaining accurate patient identification and information for billing purposes following departmental procedures.
2. Processing (centrifuging, aliquoting, and performing other special handling procedures for specimens) and delivering specimens to specific laboratories as required. Saving or preserving specimens as needed in refrigerator, freezer, incubator, dry ice, or other storage as appropriate.
3. Identifying and resolving specimen integrity issues such as mislabeled specimens, quantity not sufficient (QNS), specimen integrity, incorrect container type, incorrect/incomplete requisitions, etc., and documenting all information for quality assurance purposes.
4. Obtaining venous and/or capillary blood specimens according to established procedures.
5. Processing add-on testing according to departmental procedures.
6. Answering telephones and responding to customer inquiries and requests.
7. Resolving customer complaints/issues and following through with appropriate documentation.
8. Communicating test results, test descriptions, etc. Assuring a high level of customer satisfaction by communicating and responding to a variety of internal and external customers in a professional and courteous manner.
9. Reviewing and acting on test pending list.
10. Troubleshooting and solving instrument problems with some assistance from medical laboratory scientists.
11. Assisting in the training of new personnel by following the training checklists, completing the competency checklist, and ensuring personnel is competent to perform duties before assigning a shift.

Minimum qualifications include:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (GED) required. Additional credit hours in biology and/or chemistry at an accredited institution are preferred.

Experience: Previous work experience as a Clinical Laboratory Assistant or equivalent experience in a clinical or hospital setting is required. Phlebotomy certification (required). Two years' experience as an In-patient Phlebotomist (preferred).

University of Maryland Medical Center