Laboratory - Phlebotomist

Phlebotomist

Location of Services: VA Maine Medical Center (TOGUS) 1 VA Center Augusta, Maine

Job Summary

The Medical Technician (Phlebotomy) is responsible for providing high-quality phlebotomy services in support of patient care within a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) laboratory environment. The employee performs patient specimen collection for inpatient and outpatient populations, including routine, STAT, ASAP, timed, Emergency Department (ED), and inpatient ward round collections. The position requires adherence to established laboratory procedures, patient identification protocols, and quality assurance standards to ensure accurate specimen collection, processing, testing support, and reporting.

The Medical Technician (Phlebotomy) also performs specimen processing and send-out preparation activities while maintaining compliance with laboratory quality control requirements, patient confidentiality standards, and all applicable federal, state, facility, and accreditation regulations. The position supports patient-centered care by providing professional customer service and maintaining positive relationships with patients, healthcare providers, and laboratory staff.

Essential Functions

• Perform venipuncture and capillary blood collection procedures for inpatient and outpatient populations.
• Conduct specimen collection for inpatient ward rounds, Emergency Department (ED), STAT, ASAP, timed, and routine laboratory testing.
• Positively identify patients prior to specimen collection and verify specimen identification before testing, processing, or aliquoting.
• Process laboratory specimens and prepare samples for referral and send-out testing.
• Independently perform, evaluate, document, and report laboratory testing activities within assigned responsibilities.
• Perform and document Quality Control (QC) procedures in accordance with laboratory policies and regulatory requirements.
• Identify, document, troubleshoot, and resolve specimen collection, processing, testing, and reporting issues.
• Maintain accurate electronic and paper records while safeguarding protected patient information.
• Ensure compliance with laboratory safety standards, infection control procedures, and quality management requirements.
• Provide patient-centered care and professional customer service while minimizing complaints and ensuring positive stakeholder interactions.
• Maintain competency and certification requirements necessary to perform assigned duties.
• Support laboratory operations during weekends, holidays, and overtime assignments as required.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of recent phlebotomy experience.
• National Provider Identifier (NPI) required.

Required Education Requirements (one of these 3 options)

1. Successful completion of (a) a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology (including serology) and that, in addition, included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients; or (b) 1 year of study that included at least 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or biological science.

-OR-

2. 2. Successful completion of (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of the training course as described in (a) above; or (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled.

-OR-

3. 3. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled.

Technical Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated proficiency in phlebotomy techniques and specimen collection procedures.
• Knowledge of laboratory specimen processing, handling, storage, and transportation requirements.
• Ability to perform patient identification and specimen verification procedures accurately.
• Knowledge of laboratory quality control, quality assurance, and patient safety practices.
• Ability to identify and resolve collection, processing, testing, and reporting discrepancies.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and safeguard protected health information in accordance with applicable regulations.
• Ability to speak, read, write, and understand English fluently.
• Proficiency in the use of laboratory information systems, electronic medical records, and standard computer applications.
• Ability to maintain required competency documentation, certifications, licensure, and continuing education requirements.
• Ability to read, interpret, and follow laboratory policies, procedures, technical manuals, and government regulations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Continuing Education Requirements

• Must maintain all required Continuing Medical Education (CME) and/or Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirements and provide documentation upon request.

Citizenship and Employment Eligibility

• Must meet all federal employment eligibility requirements, including compliance with Immigration and Nationality Act provisions, E-Verify requirements, and all applicable Department of Veterans Affairs contractual requirements.

Core Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to patient safety.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Professional demeanor and commitment to exceptional customer service.
• Ability to effectively prioritize workload in a fast-paced clinical environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Ability to adapt to changing workloads, schedules, and laboratory priorities.
• Dependable, accountable, and results-oriented.

Supervisory Responsibility

• None.

Travel

• Negligible travel required.

Expected Hours of Work

Work schedules are determined by laboratory operational requirements and may be adjusted based on patient care needs. Current staffing requirements include:

Day Shift

• Two (2) Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Medical Technician (Phlebotomy) positions
• Schedule: 0900 – 1730

Evening Shift

• Two (2) Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Medical Technician (Phlebotomy) positions
• Schedule: 1500 – 2330

Weekend Rotation

Employees will participate in rotating weekend coverage, generally one to two weekends per month, though additional weekends may be required based on laboratory needs.

Weekend Day Shift

• 0600 – 1400
• One weekday off before the weekend and one weekday off following the weekend rotation.

Weekend Evening Shift

• 1330 – 2100
• One weekday off before the weekend and Monday off following the weekend rotation.

Employees may be required to work weekends, holidays, and overtime as necessary to support laboratory operations. On-call and standby duties are not required. Work schedules may be revised by facility leadership based on patient care and laboratory operational requirements.

Work Environment

Work is performed primarily in a hospital and clinical laboratory environment. Employees are routinely exposed to patients, biological specimens, laboratory equipment, and healthcare settings requiring adherence to infection control, safety, and confidentiality standards. The position requires frequent interaction with patients, healthcare providers, and laboratory personnel.

Physical Demands

The position requires prolonged standing and walking throughout patient care areas, including inpatient units and outpatient clinics. Frequent bending, reaching, lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, and manual dexterity are required for specimen collection and laboratory operations. Employees must be able to lift and transport laboratory supplies and specimens and perform repetitive hand movements associated with phlebotomy procedures. Visual acuity,