Phlebotomist I

About the Role

A Phlebotomist I provides customer service and skilled specimen collections, ensuring the validity and integrity of clinical specimens. Performs blood collections by venipuncture and capillary techniques for all age groups. Ensures doctors' orders are executed correctly, special specimen handling for esoteric testing, handling and processing of legal specimens. Very fast paced environment with frequent subjection to a variety of biohazards. Employee performs clinical duties in accordance with population specific guidelines and adheres to National Patient Safety Goals as outlined in policy and procedures.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications
• Educational Requirements: High School Diploma or GED.
• Minimum Experience
• Other

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications: Certification in phlebotomy preferred through an approved certification organization: ASCP, National Phlebotomy Association, American Medical Technologist, National Performance Specialist, National Healthcareer Association.
• Preferred Educational Requirements
• Preferred Experience: Previous laboratory experience as a lab assistant.
• Other

NGHS Core Competencies

1. I Show Vulnerability when I:

• Trust others and assume positive intent.
• Am emotionally accessible and transparent without hidden agendas.
• Acknowledge weaknesses and accept responsibility for mistakes.
• Am comfortable saying "I don't know" and asking for help.
• Seek and accept feedback in a non-defensive manner.
• Forgive others and give the benefit of the doubt.

2. I Display Empathy when I:

• Seek to know others on a deeper level.
• Work to ensure others feel included.
• Accept others for who they are without judgment.
• Show concern for the well-being and challenges of others.
• Consider the human impact before making decisions.

3. I Demonstrate Courage when I:

• Do not hold back on anything that needs to be said.
• Do the right thing even when that is difficult.
• Speak my own truth, even when that means standing alone.
• Address potential conflict quickly and directly.
• Commit to seeing a difficult conversation through to the end.

4. I Demonstrate Radical Listening when I:

• Seek to understand the other person's viewpoint first, before expressing my own viewpoint.
• Listen for the unsaid.
• Ask questions to confirm understanding.
• Accept others' perceptions as their truth.
• Take action to help others feel fully heard and seen.
• Pursue as many different viewpoints as possible and embrace the bearer of bad news.

5. I Promote Teamwork when I:

• Treat others in a respectful manner, regardless of their position, identity, and background.
• Encourage and support my coworkers.
• Value and acknowledge others for their contributions to the success of the team and NGHS.
• Put the good of the team and NGHS first.
• Strive to find common ground to solve problems for the good of NGHS.
• Cut across boundaries to get things done.

6. I Hold Others Accountable when I:

• Provide clear, consistent, and frequent communication about what is most important.
• Clarify what is less important to establish clear priorities.
• Help others see their blind spots.
• Look for every opportunity to provide reinforcing feedback.
• Provide immediate and actionable corrective feedback.

7. I Strive for Continuous Improvement when I:

• Hold myself personally responsible to seek improvements every day.
• Experiment regularly with new ideas and approaches.
• Demonstrate initiative and perseverance to overcome obstacles and resistance to change.
• Embrace mistakes and pivot quickly if a new approach fails.
• Seek to always be better tomorrow than today.

Organization Expectations

• Quest: Demonstrates/utilizes Quest tools in department.
• Talent Development: Coaches and develops staff.
• Safety: Promotes patient, visitor and staff safety and effectively manages hazards that lead to injury or harm.
• Productivity: Meets productivity expectations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensures department's compliance with all regulatory, DNV, mandatory education, and similar requirements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

Identifies unit/department level goals that align with the organization's Key Performance Indicators.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

If, in the normal course of my duties and responsibilities, I am required to access protected health information (PHI) and electronic protected health information (EPHI) for the purposes of treatment, payment and operations within Northeast Georgia Health System, I will limit such access to only the minimum necessary amount of PHI and EPHI necessary to perform the functions of my job. If access is not required in the normal course of my duties and responsibilities, I will not access PHI or EPHI.

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Good interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Perform blood collections by venipuncture and capillary techniques for all age groups.
• Manual dexterity, problem solving, and following detailed instructions.
• Ability to perform under stressful emergency medical situations
• Proficient computer skills necessary to operate computer systems used, and Microsoft Office Products.
• Good communication skills; both written and verbal.

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Performs Phlebotomy Technique in a professional manner. Presents the Lab in a positive light to the public.
• Properly performs routine venipuncture.
• Correctly performs micro-collection and other special collection techniques.
• Discerns Phlebotomy Techniques according to the condition of the patient.
• Follows safety guidelines to ensure safety of the patient as well as own safety.
• Works well with other departments to coordinate special collections.
• Delivers clinical specimens efficiently and effectively to the laboratory.
• Operates centrifuge properly. Understand and applies proper technique according to specimen requirements.
• Processes outpatients in timely manner.
• Accurately codes laboratory orders from the nursing unit into laboratory information system with no more than one error per month.
• Performs effectively and efficiently in complex emergency situations such as multiple trauma or disaster.
• Interacts with other departments in a positive manner to resolve identified problems with a clinical specimen.
• Ensures the integrity of submitted clinical specimens.
• Completes the detailed paperwork for studies/investigational testing.
• Maintains all quality assurance/quality control logs for the Phlebotomy and Specimen Processing Departments.
• Prioritizes work to meet turnaround requirements that are set by Laboratory Administration.
• Regularly checks computer files patient lists to assist with workflow and ensuring that samples are collected in a timely manner. Resolves the problem or routes to appropriate personnel.
• Accurately performs drug screen collections following chain of custody protocols. Any errors made will result in retraining per the standards.
• Maintains commitment to continued professional growth and development through continued education and annual competency assessments.
• Assists in training of new phlebotomy employees or students through: Demonstrating proper collection techniques and assisting with venipuncture when needed.

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time
• Weight Carried: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0