Laboratory Assistant

Certified Medical Assistant

Summary: This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing timely and accurate specimen collection and other laboratory support functions. The Certified Medical Assistant exhibits compassion towards our patients provides outstanding customer service and demonstrates professional behavior. This includes all interactions with patients and their families in person during the lab visit telephonically and electronically.

Job Duties:

• Ensure that accurate and clinically relevant information is communicated with patients their families and co-workers at handoffs and other times as needed.
• Take all measures necessary to ensure that the appropriate and involved parties have communicated necessary information to allow for the best possible patient outcome.
• Prioritizes workload to ensure timely collection of patient samples.
• Properly identifies patients and samples during the pre-analytical analytical and post-analytical phases of testing.
• Perform specimen collection including phlebotomy respiratory swabs urines stools and skin tests with skill and compassion.
• Follows laboratory procedures for specimen collection order entry and all other duties.
• Accesses lab information system (EPIC) to perform order entry specimen collection and sample labeling.
• Open and/or close outpatient lab area as scheduled.
• Maintains a consistent patient flow and advises patients of delays.
• Monitors and maintains patient waiting area.
• Provides patient collection instructions.
• Answers incoming phone calls and places outgoing phone calls in a timely manner using proper phone etiquette.
• Acts as a resource for laboratory medicine information to providers and others.
• Reviews information in the laboratory information system (EPIC) for deficiencies and resolves discrepancies.
• Scan documents into the laboratory information system (EPIC) and maintain records appropriately.
• Communicates effectively and professionally with physicians nurses other medical personnel patients and families.
• Assists with education and training new staff and students as needed.
• Maintains laboratory and/or outpatient area with general cleaning stocking and upkeep.
• Maintains and improves skills by participating in at least one continuing education activity annually.
• Actively seeks and identifies opportunities for process improvement.
• Follows Mercy's safety guidelines carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities and promptly reports any unsafe conditions situations incidents and injuries.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of specimen collection procedures including venipuncture capillary collection TB placement and respiratory swabs.
• Knowledge of different patient populations and their needs including neonatal pediatric geriatric and trauma.
• General knowledge and understanding of the diagnosis process lab values and safe handling of sharps and blood products.
• Ability to successfully perform venipunctures.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently under pressure without sacrificing quality.
• Ability to multi-task prioritize and work with interruptions.
• Strong computer knowledge and skills to navigate the laboratory information system (EPIC).
• Ability to be detail-oriented.
• Ability to complete appropriate documentation and paperwork clearly and completely.
• Exhibits outstanding customer service to patients families and colleagues.
• Professional Experience: Medical office or laboratory experience is strongly preferred.
• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent required. Education sufficient to obtain required licensure.
• Licensure Certification Registration: Medical Assistant Certification required.

Pay Rate Type: Hourly

Mercy is an independent community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years. Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity equity and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race color ethnicity ancestry sex sexual orientation gender identity marital status civil union status parental status religion national origin age disability veteran status and other legally protected characteristics.