GENERAL SUMMARY:

This role will report to the Department Supervisor, accountable to the Operations Manager and Lab Director for the pre-analytical and post analytical specimen and result management in technical areas of the Laboratory. This role will perform a variety of routine and special processing procedures including and under the direction of the supervisor, waived testing. This position will liaison with clinical staff, physicians, pathologists, and other professionals providing information and support to ensure proper collection, test orders, and handling of specimens for diagnostic analysis. This position requires a strong professional demeanor and strict attention to detail, multi-tasking abilities, great communication skills, and ability to apply technical acumen to a process. The Laboratory Assistant will be directly responsible for every patient specimen received into department, will accession specimens, verify specimens meet acceptability, and, if appropriate, will set up and or analyze samples as trained.

REPRESENTATIVE FUNCTIONS:

Performs specimen triage, specimen identification, and properly accessions specimens using Epic.

Manage STAT and priority specimens, Evaluate specimen acceptability for testing ordered, and ensures receipt of specimens received from offsite locations and clients.

Maintains and operates laboratory equipment (as trained), and completes documentation as required.

Creates manifests for reference lab sendout testing, organizes and packages specimens per requirements.

In core lab, measures 24 hour urine specimens, records measurement and transfers aliquot to appropriately labeled tube. If applicable, performs pH measurement and records.

Performs rapid testing, prepares gram stains, load and unload instruments, plate/inoculate cultures to media for bacteriology/ microbiology workups and testing.

Records and enters appropriate patient and physician data needed to complete testing.

Contacts physician, nurse, phlebotomist, or unit with instruction on specimen cancelation or recollection needs. Receives and manages add-on testing requests and retrieves specimens as necessary for testing.

Performs and documents quality control, quality assurance activities, maintenance, and corrective actions related to quality and performance for the tests responsible by the lab assistant.

Communicates effectively and courteously while working as a healthcare team member. Provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers, patients, and others), and NCH CARES initiative.

Adherence to NCH, CAP, TJC, CLIA, IDPH, HIPAA, and OSHA policies, procedures, and regulations.

Follows all security procedures concerning confidential patient information, both written and computerized.

Maintains adequate level of supplies, restocks as needed, and notifies supervisor of inventory needs.

Assists in training new employees as necessary.

Adheres to all Northwest Community Hospital standards, policies, and procedures.

SPECIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

The organizational skills necessary to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and complete work timely, effectively, and accurately.

The interpersonal skills necessary to interact effectively with physicians and hospital staff.

Ability to solve problems and use problem solving abilities and able to seek out and perform additional tasks.

Normal color vision to allow employee to distinguish color differentiation of blood collection tubes, media, stained cells, or reagent labels.

Computer skills, especially with MS Office and Epic HIS.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Able to stand for long periods of time, (5-8 hours).

Able to bend at knees, reach with arms, lift and carry up to 25 pounds.

Able to determine colors, have good dexterity, and legible handwriting.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Laboratory environment with chemical and biohazard materials/agents