Lab Support Services Specialist Prn - days

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager or designee, performs technical and non-technical duties within the Laboratory service areas on the hospital campus. Duties include HIS/LIS data entry, troubleshooting and laboratory technical support functions, customer service for all patients and health care providers, specimen receipt and processing, phlebotomy procedures, pre-analytical and specimen storage robot operation, and assist in multiple areas as workload and staffing changes.

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions

Specimen Receipt and Processing

• Check all specimens arriving in the lab for sufficient quality and quantity.
• Cancel unacceptable specimens after notifying RN and documenting in the LIS.
• Centrifuge, decant or split specimens as needed; combine orders as needed.
• Take to the testing areas in a timely fashion.
• Measure and aliquot 24 hr urine samples and enter required information in the LIS.
• Via tracking and pending logs, prepare specimens for transport to reference labs.
• Check accuracy of outpatient orders and resolve discrepancies, correcting orders as needed.
• Check physician, drop off specimen and Home Health orders for accuracy in HIS/LIS.
• Resolve any insurance/billing problems noted with PAS or Outreach staff.
• Processing microbiology specimens (plating/preparation and preparing gram stains)

Phlebotomy

• Prepare and maintain phlebotomy tray with all supplies required to perform duties.
• Perform phlebotomy in accordance with Wellstar’s patient identification, confidentiality, safety and infection control guidelines with appropriate care given to PPE, sharps disposal and hand washing.
• Collects quality blood specimens both venous and capillary for processing, minimum venipunctures 10/hour.
• Critically review each collection list to minimize the number of times a patient is collected by searching for and canceling duplicate orders and combining orders that can be collected together within lab guidelines or after RN approval.
• Question orders that seem repetitive or unusual.
• Identifies patient using two patient identifiers before drawing blood and informs nursing of any missing or incorrect arm bands.
• Complies with Blood Culture and Blood Bank specimen collection procedures and specimen handling requirements.
• Confirms the patient has been left in a secure position, tourniquet removed and puncture wound has clotted before leaving patient.
• Delivers specimens to the Laboratory with specified timeframe.
• Resolves unreceived specimen pending log in LIS. Pull acceptable samples if possible.

Customer Service Support

• Complies with AIDET standards always.
• Communicate effectively and courteously with all outpatients, visitors and hospital personnel.
• Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality always.
• Receive incoming calls; resolve or route as appropriate.
• Resolve patient / patient care provider complaints; understand when to refer to supervisor.
• Provide patient test results to patient care providers via printed reports, fax or verbal communication.
• Maintain organized files for physician orders, reference lab reports, other lab reports, as needed.
• Make follow-up calls to patients, patient care providers concerning problem specimens, recollects.
• Perform call back function for critical and notification values.

Technical/ HIS / LIS

• HIS / LIS order entry. Able to work in multiple computer systems as needed to perform job functions.
• Use critical thinking skills and lab knowledge to resolve patient orders and irretrievable samples.
• Report and troubleshoot HIS/LIS, printer, fax malfunctions.
• Organize specimen intake in various downtime scenarios and recovery from same.
• Assist with inventory control. Maintain organization of laboratory storage areas.
• Restock consumables in the phlebotomy, clerical areas, store room and laboratory.
• Perform QA checks on refrigerators, freezers as required.

Teaching /In-Service/ Email

• Assists in orientation and training of new employees as assigned.
• Check emails daily in Sunquest.
• Completes all assigned training and competency testing within specified time periods.
• Participates in staff meetings and reads of posted meeting minutes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Complies with all WellStar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education

• High School Diploma Other or GED Other

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s)

• Basic Life Support or BLS - Instructor

Additional License(s) and Certification(s)

• Phlebotomy Certification by a national organization Upon Hire Preferred

Required Minimum Experience

• Experience in either phlebotomy and / or specimen processing in an outpatient or hospital laboratory environment Required

Required Minimum Skills

• Strong written and verbal communication, customer service, multi-tasking and organizational skills, professionalism, detail and team-oriented, data entry, typing 40 wpm and working computer knowledge.

Join us and discover the support to do more meaningful work—and enjoy a more rewarding life. Connect with the most integrated health system in Georgia, and start a future that gives you more.