Laboratory Assistant

CHI Memorial Hospital now part of CommonSpirit Health formed between Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) and Dignity Health is once again the only hospital in the Chattanooga area to be named a Best Regional Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. We are proud to be the regional referral center of choice providing health care throughout Southeast Tennessee and North Georgia. We offer the following benefits to support you and your family: On-site childcare with extended hours Care@Work premium account for additional support with children pets dependent adults and household needs Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family Paid Time Off (PTO) Health/Dental/Vision Insurance Flexible spending accounts Voluntary Protection: Group Accident Critical Illness and Identify Theft Adoption Assistance Tuition Assistance for career growth and development Matching 401(k) and 457(b) Retirement Programs Wellness Program Additional incentives for eligible full time day shift and night shift opportunities

Under the direction of the Lead Lab Assistant, Laboratory Clinical Coordinator, Market Director of Laboratory Services and Laboratory Supervisor or Manager, the clinical laboratory assistant assists in specimen collection, receiving, processing, and distribution of specimens,  clerical duties including accessioning, receptionist duties, processing specimens for Reference laboratory send outs,  monitoring tube stations (when equipped) and distribution of samples.

Front Desk and Accessioning Responsibilities

1. Accepts specimens and requisitions from external and internal customers utilizing excellent customer service skills.
2. Accurately registers specimens and logs into Laboratory Information System (LIS) and evaluates specimen adequacy and acceptability.
3. Identifies patients/specimens using two unique patient identifiers and accurately labels specimen containers.
4. Process specimens from the tube system.  Performs specimen processing as needed.  For example, proper identification, aliquoting, special handling, and required documentation. 
5. Follows established procedures and policies including infection control and bloodborne pathogens. Handles chemicals according to established safety protocols.
6. Meets defined workload productivity standards. Works accurately and proficiently.
7. Follows established procedures and policies to obtain optimal test turn-around-times, including, but not limited to single piece flow.
8. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.
9. Participates in teaching peers. 
10. Handles incoming and outgoing telephone calls utilizing good customer service skills and knowledge of the laboratory.
11. Performs pick ups as needed for on campus offices. 
12. Follows up on and documents out of range temperatures, missing or inadequate specimens, and missing specimens.

Phlebotomy/Drawsites 

1. Accurately and efficiently performs venipunctures, and finger sticks ensuring collection of proper specimens for testing and ensuring patient safety, following lab policy.
2. Utilizes patient identification tools, with a minimum of two identifiers.
3. Label specimen according to policy.
4. Prepare, store, and stabilize specimens for testing correctly, preserving stability required for each test ordered as needed.
5. Maintain phlebotomy competency.
6. For off-site collection, follow requirements of facility.  Maintain working personal vehicle and a valid driver’s license.
7. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.

Microbiology  

1. Maintain departmental competencies as required.
2. Plating of cultures onto appropriate media
3. Blood Culture loading, unloading and positive bottle processing.
4. Fecal Transplant specimen processing
5. Loading urinalysis samples, molecular sample preparation, waived testing preparation.
6. Instrument maintenance.
7. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.

Hematology

1. Maintain departmental competencies as required.
2. Oversee container storage and rotation of stored samples.
3. Monitor and replenish supplies
4. Specimen integrity monitoring
5. Load and unload analyzers
6. Body Fluids: form, pour offs and cytofuged slides.
7. Prepare blood smears
8. Instrument maintenance and self-tests
9. Monitor expected lists and for Add-ons
10. Bone Marrow assistant
11. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.

Chemistry

1. Maintain departmental competencies as required.
2. Oversee container storage and rotation of stored samples.
3. Monitor and replenish supplies
4. Specimen integrity monitoring and processing
5. Load and unload analyzers
6. Pour-off samples as needed
7. Instrument maintenance 
8. Monitor expected lists and for Add-ons
9. Waived testing set-up
10. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.

Blood Bank

1. Maintain departmental competencies as required
2. Perform blood bank collections using Rover
3. Monitor and replenish supplies
4. Proficient in desk and clerical duties
5. Outpatient billing
6. Preventive maintenance
7. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.  

Reference Lab 

1. Accurately and efficiently performs specimen processing for send out reference lab testing.
2. Has a thorough understanding of Reference Lab specimen requirements.
3. Monitors for completion of miscellaneous results, prints as necessary and delivers to MLT/MT
4. Perform other duties as assigned.
5. Demonstrates a cooperative attitude in relationships with co-workers and other personnel.  Serves an effective representative to physicians, nurses, patients, and visitors in a courteous and empathetic manner.

The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education & Experience:

• High School diploma or GED equivalent required.

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Good communication and organizational skills. 
• Good time management skills. 
• Keyboarding accuracy and speed is essential.