Clinical Laboratory Support Tech

DEPARTMENT: LABORATORY

F ACILITY: Tift Regional Medical Center

WORK TYPE: Full Time

S HIFT: Daytime

SUMMARY

The CLST is primarily responsible for answering the phones, accessioning, receiving, and processing specimens for testing. The CLST will assist in collecting specimens in the main laboratory outpatient setting. They will provide customer service to patients, patients’ families, visitors, physicians, coworkers, and other clinical and non-clinical personnel. The CLST will also conduct any other non-technical duties deemed necessary by the supervisor.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists laboratory technical staff in the performance of non-technical duties such as, receiving specimens into the computer system, tracking specimens, monitoring uncollected specimens, trouble-shooting problems with specimens, checking in and distribution of supplies, and any other functions assigned.
• Communicate with laboratory employees, hospital employees, and doctor's offices concerning specimen requirements.
• Handle all telephone communication with courtesy, accuracy, and respect for confidentiality.
• Keeps abreast of pertinent federal, and state regulations and laws and Tift Regional Health System, Inc. (“TRHS”) policies as they presently exist and as they change or are modified.
• Understands and adheres to: TRHS’ compliance standards as they appear in TRHS’s Corporate Compliance Policy, Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy; and HIPAA and TRHS policies regarding privacy and security of protected health information.
• Demonstrates the ability to perform tasks that meet the age-specific requirements of the persons, patients, vendors, and staff that the employee is charged to interact with as required by the position.
• Offers suggestions on ways to improve operations of department and reduce costs.
• Attends all mandatory education programs.
• Improves self-knowledge through voluntarily attending continuing education/certification classes.
• Maintains required competency levels as identified in written exams, skills checklists, skills labs, annual safety and health requirements as well as service excellence education hours requirements.
• Cross-trains in order to better assist co-workers and to provide maximum efficiency in the department.
• Volunteers/participates on hospital committees, functions, and department projects.
• Manages resources effectively.
• Reports equipment in need of repair in order to extend life of equipment and removes malfunctioning equipment out of service with timely reporting to the appropriate personnel.
• Makes good use of time so as to not create needless overtime.
• Uses proper specimen collection technique, including selection of site, preparation of site, and mixing of tubes.
• Removes tourniquet and disposes of all sharps and contaminated materials according to policy.
• Labels all specimens properly in the presence of the patient, either handwritten or with labels.
• Responds properly to adverse reactions to phlebotomy when they occur.
• Maintains an excellent and cooperative relationship with nursing staff and other ordering departments.
• Uses appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required by the patient condition/status.
• Verifies patient/specimen identity using two patient identifiers according to department and organization policy.
• Provides initial customer service to patients, family members, visitors, physicians, and other clinical and non-clinical personnel.
• Maintains environment of waiting area.
• Utilizes AIDET (Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, Thank) in patient interactions.
• Maintains all required records, reports, files, logs, and documents.
• Reviews and follows all relevant policies and procedures, adapting to any changes as they occur.
• Performs all required and expected documentation, both in written and digital formats.
• Follows hospital policy regarding infection control and hand cleansing.

EDUCATION

• High School Diploma or Equivalent

OTHER INFORMATION:

Prior phlebotomy experience, preferred.

Southwell/Tift Regional Health System, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.