Medical Lab Assistant

• Performs clerical processes including but not limited to order entry, report processing, charging, crediting and computer data entry.
• Performs routine laboratory tasks related to specimen processing.
• Performs approved medical laboratory tests, procedures, and analysis to provide data for use in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

Educational Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
• Certification, or willingness to obtain certification, as a medical laboratory assistant preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Must be able to communicate with other persons effectively and courteously.
• Understand and comprehend basic medical terminology.
• Must be able to prioritize work according to written instructions using organizational skills and sound judgment.
• Basic mathematics including understanding of debits and credits for charge posting.
• Requires the ability to use office equipment such as PC based word processors, printers, telephones, copy machines, fax machines, etc.
• Performs a variety of duties, often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure.
• Must be able to follow instructions exactly.

Physical Requirements

• Bending, walking, standing, and lifting of up to 35 lbs.
• Manual dexterity, visual acuity, and color vision.
• Must be able to handle all types of biological and physical specimens using proper blood and body fluid precautions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides a communication link between laboratory staff and outreach clients to facilitate the provision of prompt, accurate, efficient laboratory services. Facilitates client questions regarding results, specimen requirements, turnaround times, etc. for all laboratory services both internal and referral. Coordinates client requests for specimen pick-up, phlebotomy services, and supply requests to ensure prompt, efficient service, and result turn around.
• Keeps current all pathology records, compiles data and prepares reports from these records for quality assurance, compliance, and statistical purposes. Accurately processes pathological specimens for referral, prepares and maintains documentation of referred specimens, and ensures the timely issue of all incoming reports to the appropriate parties.
• Accurately processes and distributes lab reports (addendums, final reports, outpatients, laboratory statistical reports, etc.) and incoming/outgoing mail to various departments and attending physicians according to approved procedures.
• Handling of requests for lab tests to include transcription of physicians' orders promptly and accurately according to procedure.
• Reviews medication, previous surgeries and other pertinent information that could influence the requested laboratory tests.
• Registers patients and places laboratory testing orders efficiently and accurately.
• Ensures proper patient identity and accurate specimen labeling according to established procedures.
• Maintains patient identity through all phases of specimen processing.
• Ensures proper compliance in receiving/logging in all specimens, once collected.
• Assists daily in maintaining and receiving laboratory supplies.
• Collects urine drug screens and COVID-19 specimens on hospital employees using appropriate chain of custody guidelines as needed.
• Handles contaminated specimens and material according to infection control guidelines and reports accidents or incidents appropriately.
• Performs testing, as appropriate, skillfully, and accurately using approved methodologies and techniques and in compliance with laboratory policies.
• Efficiently prioritizes work according to protocol and performs procedures in a timely and organized manner within the established laboratory turn-around times.
• Recognizes interdependency of tests and possesses knowledge of physiological conditions affecting test results.
• Performs, records, and monitors internal and external quality control procedures according to the specifications and time schedules for that department and documents all corrective action taken.
• Demonstrates and ensures the practice of safe infection control procedures according to laboratory and hospital procedures and policies.
• Performs all other tasks/responsibilities as necessary.