Medical Laboratory Aide - Phlebotomist (43540)

Under general supervision of the Laboratory Manager, assists the Medical Technologists and Lab Technicians in the clinical laboratory in support of patient health care. Performs phlebotomy duties in support of the Laboratory mission at Dilkon Medical Center (DMC) and Winslow Indian Health Care Center (WIHCC). Uphold the principles of WIHCC’s Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information at all times.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.
• Procures blood sample by venipuncture, fingerstick, or heelstick on premature babies to geriatric patients utilizing prescribed safety and infection control procedures to protect patient and phlebotomist.

• Assesses patient condition and/or medication schedule to ensure a quality specimen is drawn that will yield accurate test results, representative of the patient’s condition. 
• Determines specimen collection times based on information given by care givers.
• Evaluates physician orders, confirms tests orders, and accessions test orders for both in-house and reference laboratory samples into Resource Patient Management System (RPMS). 
• Consults with provider on unusual order or requests.
• Cancels and consolidates duplicated test orders to avoid duplication of testing/services so as to minimize patient draws.
• Identifies patients accurately according to Laboratory policy and document appropriate information such as time, date of collection, initial and type of test, patient status, i.e. fasting, coagulation therapy, etc.
• Explains collection procedures and provides general testing information as needed to facilitate patient understanding and reduce patient anxiety.
• Gives patient instructions to ensure the accurate collection or preparation of the specimen by the patient. 
• Acts as a resource to patient care areas with respect to test ordering or specimen collection questions.
• Processes specimens in a timely manner: (1) In-house: Centrifuging the samples as necessary and send the correct sample to the appropriate area of the laboratory; or (2) Reference Lab: Centrifuging the samples, aliquot, if necessary, and package according to recommended storage conditions.
• Performs moderately complex tests in chemistry, coagulation, hematology, serology, and urinalysis, i.e. hemoglobin, hematocrit, CBC, sedimentation rate, urine chemistry screening procedures for urine occult blood, protein, acetone, glucose, specific gravity and urine microscopic. 
• Reports critical values following departmental policy.
• Receives results from instruments and passes information to higher-grade personnel for acceptance and approval. 
• Maintains laboratory records to ensure proper storage and disposal, as required.
• Trains and/or orients new Phlebotomy employees and students as needed to ensure an efficient and productive staff.
• Orders department supplies as needed to ensure uninterrupted specimen collection.
• Attends various meetings regarding Safety and Quality Control issues in order to keep informed of current lab and hospital safety policies.
• Organizes and maintains specimen storage as outlined in the Specimen Retention Policy that assists in quick retrieval of specimens.
• Maintains centrifuges & refrigerators by performing scheduled and unscheduled preventive maintenance. Ensures all eq