Lab Assistant II

Shift: Nights

Job Type: Full Time

Hours:

Reporting to the Laboratory Director, Operations Coordinator, Technical Supervisors and Clinical Laboratory Scientists, the Laboratory Assistant II Chemistry/Micro/BB/Pathology is responsible for correctly and efficiently performing technical procedures and Quality Control in one or more sections of the Clinical laboratory, operating and maintaining instrumentation as assigned, taking steps necessary to assure accurate reports, performing clerical and phlebotomy tasks as needed.  Note:  The Laboratory Assistant works under the direct supervision of a Clinical Laboratory Scientists, and all reports are reviewed and co-signed by a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. Every employee of the laboratory at Doctors Medical Center is expected to promote the mission and philosophy of the hospital by acting in a caring, courteous and confidential manner towards patients, visitors, colleagues, and staff by performing their duties and responsibilities according to the expected standards.  Every member of the Laboratory Staff is expected to perform their duties and to accept the responsibility of the accuracy of their work as dictated in their Professional Standards as Clinical Laboratory Scientists or Health Care Workers.  Staff members will maintain confidentiality of all reports, maintain the integrity of identification of patient samples and will perform designated tasks which will enable the laboratory to comply with all regulatory standards of Clinical and Anatomic Laboratories.                

Position Accountabilities 
1. If certified by the State of California as a Phlebotomy Technician (CPT 1 or CPT 2) is accountable for collecting blood samples from patients in a timely manner.  Identifies the patient correctly before performing venipuncture or capillary collection of samples.  Collects samples appropriate for the test requested.  Maintains proficiency in the collection of capillary and venous samples.  Accessions and processes patient samples while maintaining the integrity of the identification of the sample.                        
2. Performs moderately complex testing, as approved by the laboratory director.  A CLS verifies work and reports. Accountable for producing accurate patient results.  Properly identifies, accessions, and processes specimens.  Operates laboratory instruments and performs manual procedures according to protocol as assigned.  Efficiently and expediently performs procedures.                        
3. When performing moderately complex testing is accountable for assuring that quality results are generated.  Properly performs Quality Control and verifies with CLS. Performs preventative maintenance as assigned.  Checks any flagged values.  Observes and troubleshoots irregularities in results and/or instrument operation and reports them to the Clinical Laboratory Scientists.                         
4. Accountable for providing clerical support to the section.  Answers telephone in a courteous, professional and efficient manner.  Answers questions and routes calls appropriately and takes proper messages.  Utilizes the Cerner system to order, acknowledge, charge, cancel, etc.  Controls inventory of the section assigned.  Maintains Chemistry Accession area.                        
5. Accountabilities specific for Microbiology Laboratory Assistant:  Properly identifies, accessions and processes specimens for routine culture.  Anaerobic Culture, Fungal Culture, Acid Fast Bacillus Culture and Direct Smears, Ova and Parasite preparations and send-outs.  Properly inoculates MIC’s and ID systems.  Properly disinfects work area and discards contaminated materials.  Completes reports, files computer printouts and slides.  Documents daily temperatures of all temperature dependent equipment. Stocks micro set-up area with supplies.                        
6. Accountable for job knowledge.  Learns new procedures in allotted time.  Retains knowledge with little or no review.  Maintains awareness of changes in laboratory procedures, policies, and protocols.                        
7. Accountabilities specific for Chemistry Lab Assistant:  Operates accessioning area according to written procedure.  Documents daily temperatures of all temperature dependent equipment.  Properly disinfects work areas and discards contaminated materials.  Receives and processes specimens in the accession area of the laboratory to include maintaining the integrity of identification of the patient, labeling the specimen, centrifugation if necessary and distribution to the proper section of the laboratory. Properly identifies and processes specimens for send-out testing.  Coordinates courier service for specimen pickup.  Operates chemistry instruments according to written procedure, when applicable.  Assists in the up-dating of specimen requirements as received from