LAB ASSISTANT

Overview

 

Laboratory Assistant

Full time, 80 hours per pay period, Day shift

 

Parkwest Overview:

Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area’s largest employer.

 

Parkwest is Covenant Health’s and West Knoxville’s premier medical facility and a top-performing heart hospital, offering our patients world-class treatment with all the convenience and warmth of home.

 

In addition to providing the area’s leading cardiac services, Parkwest has been nationally recognized for award-winning care throughout our facility. For 2020-21, Parkwest received recognition from U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Top 10” hospitals in Tennessee.

 

Knoxville located in East Tennessee is the third largest in the state, well-known for its proximity to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and is the home of the University of Tennessee. Go Vols!  Living in Knoxville means experiencing all four seasons.  Best of all, each of them is pretty mild!

 

Combine all that with the abundant natural beauty of the surrounding mountains, and you have a city that truly offers something for everyone. Knoxville has a vibrant arts culture, seasonal festivals, top-notch foodie and incredible outdoor recreation. It’s a perfect blend of big-city amenities and Southern charm.

 

Position Summary:  

An employee in this position must be able to perform in the following areas: collection and proper handling of venous and capillary blood specimens for both in and out patients, responsibility for the safety and comfort of customers, clerical/computer duties, and courier responsibilities as required for the position.

 

Recruiter: Kathleen Rice || apply@covhlth.com

 

Responsibilities

• Customer service and OP collection is recognized as the first priority.
• Assures the registration process is handled in a professional manner with attention to accuracy, completeness, and efficiency.
• Gathers all demographic, medical and financial information from outpatients in a courteous and effective manner utilizing the HIS to record data.
• Transcribes medical orders and diagnosis accurately and in a timely manner, orders the appropriate laboratory tests as indicated for outpatients, lab contracts, and specimens. Follows-up on all verbal orders with requests for written orders.
• Responsible for answering the departmental telephones and transferring calls to proper laboratory/pathology section; follows through with problem resolution; assists physicians/staff in obtaining, faxing or telephone receipt of laboratory test results; and responsible for strict adherence to proper handling of confidential test results.
• Responsible for use of HIS, LIS and reference lab computer systems (i.e. Mayo, etc.) as appropriate for specific hospital facility.
• Knowledgeable of manual systems for ordering, collection, verification, and charting in instances of computer failure.
• Properly processes, all specimens including accessioning; recognition of test priorities; centrifugation; separation/distribution of shared specimens; separation/processing, logging, tracking of specimens for transport to off-site reference labs; proper labeling of aliquots; special collection requirements; special storage/shipment instructions (i.e. ice, dry ice, ambient temps, refrigerate, etc.). Responsible for operating and monitoring of pneumatic tube system.
• Properly collects blood samples from venous and/or capillary (heel or finger) sites as required by facility. Proper use of the Hollister Ident-A-Band system for labeling Blood Bank specimens. Proper use of aseptic technique in the collection of blood culture specimens.  Accurately labels all specimens.
• Strict adherence to proper identification of patients either by hospital armband, by asking the patient his/her name, or by asking the RN to visually identify the patient.
• Strict adherence to proper disposal of needles/sharps, and used gloves during phlebotomy.
• Maintain clerical and phlebotomy work areas in a neat and sanitary manner.
• Responsible for the daily quality review of written physician’s orders to detect errors in test orders, diagnosis, physician’s name, insurance coverage, and documents problem resolution etc. Files orders appropriately and manages filing system. Responsible for notification of Sr. Lab Assistant or Manager for timely correction of errors.
• Properly prints/sorts/faxes/charts inpatient Laboratory, Pathology, and Imaging reports, and mails or distributes outpatient reports as nee