Laboratory Assistant

As the largest not-for-profit health care system serving Michigan, we offer a world of opportunity within our expansive system. We have more nationally ranked hospitals than any other health system in the state, including six that are Magnet®-recognized. In total, Corewell Health has eight hospitals and 155 outpatient sites that provide diverse practice settings located in communities throughout southeastern Michigan and the greater Detroit metropolitan area.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Registration data entry, test order entry, processing of specimens received in various Labs. May have equipment maintenance and quality control duties. May handle hazardous chemicals. May perform some data entry, answering phones, inventory, and filing. Duties may include responsibilities specific to assigned department and may vary dependent on assigned site/department

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Performs patient registration per corporate guidelines and training and accurately orders tests requested by clients into laboratory computer systems.
• Communicates with healthcare personnel outside of department about reports, clarification of requests, other problems related to specimens, requests, and testing delays. May coordinate Phlebotomist activity at various times throughout the shift.

• Performs specimen processing according to the Lab Test Directory instructions. May set up some cultures, perform waive testing, and report test results.
• Performs specimen receipt and tracking in Beaker and distributes to the technical areas. Checks incomplete worklists to make sure no specimens are uncollected or lost. Retrieves incomplete work logs.

• Processes documents and materials (reports, slides and blocks) for internal and external customers. Retrieves/distributes material (slides, blocks and reports) from the slides/blocks storage and/or LIS. May prepare tumor board conference material.

• Prepares Send-out tests, including Newborn Screening to the Michigan Department of Community Health and to other department/laboratories within the health system. Centrifuges, aliquots specimens, processes paperwork, and documents in the Beaker.

• Performs document imaging in On Base as assigned and archive, retrieve samples for additional testing.

• Performs clerical functions to maintain required records, files, and reports pertinent to the functions of a lab. Chart review, statistical logs, filing slides, etc.

• Maintains office equipment including copiers, faxes, and printers. Process offsite document/material storage/retrieval requests.

• May maintain pathologists’ schedules and uses Microsoft Office for preparing documents.

• Performs inventory, orders and receives supplies, rotates stock.

• Any other duties as needed.

STANDARD QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• Education / Training:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Work Experience:

• None required. 6 months of laboratory experience preferred.

• Certification, Licensure, Registration:
• None required.
• Other Qualifications:

• Completion of Registration training program exhibiting competency testing/evaluation by preceptor or supervisor as applicable.
• Employee must interact in a respectful manner, considerate of age and physical needs of the patients on the phone.
• Good verbal and telephone skills.
• Familiarity with office equipment, (copier, fax, etc.) as well as maintaining computer monitor/keyboard and printer, and operation of the centrifuge.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, good organizational skills.
• Ability to prioritize workload.
• Some computer skills required.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Physical Effort:

• Position may require long periods of sitting, working at a computer, and communicating with others.
• Frequent walking between various hospital areas to deliver specimens.
• Long periods of standing while at various workstations.
• Frequent lifting of up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

• Potential risk of an exposure to hazardous materials (reagents, toxins, fumes, odors) and infec