Medical Lab Assistant I

Job Summary

The Medical Lab Assistant I performs a variety of tasks related to specimen collection and pre-analytical processing of biological specimens for testing performed in the clinical laboratory. Responsible for providing excellent customer service to patients and visitors during registration and laboratory procedure ordering. Will obtain all demographic and financial information to ensure accurate and legal billing and medical record data. Provide clerical functions such as ordering, reporting registration, filing, and scanning with accuracy while maintaining competency in all computer modules including EPIC. Manages telephone inquiries timely providing guidance or direction as needed. Collect specimens in accordance to procedure and/or federal guidelines, including Department of Transportation. Preparation of specimens for review by Cytotechnologist, Pathologists, and technologist, where applicable. Provide general maintenance of working areas to maintain clean workspace environment and instruments. 

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Education: High School Diploma or Equivalent
Minimum Years of Experience: Six months experience in a Laboratory setting or equivalent customer service experience.
Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): Experience can be substituted for an Associate's Degree or a Technical Certification in health related field.
Required Certifications/Licensure: None
Required Training: Basic computer skills. Interest and skills in biological, chemical or biochemical sciences.

Essential Functions

• Greets patients and/or representatives in a professional and courteous manner to obtain proper identification and insurance information along with physician orders to complete the registration process. 
• Provides instructions to patients and/or representatives in the proper preparation and collection of self-collected tests (i.e. stool, urine, semen, etc.)
• Receives and tracks specimens delivered to the laboratory by patients, couriers, nurses, or other medical personnel to testing departments, and manages the storage and disposal of patient samples.
• Ensures specimens are labeled properly to maintain accurate patient identification.
• Answer telephone calls to provide guidance for inquiries providing excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Collect urine specimens with Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines for federal transportation or client's post-accident collections while following proper chain of custody protocols (Outreach and Phlebotomy only).
• Responsible for delivering high quality service for all laboratory testing inquiries and serves as a resource to address problems and identify resolutions when possible.
• Prepares, processes, stores and disposes all biologically hazardous reagents, chemicals and specimens following all regulatory and safety policies and procedures. 
• Independently interprets physician orders and/or communicating with physician for clarification while following policies and procedures for verbal orders.
• Assists with data collection for statistical reports and quality assurance monitoring.
• Assesses inventory needs, orders and restocks supplies in a timely manner. Assists will filling supply orders for clients.
• Maintains competence in all policies/procedures and LIS/HIS systems including upgrades or changes. Maintains a working knowledge of reference lab portals to navigate patient's orders/results, where applicable.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides essential assistance to professional staff within both the clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory, including pathologists, cytotechnologists, pathology assistants, and medical laboratory scientists. 
• Work assigned hours to meet the need of the department.
• Maintain productivity by effectively prioritizing and organizing workload in a constant changing environment to meet daily needs and deadlines.
• Adapts to changes in the work environment, job situation and job requirements.
• Maintain an optimistic and professional image and exhibits excellent customer service to patients, visitors, providers, and coworkers.
• Works independently and as a team member.
• Follows and complies with all hospital and laboratory policies.
• Complies with all regulatory policies and procedures including Safety as required by CLIA, CAP, FDA, OSHA, DNV, and SC Dept of Public Health.
• Demonstrates competence to provide developmentally appropriate care/treatment for the following patient population; Infant (birth to 1 year), child (1 through 12 years) adolescent (13 years through 17 years), adult (18 years to 65 year) and geriatric (over 65 years).
• Skilled knowledge and organization preparation of pending workload and processing of various types of specimens for interpretive review. 
• Skilled knowledge for operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of all instruments and documentation of all events to include temperature and/or humidity, as required. 
• Preparation and maintaining various reports to include abnormal patient result lists, QA/QC logs, etc. 
• Performs additional duties as assigned and requested.