Medical Lab Assistant - Specimen Processing - Per Diem/Rotating Shifts

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Medical Laboratory Assistant performs a variety of clerical and technical duties under general supervision. This position reports to the Lab Central Processing Supervisor. Responsibilities include patient registration, ordering tests, centrifugation and decanting of patient specimens, and timely communication with laboratory and clinical staff.

Hours: Per-Diem/Rotating Shifts

Newton-Wellesley Hospital offers:

• An opportunity to work in a supportive team environment!
• A great way to learn and expand skills in the Lab!
• An easy commute, just minutes off of I95 in Newton!
• Free Parking!

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Greets and assists visitors at the Front Window
• Follows the NWH and Laboratory CareFirst Standards of Performance
• Sorts, prioritizes and receives samples that arrive at the Front Window and through the pneumatic tube system
• Patient Registration & Ordering:
  
  
  
  • Accurately enters information from lab requisition (including patient name, dob, unit number, requesting area, insurance information, time sample drawn, physician's name, tubes received, tests requested, general comments) into registration and ordering systems
  • Affixes bar-coded labels to requisition and tubes
  
  
  
  
• Transports bar-coded specimens to technical areas for testing
• Transports bar-coded samples to centrifuges for further decanting and storage
• Responds to routine telephone inquiries regarding patient test results and Laboratory services
• Operates the MPA (Modular Pre-Analytics) System
• Processes add-ons: locates sample, adds tests to original accession number.
• QC requisitions after Registration and Order Entry
• Sorts and files lab requisitions in alphabetical order
• Follows departmental protocols to capture errors (LIS Error tracking System, Safety Report, etc)
• Maintains safe and clean working environment
• Assists Senior MLAs and laboratory management with special projects relating to specimen processing
• Other duties as assigned by Senior MLA or Supervisor (including preparing lab reports and pick-up of Lab samples throughout the Medical Office Building)

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum High School Diploma or equivalent
• Previous laboratory processing, healthcare and/or customer service experience preferred
• Experience with computers, including Microsoft Windows software
• Minimum 25 wpm typing required

Required Skills:

• Good communication skills to effectively interact with laboratory and hospital staff
• Ability to work accurately under stress, time constraints and heavy workload demands
• Produce quality work within a reasonable timeframe
• Neat and orderly work habits
• Attention to details
• Manual dexterity and visual accuracy
• Ability to efficiently move samples throughout the lab over the course of a shift
• Accurate computer skills
• Ability to read, write and speak English sufficiently.

WORKING CONDITIONSAND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work in a clinical laboratory setting handling potentially biohazard specimens like body fluids, blood, urine and CSF
• Ability to stand, sit, walk, reach forward, reach overhead, reach low, stoop or kneel as needed
• Ability to occasionally carry weight between 5 to 20 lbs
• Ability to work under occasional unpleasant or irritating odor during pre-analytic phase of Specimen Processing (24 hr urines, etc)