Clinical Lab Assistant 2

Position Purpose:

Under the direction of the supervisor on duty (or CLS designated in charge), proficiently collects blood specimens in a timely manner as specified by laboratory policies and procedures and in accordance with federal and state regulations. Uses the laboratory information system to determine test status and keeps nursing personnel informed to assist in and expedite patient care. Other support tasks will be required at all times such as telephone answering, non-blood specimen collections, sample handling, special procedures, customer support, and many clerical duties required. All other duties listed above provide support for a 24-hour/7-day a week operation to aid the physician in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The incumbent working as a Laboratory Assistant at Level II is expected to be technically proficient at all times in a variety of stressful situations such as a trauma or code blue situation. Technical proficiency includes venipuncture, capillary collections, arterial collections, difficult patients, and special collection techniques.

The following may be expected depending on incumbents home cost center or location working:

Perform all registration, scheduling, order entry and reception functions and may float to various lab sites within the health system.

This position expedites and provides healthcare access through the accurate gathering of demographic, sponsorship or guardian data, insurance, clinical, financial, and statistical information from a variety of sources, i.e. patients, patient's families, physicians, physician office staff, county and/or governmental agencies, CMS, FMS, etc.

This position ensures reimbursement for services rendered through verification of insurance eligibility/benefits, obtaining insurance authorization within required time frame, identification and collection of patient financial obligation and accurate charge order entry. Serves the patient and family in such a manner as to make the admission process as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

This position may require driving company vehicles in order to render laboratory services to Renown Health patients.

Scheduling of hours may be changed, as company deems necessary. Cover "on-call" hours as requested.

Nature and Scope:

Renown Clinical Laboratory is a 24-hour/7-days a week operation, providing laboratory services to an inpatient and outpatient population of all ages.

The major challenge in this position is to perform quality and timely specimen collection, specimen transport, specimen preparation, computer entry, reception, telephone answering, report handling, and many other miscellaneous clerical duties. Customer service expectations are surpassed through appropriate use of interpersonal skills, organization of workload, observation of all policies, control procedures, proper patient identification, and proper attention to personal appearance. Patient issues (concerns, problems, requests) must be clearly reported to nursing and/or medical staff through direct communication.

Must be able to communicate with a diverse patient population and their family when performing bedside procedures. Must be able to approach and interact with customers in an age appropriate manner at all times. Positive customer service behaviors are expected at all times.

Responsible for training students, mentoring new personnel, and honing the skills of laboratory assistants at Level-I. Training will be conducted via departmental orientation and training protocols.

Must be knowledgeable of and observe all safety requirements in a laboratory and hospital. A comprehensive knowledge must be maintained in all procedures for which performance is required. Competency in work related skills must be demonstrated annually.

Incumbents working in a Healthy Tracks facility will gather and obtain additional information and accurately document the data for Healthy Tracks reporting. If a patient presents with a Healthy Tracks requisition incumbent will be trained and responsible for gathering the following data in addition to drawing the patient:

u Patients vitals

u Limited patient history

u Weight

u Waist circumference

u Height

The incumbent uses professionalism and diplomacy with interacting with patients of all ages, their families, physicians, physician office staff and other health care providers in the accurate collecting of demographic, clinical, and financial information in person or via telephone interviews.

Takes an active role in decreasing accounts receivables by following established guidelines, regulations, policies and procedures during the registration process in accurately:

* Obtaining and accurately entering demographic, clinical, financial information into the computer system.

* Explaining and obtaining signatures on admission, clinical and financial forms

* Collecting accident information

* Identifying all insurance payer sources

* Identifying payer order sequence

* Verifying insurance eligibility

* Obtaining insurance notification

* Charge order entry processing

* Determining estimated cost for services being rendered

* Identifying and collecting patient financial obligation amounts, i.e. co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, etc.

* Documenting all information collected timely and in accordance with department requirements.

Explores the financial need of the patient and when appropriate refers the customer to the appropriate federal, state, or county assistance agencies.

The incumbent is responsible for scheduling, order entry and reception functions and assists in completion of departmental tasks.

This position has the authority to solve problems following established company guidelines. Decisions that must be referred to a supervisor are matters that involve problems which can develop negatively towards the company, time off requests, sick time, work schedules, interoffice problems, etc.

This position does provide patient care.

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Minimum Qualifications: Requirements - Required and/or Preferred

Education:

Must have working-level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing and speaking English.

Experience:

At least one-year recent general laboratory experience or hospital phlebotomy experience is required (i.e. experience drawing blood gases, pediatric patients, trauma patients and critical care patients).

License(s):

Valid State of Nevada or California driver's license and ability to pass Renown Health's Department of Motor Vehicle Report criteria.

Requires current State of Nevada license for Laboratory Assistant or an application must be submitted during the six-month interim/training period. Failure to apply for and/or receive a license by the seventh month will result in discharge. Incumbent may also possess an active Point of Care licensure, which would take the place of a State of Nevada license for Laboratory Assistant.

Ability to pass ASCP Board of Registry Examination for Phlebotomy Technician is preferred.

Certification(s):

None.

Computer / Typing:

Must possess, or be able to obtain within 90 days, the computers skills necessary to complete online learning requirements for job-specific competencies, access online forms and policies, complete online benefits enrollment, etc. Minimum typing speed of 35 wpm, 10-key by touch preferred.