Phlebotomy Specialist

Job Summary

The Phlebotomist I is a vital member of our Laboratory Services team at Centra Health, serving patients by ensuring the accurate and safe retrieval of specimens for laboratory testing. This role requires exemplary communication skills, a professional demeanor, and the ability to handle responsibilities independently.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Compliance and Quality: Employees are obligated to uphold strict compliance with all regulations and standards set by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA), The Joint Commission (TJC), and other regulatory bodies. This includes active participation in quality assurance initiatives and adherence to best practices in laboratory testing. Perform duties as assigned by the medical director.

Compliance: Employees must complete the necessary initial orientation and training, obtain, and maintain relevant certifications, participate annually in mandatory training, competency assessments, and consistently demonstrate satisfactory job-specific performance assessments on an ongoing basis.

Specimen Collection and Processing: Collect and process patient samples efficiently to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions. Proficient in all patient interactions with diverse patient populations, including geriatric, pediatric, and behavioral health, providing phlebotomy services per scope of organizational responsibilities.

Procedure Compliance: Adhere strictly to the laboratory's standard operating procedures for specimen handling and processing.

Quality Assurance: Oversee specimen integrity through accurate collection, labeling, and transport, ensuring proper techniques and container usage for venipuncture and aseptic procedures, with a focus on timely processing of STAT, Routine, and Timed samples and adherence to quality metrics.

Corrective Action: Follow established policies for corrective action when phlebotomy methods deviate from acceptable performance levels. Identify and report any issues that may impact test performance or results.

Problem Resolution: Detect and address problems that could negatively affect test performance. Escalate issues to leadership when necessary.

Documentation: Keep detailed records of all corrective actions taken.

Accessioning Responsibilities: Manage the entire accessioning process, including patient registration and test ordering, sample receipt and handling, specimen preparation and processing, specimen send-out coordination, and pneumatic tube sample receipt. Proactively engage with healthcare offices to resolve registration and sample-related problems and handle phone calls from healthcare offices, addressing inquiries and providing information as needed.

Emergency Response and Critical Care: Collect samples in the Emergency Department (ED), adhering to rigorous protocols and maintaining urgency. Respond to codes and trauma situations promptly and efficiently, providing critical support. Assist in delivering blood products in emergent situations, ensuring swift and accurate delivery.

Safety: Practice and maintain compliance with regulations instilled through OSHA to include proficiency in donning and doffing of all PPE during specimen collection.

Other Duties: Perform any additional duties as assigned or requested, as the job specifications may be modified or updated at any time.

Qualifications:

High school diploma/GED

Phlebotomy certification from ASCP, NHA, or nationally accredited agency or obtained within 1 year of eligibility.

Preferred Qualifications:

Basic Life Support (BLS)

1 year of phlebotomy experience in an acute hospital setting

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