Lab Support Tech/Phlebotomist

Overview:
UnityPoint-St Luke's Hospital

Full-Time Days

7am-3:30pm with rotating weekends/holidays

 

$1,500.00 Sign on Bonus to Qualified Applicants

 

Interfaces the laboratory to its Reference Laboratory and Hospital Customers by performing complex reference laboratory patient registrations as well as registrations for hospital laboratory outpatients, in both the Hospital Information System as well as in the Laboratory Information System.  Determines Reference Laboratory billing based on numerous location codes for each facility.  Orders all testing for the hospital laboratory in the Laboratory Information System, receives electronic orders and completes appropriately, and determines and validates medical necessity of all lab orders in addition to obtaining appropriate diagnoses from providers.  Verifies the integrity of Reference Lab outreach shipments, performs specimen processing and communicates with Outreach Reference Clients and various hospital departments.  Communicates specimen deliveries with laboratory couriers, communicates and distributes test results to providers, clients, and patients, performs manual charge entry and performs support functions for the pathologists, including medical examiner requests.

 

Why UnityPoint Health?

Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what's right for the people we serve.

Benefits – Our competitive program offers benefits options like 401K match, paid time off and education assistance that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Development – We believe equipping you with support and is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.

Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

 

    Hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work at .

Responsibilities:
Clinical Excellence/Patient Care

Provides specimen processing for reference laboratory outreach patient testing, and initiates inpatient processing, requiring handling of patient specimens.

Assists lab outpatients in the collection process of specimens for testing.

Monitors patients during more complex lab test procedures and patients being held for provider notification of test results.

Uses the Lab and Mayo On-line test catalogs to ensure that the correct tests are ordered for providers and patients.

Assists patients in the completion of Authorizations prior to release of test information.

Initiates and resolves the problem patient specimen resolution process for the laboratory.

Communicates and interacts with patients and their families, with compassion and empathy, both on the phone and at the lab department.

Informs patients of potential denial by insurance, estimates appropriate costs and obtains appropriate ABN or Insurance Waiver according to insurance. Adds modifiers and account notes as appropriate per regulations.

Completes daily quality audits of the patient lab record.

Technical and Operational Expertise

Performs complex reference laboratory patient registrations as well as registrations for hospital laboratory outpatients, in both the Hospital Information System as well as in the Laboratory Information System, with a high degree of focus and minimal registration errors.

Investigates and confirms insurance eligibility with minimal information available by phone or computer to prevent error and delay of payment.

Registration, test ordering, and processing outside facility pre-specimen collections to include lab test label generation.

Obtains, investigates, and verifies both written and add on orders from physicians and other care providers, both for reference lab clients and lab outpatients. Scans all order documentation, etc. into the appropriate patient’s medical record.

Obtains diagnoses for lab testing performed, and determines appropriate medical necessity and coding documentation in compliance with CMS and Health System Guidelines. Researches National and Local Coverage Determinations to assist with diagnosis and medical necessity with lab clients.

Investigation of denials, to include insurance and medical necessity issues for resolution.

Thorough knowledge and understanding of lab test order codes in the Lab Information System. Receives and completes electronic interfaced test orders from lab clients appropriately. 

Determination and entry of numerous different location codes into the Hospital Information System, as well as the Laboratory Information System, dependent on reference facility to facilitate test results interfacing to the correct client and facility.

Determines whether reference client billing or insurance billing is required dependent on pre-set client and insurance requirements. Interface number entry requirement dependent on type of lab interface with each client.

Specimen processing to include verification of the integrity of specimen shipments through patient identification processes and specimen receipt verification. Handles and distributes specimens to work areas by manual delivery to lab hospital departments.  Centrifugation, handling, and separating specimens with specific knowledge of which tests are performed in each lab department.

Performs various lab business office functions within regulatory guidelines that include but are not limited to registration operations, insurance verification, confidential fax verifications, and other functions as required.

Knowledge of lab CPT codes as well as diagnosis codes and enters them in the patient’s record for appropriate billing to insurance.

Performs support functions for pathologists to include medical examiner requests, consult processing, pathology registrations, billing functions, etc.

Manual lab charge entry into patient accounts. Calculation of Medicare Travel Charges and charge entry to include appropriate documentation.

Orders and maintains office supply inventory for all lab departments, including pathology.

Collects and processes specimens by performing phlebotomy collection, labeling, centrifuging, organizing by Laboratory section(s), aliquoting, and storing. Prepares specimens for transport according to Department of Transportation (DOT) and International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.

Communication and Promotion of Educational Skills

Recognizes and communicates critical information, special requests, unusual orders, etc. by including special comments during the registration and order entry process or by contacting key laboratory individuals.

Provides the clerical component of result reporting, which includes but is not limited to the production and filing of computer reports, and the distribution of reports by mail, FAX, personal distribution or telephone.

Communicates test results to providers, patients, hospitals, and facilities with compliance to HIPAA laws and regulations. Scans non-interfaced reports into the appropriate patient’s medical record.

Services needs of lab customers by providing information to reference lab and hospital customers or routing calls to others.

Communicates timely information and requests with lab couriers, including delivery, requests, and specimen pickups.

Trains new lab registration staff and technical staff in lab business office functions as appropriate.

Participates in taking call to support staff on weekends and holidays.

Basic UPH Performance Criteria         

Demonstrates the UnityPoint Health Values and Standards of Behaviors as well as adheres to policies and procedures and safety guidelines.

Demonstrates ability to meet business needs of department with regular, reliable attendance.

Employee maintains current licenses and/or certifications required for the position.

Practices and reflects knowledge of HIPAA, TJC, DNV, OSHA and other federal/state regulatory agencies guiding healthcare.

Completes all annual education and competency requirements within the calendar year.

Is knowledgeable of hospital and department compliance requirements for federally funded healthcare programs (e.g. Medicare and Medicaid) regarding fraud, waste and abuse. Brings any questions or concerns regarding compliance to the immediate attention of hospital administrative staff.  Takes appropriate action on concerns reported by department staff related to compliance.

Qualifications:
 

Minimum Requirements

Identify items that are minimally required to perform the essential functions of this position.

Preferred or Specialized

Not required to perform the essential functions of the position.

Education:

 

 

 

High School Diploma or equivalency

Associates degree preferred but not required.

Experience:

 

 

 

 

1 year work experience.  Proficiency with computer data entry functions.

Experience in lab registration, order entry and specimen processing as well as experience with medical necessity requirements preferred.

License(s)/Certification(s):

 

 

 

 

If designated to drive will be required obtain OSHA Bio-Hazard Certification prior to transporting and maintain annually.

 

 

Valid driver’s license when driving any vehicle for work-related reasons.

 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

 

 

 

 

Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English.

Multicultural sensitivity.

Microsoft Office – basic computer skills.

Customer/patient focused.

Critical thinking skills using independent judgment in making decisions.

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.

 

 

 

 

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