Lab Aide II - Eastern Connecticut Health Network

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Lab Aide reports to the Supervisor, Lab Support Services and is responsible for patient accessioning, requisition entry, specimen processing, customer service inquires, answering and directing telephone calls, registration and ICD-9 coding, problem solving, testing-to-billing-or-other patient investigations and all other front-end functions performed in laboratory receiving areas.All duties are performed with minimal supervision and/or semi-technical specimen processing in Anatomical Pathology, Microbiology or Blood Bank.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

• A minimum of a High School Diploma or equivalent GED is required.


• Coursework in Lab related specialties preferred.

EXPERIENCE

• Previous work experience in a laboratory setting is preferred but not required.


• Meditech and CoPath system experience is preferred but not required.

COMPETENCIES

• This position requires the incumbent have strong English verbal as well as basic English writing ability.


• Display manner that is courteous and customer service-oriented with good interpersonal skills.


• Proficiency in the use of computers.


• Duties of this position require the incumbent be adaptable to a changing workload.


• Familiarity and ability to operate computer terminals, centrifuges, telephones, pneumatic tube systems, copies and fax machines.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

Disclaimer: Job descriptions are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, exhaustive lists of all responsibilities, skills, efforts or working conditions associated with the job.They are intended to be accurate reflections of the principal duties and responsibilities of this position.These responsibilities and competencies listed below may change from time to time.

• Possesses knowledge of and follows laboratory (and/or hospital) polices and procedures that include:personnel policies, safety, infection control, blood borne pathogen, chemical hygiene, fire disaster, etc.


• Demonstrates knowledge of proper specimen requirements and processes the specimens according to the department specific protocols/procedures.


• Maintains the file system for all manual laboratory requisitions and ensures completeness of information for medical records coding.


• Processes marker lists (state, call, fax) and documents appropriate information in computer.


• Answers and/or directs to the appropriate person, all telephone and personal inquiries regarding test results, methodologies, requirements, status, billing questions and turnaround time.


• Monitors, as defined in pre-established schedules, various information systems programs (i.e. fax and patient report jobs, order entry and cancellation logs, etc.) and reports all problems to the Supervisor, Lab Support Services.


• Assembles materials requested by physicians to restock outpatient supplies and arranges for delivery of same.


• Sorts laboratory reports by location and delivers reports to the proper location, mails outpatient and addendum laboratory results to the appropriate doctor or location.


• Telephones abnormal results, when requested, to physician’s offices or nursing areas and fully documents the transactions.


• Delivers, in a timely manner, the specimens to the appropriate sections of the laboratory, notifying technical personnel of any STAT or emergency requests.


• Prepares specimens for any and all reference laboratory referrals; verifies that all requirements are met and properly logged; packages the specimen(s) for the Courier’s pickup each day or for special mailings.


• Processes laboratory specimens by: examining the sample for proper collection criteria, verifying the patient demographic data (name, address, ID, physician, insurance information, etc.), entering the patient information into the LIS, or Reference Lab information system, centrifuging (where applicable), decanting, labeling and allocating of specimens to the various laboratory sections.


• Correctly registers and accessions and labels all Pap smears and other body fluids for Cytology prior to processing, as evidenced by less than two instances of registration or labeling errors.Properly processes and stains Pap smears and other body fluids for screening by a Cytotechnologist or Pathologist, and tracks their location.


• Scans and stores all tubes.


• Stains slides on slide stain machine or manually as necessary, cover-slips slides appropriately.


• Plants urine and Microbiology samples as needed.


• Reviews pending lists for any outstanding tests.


• Completes stock orders delivered to the Clinical Laboratory.