Laboratory Assistant

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System?

At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary

Location: Jennie Edmundson Medical Plaza

Address: 808 E Pierce St. - Council Bluffs, IA

Work Schedule: varies Monday through Friday, 4 days per week

To assist Specialists within the laboratory. Laboratory Assistant receive specimens, enter specimen data to the computer system, prepare samples for further laboratory analysis, and transport specimen to other department of the laboratory. Perform specimen accessioning, splitting and sorting, labeling and storage of specimens received into the laboratory. Perform data entry to assign a specific computer generated indentification number with accuracy and in a timely manner. Must be able to communicate with hospital and clinic staff regarding specimen requirements, ordering, and miscellaneous requests. Handle inbound customer contacts received by phone, electronically, in writing and in person. Follow-up with customers on issues that cannot be resolved immediately. Must be able to multi-task and work in a high-paced environment as part of a team.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

Process (i.e. centrifuge, aliquot, distribute, store) patient specimens appropriately and in a safe manner to ensure accurate and timely test results by following section policies and procedures.

• Maintains compliance with established processes: Turn-around time expectations, etc., while collecting or handling specimens, orders and results.
• Accurately enter patient information (i.e. demographics, test orders, test results) in the computer to ensure timely reports to caregivers.
• Accurately perform and evaluate appropriateness on patient specimens.
• Prioritize and organize work to facilitate the timely and accurate completion of multiple tasks simultaneously by assessing the urgency of the tasks and the time required to complete them.
• Achieves section/organization quality goals.
• Compliant per Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) guidelines 100% of the time.
• Identify problems and initiate immediate follow-up as necessary with the Technical Coordinator, Section Leader, or Medical Director(s) to ensure accurate, timely laboratory services by using critical thinking skills and decisive judgment.
• Accommodates patient and laboratory needs by professionally responding to requests for flexibility in duties, schedules, and staffing.
• Routine maintenance is completed and documented 100% of the time.
• Maintain section materials, supplies, and equipment by following section policies.
• Process send-out specimens to provide accurate transfer of information and maintain optimal specimen integrity.
  
  

Document orientation, training, and education to ensure employee competence, provide excellent services, and meet accreditation requirements by effective verbal or written communication.

• Organizational and department competencies are completed 100% of the time.
• Evidence that new procedures and major procedure revisions are read and understood.
• Assists in training new and existing staff including the review and completion of orientation checklists and skill/training checklists.
• Supports the education of clinical/anatomical laboratory scientist students.
  
  

Communication efficiently by answering telephones, taking messages, calling clients for test clarification, and forwarding information or calls to appropriate staff.

• Appropriate communication skill as directly observed by Service Leader or designee.
• Phone calls are acted upon promptly and handled in a professional manner per the customer service protocol as directly observed.
• Employee brings issues of concern directly to the appropriate Service Leader or designee's attention as directly observed.
  
  

Schedule

Work Schedule: full time, 36hrs/week, varies Monday through Friday, 4 days per week

Job Description

Job Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma or General Educational Development (G.E.D) required
• 2 years of college science courses preferred.
  
  

Experience

• Prior experience as a phlebotomist or data entry or specimen processor in a clinical laboratory or physician office preferred.
  
  

License/Certifications

• N/A
  
  

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Ability to type 35 wpm,
• Ability to completed 10 key
• Knowledge of computers.
• Able to organize and priorities work demands and handle multiple tasks.
• Knowledge of basic specimen collection, selection, handling and storage activities preferred.
• Must exhibit good customer service skills
• Able to handle stressful situations in a calm and professional manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required.
  
  

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands

• Medium work – exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
  
  

Physical Activity

• Not necessary for the position (0%):
• Climbing
• Crawling
• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
• Balancing
• Carrying
• Crouching
• Kneeling
• Pulling/Pushing
• Sitting
• Stooping/bending
• Twisting
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
• Fingering/Touching
• Grasping
• Lifting
• Reaching
• Repetitive Motions
• Speaking/talking
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
• Distinguish colors
• Hearing
• Keyboarding/typing
• Seeing/Visual
• Standing
• Walking
  

Job Hazards

• Occasionally (34%-66%):
• Equipment/Machinery/Tools
• Explosives (pressurized gas)
• Electrical Shock/Static
• Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc)
• Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
• Mechanical moving parts/vibrations
• Frequent (67%-100%):
• Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
• Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) Blood or Body Fluid (BBF)
• Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
• Note: Safety Officer can assist with identification of job hazards
  

About Methodist

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.