Clinical Lab Assistant II-Full-time Days

Northwestern Medicine; Geneva (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Loan forgiveness

401(k) matching

Lifecycle benefits

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine is seeking a full-time CLA II in Illinois to join the cancer center laboratories across Delnor, Kishwaukee, and Huntley locations. The role handles phlebotomy, specimen processing, LIS data entry, and coordination with lab staff to maintain high-quality patient care.

Responsibilities include receiving, processing, and reporting results, ensuring proper data entry, and supporting QC activities.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma required.
• Minimum of 1 year of work experience in a general lab, specimen processing or phlebotomy area.
• Phlebotomy Certification or training preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with lab staff and providers to ensure excellent patient care.
• Receive specimens into the laboratory information system.
• Enter and retrieve lab results in LIS and hospital system.
• Register specimen dropoffs (e.g., Home health) with accurate data entry.
• Process specimens for transport to reference laboratories.
• Distribute specimens to testing areas and ensure proper tracking.
• Perform quality checks on instruments and test kits; support QA tasks.

Skills

Phlebotomy

Lab procedures

Specimen handling

Quality control

Education

High School Diploma

Tools

LIS

Epic

Job description

Qualifications

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

This is a full-time, 40 hours per week, position located at various Northwestern Medicine Cancer Centers including Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb and Huntley Hospital. The CLA II reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the main lab staff, other ancillary departments, departments, nurses and providers to ensure excellent patient care.
• Receives specimens into the laboratory information system.
• Inputs and retrieves lab results in laboratory or hospital computer system.
• Register specimen dropoffs (e.g. Home health) in LIS assuring accurate data entry.
• Properly processes specimens for transport to reference laboratories.
• Distributes specimens to the appropriate testing area.
• Identifies and solves problems utilizing appropriate resources with the assistance of a supervisor, manager, pathologist and/or coworkers when appropriate.
• Verifies the accuracy of all instruments and test kits; responsible for quality control, maintenance, troubleshoots
• Operate and maintain laboratory automation systems as appropriate.
• Performs diagnostic/analytic testing of specimens, interprets, documents and report results to provider.
• Accurately performs waived and/or moderate complexity testing under the direction of CLS
• Ensures appropriate testing is ordered and properly identifies the correct reference laboratory for referred specimens
• Communicates specimen rejections, critical/notifiable results to appropriate clinical personnel and completes required documentation.
• May review/record refrigerator temperature(s) and QC/QA records. Areas of concern are recorded through the Corrective Action Log and reported to maintenance for repair.
• Adheres to lab procedures with following up on outstanding orders including time-sensitive draws/charges
• Answers phone calls to the laboratory and triages appropriate
• Coordinates courier pickups as needed.

Department Specific duties

• Performs phlebotomy and other lab specimen collections per age related standards as required.
• Completes biological transport training as required and maintain competency.
• Recognizes temperature dependent transport conditions and select correct packing list destination.
• Monitors and maintains specialty supplies, including kits, swab and collection containers and disperse to units
• Ensures supplies are available and stored at the appropriate temperatures
• Performs microbiology setups or other testing preparation duties.
• May assist with bone marrow and other biopsy processing.
• Pull AP slides for second opinion requests and log material back into Epic when material is returned.

Minimum Requirements

Education

• High School Diploma

Experience

• Minimum of 1 year of work experience in a general lab, specimen processing or phlebotomy area or enrolled in lab related education program.

Preferred

• Phlebotomy Certification or training from an accredited School or Institution

Additional Information

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events.

Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information https://jobs.nm.org/benefits

Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings.

If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.