Clinical Lab Assistant - Woodward, (1741)

Tricore; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision/Life Insurance

401(k) with employer match

PTO and 9 paid holidays

Job summary

TriCore is New Mexico’s largest laboratory, providing comprehensive clinical services across a broad range of modalities. The Clinical Lab Assistant role at Woodward emphasizes independent work, on‑the‑job training, and potential entry through an apprenticeship depending on qualifications.

Regular attendance and adherence to safety and confidentiality are essential. The position offers competitive hourly pay, comprehensive benefits, and opportunities for growth within a large, community‑focused

Qualifications

• H.S. diploma or equivalent required.
• ASCP or equivalent certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Performs duties in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintains supplies and inventory to perform departmental functions.
• Observe students and/or new staff as needed.
• Exhibits basic problem solving to ensure patient care and service levels.
• Participates in on-call responsibilities as assigned by location.

Education

H.S. diploma or equivalent

PBT (ASCP) or equivalent certification

Job description

Are you ready to help lead the way to better health?

A career at New Mexico’s largest laboratory means you’re pivotal to advancing medicine and creating healthier communities. But we’re also dedicated to improving the wellness of our employees. With excellent benefits, a culture of integrity, strong work/life balance, and numerous opportunities for career advancement and professional development, we’re confident you’ll love working at TriCore.

Robust medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and many supplemental plans

401(k) Retirement Plan with employer matching

Lucrative Paid Time Off (PTO) and nine paid holidays per year

Clinical Lab Assistant - Woodward, (1741)

Schedule

Tuesday-Saturday 5:00-13:30 with weekends and other shifts as needed.

Salary/Hourly

Hourly Position

JOB SUMMARY

The Clinical Lab Assistant is able to work independently and with minimal supervision and/or oversight. Successful candidates have the experience and skillset to perform one or more identified modalities. Compensation is dependent on the number of modalities performed. Candidates without experience may be considered for a paid apprenticeship level. Regular in-person attendance during scheduled work hours is essential.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTION

1. Performs duties in a professional and courteous manner.
2. Maintains supplies and inventory necessary to perform departmental functions.
3. Observe students and/or new staff as needed.
4. Exhibit basic problem solving skills to ensure exceptional customer and patient care service levels.
5. Responsible for hospital communication responsibilities as assigned, including on-call responsibilities during scheduled hours (cell phone) by location.
6. Demonstrates effective telephone and verbal communication skills
7. Actively demonstrates professional judgment when dealing with clients, patients and co-workers.
8. Perform clerical functions as needed by the department, including, but not limited to documenting critical communication such as call-ins in the absence of a supervisor.
9. Responsible for maintaining levels of confidentiality associated with position and access to personal and confidential information.
10. Participate in and maintain coverage levels for on call as needed/required to meet service levels.
11. Participate in coverage for holidays, evenings, and weekends as needed or required.
12. Basic P.C. skills.

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• H.S. diploma or equivalent.

PREFERRED

• PBT (ASCP) or equivalent certification.
• Completion of a relevant Clinical Lab Assistant or comparable program

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS

Prove Immunity to Hepatitis B, or be immunized, or sign a waiver refusing Hepatitis immunization. Provide documentation of a PPD test conducted not more than 90 days prior to date of hire, or have a PPD test conducted through TriCore.

IN DEPARTMENTS/LOCATIONS WITH DIRECT PATIENT CONTACT

Prove immunity or be eligible to receive rubella, rubeola and varicella immunization.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1. Valid driver's license. Good driving record. Must be insurable by lab insurance carrier as required by location.
2. Eligible to work in a health care facility as provided by the New Mexico Caregivers Criminal History Screening Act or other applicable law.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• Candidates with no training or experience may be considered for an apprenticeship.
• Selected Candidates will be placed into CLA Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, or Level 4 based on the number of modalities (listed below) completed on a regular basis. Assigned modalities are determined by the department leadership.

Modalities

1. Check-in and Order Entry/Reconciliation- (Modality per system- Clinical, Anatomic, Research, Referral Testing) Including, but not limited to:
   • Identifying patient in system
   • Reconciling electronic orders
   • Manual Entry when necessary
   • Insurance/payment when necessary
2. General Phlebotomy (ages 10 and above) includes vacutainer , butterfly and syringe collections.
3. Special Collections and/or external shipping certification. Special Collections include but are not limited to arterial blood gas, pediatric and infant draws, sweat collection, breath collections, occ health/drug screen collections, MRSA and Covid collections, therapeutic phlebotomies)
4. Assisting provider performed procedures, including but not limited to FNA, Bone Marrow, EBUS, Bronchial lavage.
5. Specimen Processing (includes Specimen receipt, specimen sorting , specimen delivery/loading, decanting and retrieval for send out testing and surgical sample triage, Specimen storage and disposal functions)
6. Non-conformity investigation/Problem Resolution (examples Problem Desk aka Portal, TLC, NCE responses, client service) includes proper documentation.
7. Lab Equipment Maintenance and/or support (superuser), to include chemical and biohazard waste management for non-testing instrumentation (cryostats and stainline)
8. Sample Testing (waived to moderate) including appropriate instrument maintenance, including biohazard disposal, and QC.
   • Reviews results to see if they are within defined parameters. Identifies and resolves technical specimen problems. Report out results.
   • Identifies, researches and resolves specimen, QC, or instrument problems.
9. Consistent training and/or assisting in competency assessments of modalities to employee and/or students with completing initial training documentation. This may include N95 FIT Testing,
10. Department specific skilled technical assistance:
    • BB-Product prep: irradiating units, thaw cryo and plasma, splitting plasma and platelets
    • Infectious Disease- Planting patient specimens that includes: Tissue and Bone processing (grinding and cutting), Plate Inoculation, Knowledge of anaerobic versus aerobic incubation requirements
    • Genetics and Cytometry – Nucleic acid extraction, cell culture and harvesting, renal transplant kit oversight and patient testing scheduling and monitoring
    • Histology and Cytology – Cytology specimen processing, slide preparation and staining, Histology specimen processing, including bone marrow grossing and knowledge of processing for each tissue type.
    • TRI Honest Broker
11. Department specific clerical or support functions:
    • Organization of AP/HP cases and slide distribution
    • FFPE Block and slide filing and material retrieval
    • Consult Case management (ordering, material retrieval, billing, Client on the Fly, report upload)
    • Client Material return
    • Unit allocation & issue: cryo, plasma, platelet, bone and tissue
12. Skilled Inventory management: (ordering, receiving, monitoring par levels, end of month reconciliations, includes blood supply, reagents, supplies, TriBuy training and competency)

TriCore is New Mexico’s largest laboratory, employing more than 1,400 individuals who serve in a broad range of positions. We are dedicated to improving the quality of care for our communities, and also our employees. We foster a culture of integrity, are dedicated to excellence, and are looking for passionate individuals with a desire to have an impact in patient care, the core of our strategy. We offer excellent benefits including, medical, dental, vision and life insurances, 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching, PTO, and paid holidays, as well as opportunities for continuous learning, education assistance, wellness programs, career advancement, and the ability to share in our genuine commitment to the health of our communities. We offer a variety of shifts at multiple locations.