Clinical Lab Assistant- Woodward/Specimen Management, (1654)

TriCore Reference Laboratories; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

TriCore Reference Laboratories is hiring a Clinical Lab Assistant to support Woodward/Specimen Management. The role requires independence with supervision, handling multiple modalities, and compensation based on modalities performed.

Regular attendance is essential; weekend shifts and on-call duties apply. Apprenticeship pathways exist for non-experienced candidates, with immunization and licensing prerequisites.

Qualifications

• H.S. diploma or equivalent.
• PBT (ASCP) or equivalent certification preferred.
• Completion of a relevant Clinical Lab Assistant program.
• Immunization requirements and documentation.
• Valid driver's license and ability to be insurable.
• Eligible to work in a health care facility per law.
• On-call and weekend coverage as needed.

Responsibilities

• Performs duties professionally and courteously.
• Maintains supplies and inventory for department.
• Observe students and new staff as needed.
• Demonstrates basic problem solving for patient care.
• Handles on-call responsibilities by location.
• Communicates effectively by telephone and in person.
• Maintains confidentiality of information.
• Documents critical communications in absence of supervisor.
• Participates in on-call coverage for holidays/evenings/weekends.
• Perform general clerical tasks as needed.

Skills

Basic PC skills

Effective telephone communication

Professional judgment

Education

H.S. diploma or equivalent

PBT (ASCP) or equivalent certification

Completion of CLA program

Job description

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Clinical Lab Assistant- Woodward/Specimen Management, (1654)

Schedule: Saturday & Sunday 0900-1930 with weekends, holidays, 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:
   • a. Identifying patient in system
   • b. Reconciling electronic orders
   • c. Manual Entry when necessary
   • d. 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.
   • a. Reviews results to see if they are within defined parameters. Identifies and resolves technical specimen problems. Report out results.
   • b. Identifies, researches and resolves specimen, QC, or instrument problems. Report out results.
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:
    • a. BB-Product prep: irradiating units, thaw cryo and plasma, splitting plasma and platelets
    • b. Infectious Disease- Planting patient specimens that includes: Tissue and Bone processing (grinding and cutting), Plate Inoculation, Knowledge of anaerobic versus aerobic incubation requirements
    • c. Genetics and Cytometry – Nucleic acid extraction, cell culture and harvesting, renal transplant kit oversight and patient testing scheduling and monitoring
    • d. 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.
    • e. TRI Honest Broker
11. Department specific clerical or support functions:
    • a. Organization of AP/HP cases and slide distribution
    • b. FFPE Block and slide filing and material retrieval
    • c. Consult Case management (ordering, material retrieval, billing, Client on the Fly, report upload)
    • d. Client Material return
    • e. 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.