On Site Phlebotomist (Certified)
Location: Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC), 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 USA
Certification: Must be willing to Certify or Certified to OSHA standards
Annual Pay Rate: $35,360.00 to $42,150.00 (based upon experience and certifications)
Employment Type: Full Time
General Requirements - Certified Phlebotomist
- Shift: Monday‑Friday 6:00 am – 5:30 pm, including weekends and all Federal Holidays.
- Must have an active cell phone.
- Must be willing to undergo a national background check.
- Must be willing to undergo pre‑employment drug screening and random drug tests during employment.
- High school diploma or equivalent, plus a phlebotomy certification (recognized in the state of Texas) from an accredited agency.
- Must be registered/ licensed in the state of Texas.
- Completion of an approved phlebotomy training course (or equivalent).
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in a clinic or hospital environment phlebotomy, performed within the last 3 years.
- The phlebotomist shall be responsible for routine and more complex blood drawing from patients with difficult to access veins, such as geriatric, spinal cord, and cancer patients.
- Must be willing to provide previous work history.
- Must be willing to provide three professional references, preferably supervisors/work leaders, with current phone numbers.
Qualifications
- Certificate or formal training course in Phlebotomy.
Preference Will Be Given To Candidates Who Have the Following Qualifications
- United States military veterans.
- Strong knowledge, training, and experience in health management.
- Experience with tracking and compiling medical records.
Other Requirements
- Remains in full compliance with HIPAA laws/privacy and accreditation requirements.
- Respects and acknowledges the organization’s commitment to cultural diversity.
- Must be willing to receive VAMC mandatory orientation and required Specimen Acquisition Unit orientation (both in‑patient and outpatient).
- Consistently interacts with clients and staff in a professional manner.
Phlebotomist Duties
- Performs phlebotomy duties on inpatients and outpatients; may draw blood from 40 to 80 patients per day and handle at least 20% of hard‑stick draws.
- Assembles equipment such as tourniquet, needles, blood collection devices, gauze, vacuum tubes, alcohol, chloral prep, etc., on work tray, blood collection cart, or work area.
- Verifies and correctly identifies patients using two approved patient identifiers prior to drawing blood, per Medical Center Policy, Specimen Collection Policy, and The Joint Commission guidelines, and converses with the patient to allay fear of the procedure.
- Draws blood and blood cultures using proper venipuncture techniques and methods.
- Labels in the presence of patient, initials and transports blood collected to the processing area; uses Trans Logic system to tube specimens to the third‑floor laboratory from the outpatient Blood Lab.
- Ensures sufficient amount of blood is drawn for each requested test or procedure.
- Outpatient specimen collections include not only blood collection but also various urine collections and performing glucose tolerance testing.
- May perform other technical laboratory procedures such as computer test accessioning, specimen centrifugation, serum separation, etc.
- Interprets and clarifies physician’s orders from written requests and hard copies of orders, and may input test orders into the computer; uses Multipurpose Accessioning option, pre‑accessioning options, Activate Pre‑Accession Numbers option, etc.
- Rotates to answer telephone requests for verbal test requests, test add‑ons, test results; utilizes computer to access the necessary data and communicates this data (results) to physicians, nurses and other authorized medical personnel as necessary.
- Records rejected specimens according to rejection protocols such as misidentified, unidentified specimens or specimens with insufficient volume drawn, wrong tube, etc.
- Provides superb customer service and excellent communication skills.
- Staff adheres to the VAMC Customer Service Standards of Behavior Policy.
- Patient safety: recognizes emergent situations such as patient need for CPR/choking and initiates immediate action based on the medical center policy.
- Takes appropriate action during fire or disaster drills/situations.
Workplace Safety
Observe and practice all established safety practices, regulations of Regulatory Agencies, OSHA, and comply with the Medical Center policies on Safety, Occupational Health Services, Workers’ Compensation related to on‑the‑job injuries, and personal protective clothing/equipment. Demonstrates personal involvement and compliance:
- Observing all safety signs, directions and instructions.
- Attending scheduled safety training and reporting unsafe work situations to the manager and onsite VA supervisor.
- When suffering an on‑the‑job injury/illness, phlebotomists will promptly notify the onsite manager/onsite VA supervisor within 15 minutes.
- Phlebotomists shall use proper body mechanics, lifting and transfer devices for optimum efficiency and prevention of injury to self and patient, including but not limited to moving & lifting patient transfers (wheelchair, chair) and assisting patients with ambulation.
Physical Standards and Environmental Factors
- Heavy lifting, 25 pounds & over.
- Heavy carrying, 25 pounds & over.
- Pushing (2‑4 hours).
- Walking (4‑6 hours).
- Prolonged standing (4‑6 hours).
- Both hands are required.
- Ability for rapid mental & muscular coordination simultaneously.
- Near vision correctable.
- Far vision correctable.
- Depth perception.
- Hearing (aide permitted).
- Work closely with others, as well as protracted or irregular hours of work; maintains equipment in safe working status to prevent injury to self or others and reports any need for equipment repair to the onsite manager/supervisor.
- Phlebotomists will follow the MEDVAMC dress code policy.
- The phlebotomists will perform according to MEDVAMC policies on Interpersonal Behavior, Communication, and Customer Service.
Documentation, Reporting, and Confidentiality
- Maintains complete and accurate records on the computer for all assigned patients’ specimen collections.
- Demonstrates ability to obtain cooperation of patient/family by inspiring trust.
- Is aware of body language and uses appropriate tone of voice in all communication.
- Gives verbal input at team conferences/meetings.
- Demonstrates patient privacy and confidentiality procedures as they relate to HIPAA 4.6 Personal Management and Growth.
- Demonstrates dependability/adheres to leave policies and completion of assignments.
- Makes appropriate decision‑making without difficulty or overreacting.
- Maintains a cooperative attitude with all patients and disciplines.
- Complies with mandatory training and educational requirements of the position.
- Demonstrates awareness of unique diverse cultures.
- Completes all rules and regulations governing patient care, safety, and privacy.