Specimen Management Lab Assistant

Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics; Salem (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics in Salem, Oregon seeks a Lab Assistant in Laboratory/Pathology. Full-time, 40 hours/week, non-exempt. You will manage specimen flow, register patients in Epic, prepare specimens for in-house and reference testing, and support microbiology setup.

You’ll help ensure timely, accurate results and maintain safety and quality. Join a collaborative team dedicated to patient care, continuous improvement, and professional growth through Lean principles, training, and

Qualifications

• Experience in team process, quality management, and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Receive, verify, sort, prioritize, and process laboratory specimens to ensure accurate, timely testing while maintaining specimen integrity and meeting turnaround time expectations.
• Register patients and enter laboratory orders using Epic and the Laboratory Information System (LIS), ensuring accurate documentation and compliance with established procedures.
• Prepare and package specimens for testing at Salem Health and external reference laboratories, including microbiology setup and STAT specimen processing.
• Operate, monitor, troubleshoot, and perform routine maintenance on laboratory equipment, including the MPA, while documenting equipment performance and reporting issues promptly.
• Collaborate with laboratory professionals, providers, and support staff to resolve specimen and workflow issues, answer questions, and provide excellent customer service.
• Maintain adequate laboratory supplies, follow infection prevention and safety protocols, and contribute to a clean, organized, and efficient work environment.
• Assist with training and mentoring new team members, serve as a resource for colleagues, and demonstrate flexibility by supporting changing workloads and staffing needs, including coordinating coverage for call-outs when needed.

Skills

Team process

Quality management

Problem solving

Job description

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics in Salem, Oregon seeks a Lab Assistant in Laboratory/Pathology. Full-time, 40 hours/week, non-exempt. You will manage specimen flow, register patients in Epic, prepare specimens for in-house and reference testing, and support microbiology setup.

You’ll help ensure timely, accurate results and maintain safety and quality. Join a collaborative team dedicated to patient care, continuous improvement, and professional growth through Lean principles, training, and