This Medical Technician - Phlebotomy position is located at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO., within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service. This position performs duties related to the receiving, accessioning, and specimen processing area including collecting chain of custody drug screens, reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions, patient testing, and phlebotomy.
Major duties: Duties include, but may not be limited to the following: Phlebotomy and Specimen Collection (40%) Properly identifies patients utilizing the full name and social security number before collecting, processing, or entry of requests; compares orders from multiple physicians and combines the orders as applicable. Properly identifies, labels, and collects blood bank specimens for STAT and routine testing while next to the patient bedside or chair side.
Must be proficient in phlebotomizing patient in varying debilitation (i.e., paralysis, stroke, mentally unstable, spinal cord injuries in fetal position and contractures). Performs phlebotomy using specialized techniques for cleansing the blood collection site to prevent bacterial contamination critical to patient care, to ensure contamination rate of blood cultures remains within guidelines with blood culture contamination.
Draws blood tests ordered by providers for inpatients, outpatients, CBOC patients, and for requested drug screens. When required, draws blood from patients for requested laboratory test. Applies knowledge of human anatomy, aseptic and sterile techniques, and phlebotomy equipment in selection of the phlebotomy site, taking into consideration the condition of the patient, age group, and the type of test requested.
S Specimen Receipt, Processing, and Waived Testing (50%) Responsible for receiving and preparing requests for testing, receiving and preparing specimens into the clinical laboratory, evaluating the acceptability of each specimen, documents discrepancies, and resolves potential problems. Screens telephone calls and routes inquiries to appropriate personnel. Ensures proper processing and accession of specimens, especially those requiring special handling; and clearly communicates requirements to the laboratory staff.
Contacts Medical Center staff for additional information to ensure that proper testing and interpretive data are received. Sorts specimens based on testing location, needs, and priority for turnaround time. Performs specimen processing and plating in microbiology. Loads samples on the analyzers automated loading lines or into testing bays as applicable. Able to cope with quick deadlines and uses knowledge of processing procedures to identify and resolve specimen errors.
Follows detailed instructions in operating the laboratory equipment, to include but not limited to, centrifuge, barcode reader, printers, etc. Resolves and documents any pre-analytical issues. Records refrigerator and freezer temperatures at all sites. Collecting and Processing Employee Drug Screens (5%) Coordinates with Human Resources (HR) and Employee Occupational Health (EOH) to schedule pre-employment and random drug screens collections.
Performs drug screens by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) split specimen collection method and follows all regulatory and legal requirements in maintaining the chain of custody of each specimen. Checks that all urine specimens are properly prepared, conducts temperature testing and attaches labels. Paperwork and processing for the sample is done by the same person, and all forms are submitted with required information before the sample is packaged and sealed for shipping.
Prepares all shipping manifests ensuring the integrity of shipping documents, shipping logs, and specimens. May perform direct observation when necessary and look for signs of tampering. Follows infection control regulations in handling, storage, packaging, and disposal of biohazard materials. Accurate records must be kept for tw