Lab Assistant Specimen Processor Jobs in San Ramon, CA

Performs duties of a HLT I Central Processing; receiving, labeling and processing specimens for analysis. Assist with training students and new employees. Monitors workflow from Central Processing to the laboratory departments. Help troubleshoot problems regarding specimen receiving and test orders. Receives and processes orders and specimens for Send Out Testing. Assists Providers and Clinical Lab employees with Send Out Test Ordering and Collection. Other tasks include ordering supplies and maintaining temperature logs. Works closely with and under the guidance of Lab Processing SUPV1. This position must perform all duties in a manner that promotes the team concept and reflects the UCSF mission, vision and values.

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from college with coursework in biological sciences, or two years of college with some coursework in natural, physical, or social sciences or equivalent combination of education and experience
• One to two years experience working in a laboratory or other clinical environment
• Demonstrated knowledge and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with physicians, requesting departments, and other staff including ability to clearly explain complex medical information in both verbal and written form
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Proficient with PC, Windows, Word, Excel, etc.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous knowledge of and experience in a clinical lab setting, and medical terminology
• Experience in clinical lab central processing with high sample volume and extensive test menu
• Experience working with outside reference labs such as Quest, ARUP, MAYO, Viracor, etc.
• Demonstrated knowledge and handling of Sendout Testing
• Experience using reference lab portals such as Cares 360, ARUP Connect, Mayo Access, Viracor Retriever, etc.
• Current Phlebotomy License
• Recent Phlebotomy experience

A new employee must accomplish the following tasks within the 6month probationary period or within the first 6 months from hiring date if a probationary period does not apply. The following described performance standards are expected of all employees hired at this level. Attaining these performance standards will require instruction from the supervisor and/or persons designated by the supervisor and initiative by the employee. In addition, the employee must adhere to all University and departmental policies.

Task A:  Hospital Lab Technician 1 - Must be competent and proficient in performing all duties as a Hospital Lab Technician 1 as needed in the role of specimen processing to include:

1. Receive and process the receipt of all specimen types.

   1. Ensure all specimens have a proper Lab label or apply the proper Lab label to each specimen container received.

      1. Separates and aliquots of all specimens as needed before sent to performing laboratory section or to Lab Send Out section.

      2. Delivers STAT or priority specimens to the Laboratory departments for testing within 15 minutes of arrival in the Processing area.

Task B: Assists in training students and new employees

Provides training to students and new employees in the Central Processing section, providing instruction on workflow and processing of specimens and orders in the APeX (Hospital Information System) and the Sunquest (Laboratory Information System).        

            Standards

1. Follows established policies and procedures in training students and new employees in the Central Processing section.

Task C: Workflow Monitoring

Monitors that specimens received in Central Processing are processed according to their priority and transported to the performing Clinical Laboratory Section or prepared for send out within the time required for processing.

Standards

1. Monitor work flow to ensure that specimens are processed within established time lines.

Task D:  Assist in trouble shooting problems with speciment receiving and test orders

            Standards

1. Properly documents problems, their resolution and communicate with the clinicians and section involve.

2. Obtain assistance from Central processing supervisors if problem cannot easily be resolve in a timely manner.

Task E: Receives and Processes orders and specimens for Send-Outs:

            Standards:

1. Receives specimens by courier.

2. Verifies specimens received are properly labeled and in the correct collection container for the requested testing.

3. Organizes send out test samples by performing Reference Lab and by required storage temperature (i.e., Room Temp, Refrigerated, Frozen) until ready for courier pickup for Reference Lab.

4. Prepares requisition and specimen processing for Reference Lab, using Protocols/ Policies and Procedures.

5. Requisitions are prepared specific to Reference Labs on paper requisitions, electronic interface or electronic requisitions online.

6. Runs report for Send Out Test Pending Log (PL) after processing Batch Orders, to identify any missing orders/ specimens.

7. Contacts Central Processing at the originating campus Lab (China Basin, Mission Bay, Mt. Zion, or Parnassus) to locate any missing specimens.

8. Prepares tests for send out courier in appropriate container (room temp, refrigerated, frozen).

Task F:  Assists Providers and Clinical Lab employees with Send Out Test Ordering and Collection

1. Adhere to the hospital's house and telephone standards established by the Hospital. Identify yourself, our unit, and offer, "May I help you?" Attempt to answer phones not on an answering device before the third ring.
2. Assists callers and Email requests for determining proper collection and ordering Send Out Tests
3. Assists in determining proper Reference Lab for the Send Out test.
4. Facilitates the resulting/ reporting of the test result(s) when received from the Reference Lab.

Task G: Other Tasks

Perform additional duties or projects as assigned.

Assist with the management of the inventory, ordering and receiving of supplies for the section and maintaining equipment temperature logs.

Standards

1. Complete the assigned task properly within the agreed upon time.

2. Receive, inspect, unpack and log in supplies accurately upon arrival.

3. Organize supplies following supply inventory procedure

4. Ensures that expiration dates are monitored and replacement made in timely manner.

5. Notify the supervisor of any immediate need and any discrepancy in the material and supply receive.

6. Maintain up-to-date logs for refrigerators, freezers and heating blocks on a daily basis.

7. Ensures that the equipment temperatures are monitored remain in posted ranges and notify supervisor of any trends or malfunctions.

Errors - Definitions and Significance

Errors in processing laboratory specimens can be highly dangerous to patients and even if not may be extremely disruptive to the patient, the individuals caring for the patient, and the laboratory staff.

1. Major errors can potentially misdirect diagnosis or treatment. These include mixing up samples from different patients, mixing up two different specimens from the same patient, using the wrong specimen additive, and similar mistakes, as well as errors which may require a patient to repeat an invasive diagnostic procedure (e.g., failure to properly preserve or store a CSF which results in the patient undergoing another spinal tap).

2. Other serious errors may cause inconvenience, even great inconvenience, to a patient but do not yield an incorrect result and therefore are not likely to lead directly to improper management of the patient. These are primarily errors of omission or of additional unwarranted laboratory testing, such as failing to make a pour off for an ordered test, entering orders for tests which were not requested, failing to enter orders for tests which were requested, or excessive delay in processing resulting in the test missing the scheduled run. Erroneous entry of charges to budget accounts are also serious because they waste the time and resources of personnel inside and outside the laboratory in tracking down and correcting the problem. Such errors often can be corrected without requiring another patient sample.

Task H:  Works Closely under the Guidance of Lab Processing SUPV1

Standards

1. Performs additional duties or projects as assigned.

2. Completes the assigned task properly within the agreed upon time.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.