Job Description

Under general supervision performs routine clerical and laboratory tasks in compliance with established policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Exhibits excellent customer service and interpersonal skills to interact with physicians, nurses, medical students, patients, and co-workers at all times.
• Attends mandatory annual training sessions in fire safety, chemical hygiene, and laboratory HIPAA compliance.
• Performs all functions appropriate to position responsibilities that are required for the laboratory to meet the standards specified by accrediting agencies such as JCAHO and CAP with respect to administrative procedures and policies covering specimens handling, personnel policies, safety, and quality assurance.
• Maintains collaborative team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment.
• Performs additional and related duties as requested or directed.

NON-ANALYTICAL: (CLINICAL LAB SUPPORT)

• Greets patients in the outpatient setting and facilitates their lab orders for phlebotomy ensuring that all orders are correctly ordered in the LIS system.
• Able to obtain clarification of orders by contacting clinic so that patient has a positive outcome.
• Reviews lab test requisitions for accuracy and completeness prior to ordering in the LIS.
• Performs clerical support functions including but not limited to telephone communication with internal and external customers and outreach clients to provide specific information on specimen requirements for specific testing.
• Telephone skills are professional and courteous at all times.
• Processes laboratory specimens by accessioning them, time stamping the receipt time and distributing to testing areas.
• Verifies positive patient identification on all specimens and requisitions by utilizing the two (2) approved hospital identifiers. (Full name and MRN)
• Will be responsible for learning all required computer skills including: add on testing, scanning of requisitions, understanding of electronic information and where to find it.
• Processes all outreach specimens from off sites timely and efficiently with no errors or omissions.
• May be asked to participate in training of new employees and students.
• Inoculate patient specimens for bacterial and fungal cultures
• Select appropriate media, based on the specimen source.
• Prepares gram stain and cytospin smears
• Evaluates specimens for acceptance/rejection criteria and appropriateness of test request.
• Calls appropriate person (nurse, physician, etc.) to relay or obtain information related to processing of specimens.
• Learn how bacterial culture selects for normal vs. pathogenic bacteria from various anatomic sites.
• Answers telephone and may perform other clerical duties as needed.
• Introduction to how insurance/regulations/billing affect the decisions doctors and labs make about testing and treating patients.
• Perform identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing on patient bacterial isolates using the bioMerieux Vitek antimicrobial susceptibility Instrument.
• Set up microbiology isolates for non- automated susceptibility testing, Kirby Bauers, Etests etc.
• Perform quality control of media and reagents used in testing.
• Receive and organize media supplies.

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES

• Candidate for Bachelors Degree in Science
• Must be able to work accurately and effectively under pressure
• Must have interpersonal skills necessary to interact with internal as well as external customers.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Central Receiving Laboratory at Tufts Medical Center
• Position is 40 hours/week, no weekends and no holidays
• Opportunity to attend educational lectures, microbiology rounds, autopsy conferences and other learning opportunities
• Regular exposure to blood and body fluids

ANALYTICAL: CLINICAL LAB CO-OP IN MICROBIOLOGY

• Daily involvement in lab rounds with the Tufts Medical Center Infectious Disease team and discussion of patient issues (potential to shadow Infectious Disease Clinicians)
• Working with clinical patient specimens
• Enter Microbiology specimens test requests in computer.

Additional Information

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed, as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Tufts Medical Center reserves the right to modify position duties at any time, to reflect process improvements and business necessity.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.