Lab Specimen Processor - Microbiology

How would you like to work in a place where your contributions and ideas are valued? A place where you can serve with compassion, pursue excellence and honor every voice? At Wellstar, our mission is simple, yet powerful: to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve. We are proud to have become a shining example of what's possible when the brightest professionals dedicate themselves to making a difference in the healthcare industry, and in people's lives.

Work Shift

Evening (United States of America)

Job Summary:

• Under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager or designee, performs technical and non-technical duties within the Laboratory service areas on the hospital campus. Duties included, but not limited to:
• HIS/LIS data entry, troubleshooting and laboratory technical support functions
• Customer Service for all patients and health care providers.
• Specimen receipt and processing including preparing specimens for transport to reference labs, microbiology processing, loading samples on lab automation and preparing samples for the technical staff.
• Pre-Analytical and specimen storage robot operation
• Assist in multiple areas as workload and staffing changes.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 2:30 pm - 11pm e/o weekend

Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Specimen Receipt and Processing
• * Check all specimens arriving in the lab for sufficient quality and quantity.
• * Cancel unacceptable specimens after notifying RN and documenting in the LIS.
• * Centrifuge, decant or split specimens as needed; combine orders as needed. Take to the testing areas in a timely fashion. Pull samples as needed for lab pending lists.
• * Measure and aliquot 24 hr urine samples and enter required information in the LIS.
• * Via tracking and pending logs, prepare specimens for transport to reference labs.
• * Check accuracy of outpatient orders and resolve discrepancies, correcting orders as needed.
• * Check physician, drop off specimen and Home Health orders for accuracy in HIS/LIS.
• * Resolve any insurance/billing problems noted with PAS or Outreach staff.
• Microbiology Processing (if Required)
• a) Performs all aspects of specimen processing including reporting and resolving specimen problems
• b) Prepares media and supplies for transfer to sister hospitals as needed.
• c) Serves as expert for ordering and processing Microbiology specimens. Follows up with and is the contact for
• processors at sister hospitals
• d) Maintains and sets up organisms for media QC
• e) Key Operator for the appropriate instrumentation
• f) Weekly and monthly maintenance of processing equipment (centrifuges, stainer, cytofuge)
• g) Trains new employees on processing
• Blood Bank Component Processing (if Required)
• a) Works independently preparing products for transfusion medicine, maintaining blood bank equipment,
• answering calls related to patient care. Prepares all products using good lab technique and adheres to
• established procedures.
• b) Performs all routine preparation and issuing of products per protocol.
• c) Performs all lab supplementary tasks for maintenance, safety, logs all required activities to track workload,
• work in progress, pending logs and amended information.
• d) Effectively communicates all information to appropriate personnel as required by policy and procedure.
• Participates in shift to shift hand-off communication.
• e) Uses LIS and HIS when needed to perform job duties, as resources, and to assist in moving specimens within
• blood bank.
• f) Perform STAT duties as needed. Handle emergency products efficiently and appropriately
• Customer Service Support
• * Complies with AIDET standards always
• * Communicate effectively and courteously with all outpatients, visitors and hospital personnel as they arrive in the lab or when on patient care areas, making a good, competent impression our priority.
• * Maintains patient privacy and confidentiality always.
• * Receive incoming calls; resolve or route as appropriate.
• * Resolve patient / patient care provider complaints; understand when to refer to supervisor.
• * Provide patient test results to patient care providers via printed reports, fax or verbal communication.
• * Maintain organized files for physician orders, reference lab reports, other lab reports, as needed.
• * Make follow-up calls to patients, patient care providers concerning problem specimens, recollects.
• * Perform call back function for critical and notification values.
• Technical/ HIS / LIS
• * HIS / LIS order entry. Able to work in multiple computer systems as needed to perform job functions. Use critical thinking skills and lab knowledge to resolve patient orders and irretrievable samples.
• * Report and troubleshoot HIS/LIS, printer, fax malfunctions.
• * Organize specimen intake in various downtime scenarios and recovery from same.
• * Assist with inventory control. Maintain organization of laboratory storage areas.
• * Restock consumables in the laboratory.
• * Perform QA checks on refrigerators, freezers as required.
• Teaching /In-Service/ Email
• * Assists in orientation and training of new employees as assigned.
• * Check emails daily in Sunquest.
• * Completes all assigned training and competency testing within specified time periods.
• * Participates in of staff meetings and reads of posted meeting minutes.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Required Minimum Education:

High School Diploma / GED General

Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s):

All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated.

Additional License(s) and Certification(s):

Phlebotomy Certification by a national organization Upon Hire Preferred

Required Minimum Experience:

Experience in either phlebotomy and / or specimen processing in an outpatient or hospital laboratory environment Preferred

Required Minimum Skills:

Strong written and verbal communication, customer service, multi-tasking and organizational skills, professionalism, detail and team-oriented, data entry, typing 40 wpm and working computer knowledge.

Join us and discover the support to do more meaningful work—and enjoy a more rewarding life. Connect with the most integrated health system in Georgia, and start a future that gives you more.