Laboratory Assistant
Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Variable Shifts
Cumberland Medical Center Overview:
Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville, Tennessee is part of Covenant Health, East Tennessee’s largest nonprofit health system and a Becker’s “Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare.” Fully accredited by the Joint Commission, Cumberland Medical Center is an acute care hospital offering all private patient rooms as well as comprehensive care including cardiology, orthopedics, maternity, cancer treatment, and wound care. The hospital features emergency and critical care, surgical suites, and specialized programs such as imaging, cardiac rehab, sleep disorder care, and hyperbaric medicine, all in a family-oriented environment focused on exceptional patient care.
Position Summary:
An employee in this position must be able to perform in the following areas: collection and proper handling of venous and capillary blood specimens for both in and outpatients, responsibility for the safety and comfort of customers, clerical/computer duties, and courier responsibilities as required for the position.
Responsibilities- Customer service and OP collection is recognized as the first priority.
- Assures the registration process is handled in a professional manner with attention to accuracy, completeness, and efficiency.
- Gathers all demographic, medical and financial information from outpatients in a courteous and effective manner utilizing the HIS to record data.
- Transcribes medical orders and diagnosis accurately and in a timely manner, orders the appropriate laboratory tests as indicated for outpatients, lab contracts, and specimens. Follows-up on all verbal orders with requests for written orders.
- Responsible for answering the departmental telephones and transferring calls to proper laboratory/pathology section; follows through with problem resolution; assists physicians/staff in obtaining, faxing or telephone receipt of laboratory test results; and responsible for strict adherence to proper handling of confidential test results.
- Responsible for use of HIS, LIS and reference lab computer systems (i.e. Mayo, etc.) as appropriate for specific hospital facility.
- Knowledgeable of manual systems for ordering, collection, verification, and charting in instances of computer failure.
- Properly processes, all specimens including accessioning; recognition of test priorities; centrifugation; separation/distribution of shared specimens; separation/processing, logging, tracking of specimens for transport to off-site reference labs; proper labeling of aliquots; special collection requirements; special storage/shipment instructions (i.e. ice, dry ice, ambient temps, refrigerate, etc.). Responsible for operating and monitoring of pneumatic tube system.
- Properly collects blood samples from venous and/or capillary (heel or finger) sites as required by facility. Proper use of the Hollister Ident-A-Band system for labeling Blood Bank specimens. Proper use of aseptic technique in the collection of blood culture specimens. Accurately labels all specimens.
- Strict adherence to proper identification of patients either by hospital armband, by asking the patient his/her name, or by asking the RN to visually identify the patient.
- Strict adherence to proper disposal of needles/sharps and used gloves during phlebotomy.
- Maintain clerical and phlebotomy work areas in a neat and sanitary manner.
- Responsible for the daily quality review of written physician’s orders to detect errors in test orders, diagnosis, physician’s name, insurance coverage, and documents problem resolution etc. Files orders appropriately and manages filing system. Responsible for notification of Sr. Lab Assistant or Manager for timely correction of errors.
- Properly prints/sorts/faxes/charts inpatient Laboratory, Pathology, and Imaging reports, and mails or distributes outpatient reports as needed.
- Responsible for the timely pick-up of specimens from physicians’ offices by performing courier duties, or dispatching of the appropriate courier or courier service as needed, and properly manages requests for supplies.
- Responsible for participation in Laboratory performance improvement activities.
- Complies with Laboratory policies and procedures, including Exposure Control, Chemical Hygiene Plan, Disaster Plan, the Joint Commission standards, CLIA and State regulations.
- Responsible for review and sign-off on communication log/memo notebook.
- May be a resource for difficult sticks.
- Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
- Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Minimum Education:
None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing a HS diploma or GED.
Minimum Experience:
None
Licensure Requirement:
None
Skills Required
- High school diploma or GED preferred; equivalent education or prior work experience may be accepted.
- Ability to perform blood specimen collection, handling, processing, registration, clerical, and courier duties.
- No prior experience specified.
- No licensure required.
What We Do
Covenant Health is a not-for-profit, community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. It operates a regional network of hospitals and medical services across East Tennessee, providing acute and specialty care—including cardiology, cancer care, neurology, imaging, rehabilitation, urgent care, and behavioral health. Its mission is to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves through better health.
