Brattleboro Memorial Hospital /

Southern Vermont Health Services Corporation

Job Description

Job Title: Phlebotomy Tech I

Job Code: 212

Hours: 10AM - 630PM

FTE: 1

Weekend Schedule: Rotating

Holiday Schedule: Rotating

Call Schedule:

FLSA Status:

Department Name: Laboratory

Location: Brattleboro, Vermont

JOB SUMMARY:

The Phlebotomy Technician I has a central role in the workflow of the entire Laboratory. In addition to performing phlebotomy, the Phlebotomy Technician greets patients and visitors, processes and clarifies orders, and answers calls in a courteous and responsible manner. A Phlebotomy Technician possesses knowledge of phlebotomy procedures on diverse patient age groups and has basic knowledge, skills and proficiency to use computers and computer-related technology. The Phlebotomy Technician participates in laboratory continuing education program and plays an important role representing the Laboratory by being both professional and caring to the patient and fellow employees.  

DEPT. SCOPE OF SERVICE:

The Laboratory is a 24-hour-per-day, seven-day-per-week, on-demand service, with staff available in the department. The Lab processes 100-125 patients per day, serving physicians, SVHHA, Brattleboro Retreat, Occupational Health, Nursing Homes and others.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Appropriately abides by all policies, procedures or regulation related to patient safety, professional code of ethics, infection control, age specific care delivery and patient / family education.
• Demonstrates proper response to Code Blue / Rapid Response.
• Actively participates in quality/performance improvement initiatives.
• In accordance with hospital policy, continuously and accurately documents all aspects of patient care delivered in the electronic medical record and incorporates principles of pain management into the provision of patient care.
• Complies with safety goals.
• Identifies patients accurately before starting procedures/ providing services.  
• Gathers, documents and transmits accurate identifying and essential information about patients.
• Collaborates with other members of the health care team to keep patients informed about and included in decision making about care and treatment.
• Investigates patient’s questions and concerns before proceeding with procedures and treatments.
• Reports incidents, as outlined per policy including potential errors and near misses.
• Identifies possible victims of abuse and reports according to policy.
• Performs and documents patient assessment according to department policy. 
• Abides by professional code of ethics.
• Demonstrates proper utilization of standard and transmission-based precautions in all situations when potential for exposure to body fluids and airborne organisms of any patient exists.
• Demonstrates proper procedure for prevention of Healthcare Acquired Infection (HAI).
• Adheres to hand hygiene policy and the use of appropriate PPE.
• Providing services as appropriate to age of population served or calls appropriate personnel.
• Demonstrates the ability to facilitate the process of caregiver/patient interaction in order to blood is drawn in a safe and efficient manner.       
• Identifies potential barriers to learning.        
• Demonstrates knowledge and performance of appropriate role during a code blue and/or rapid response.
• Identifies QA/I process activities and his/her role in utilizing data to measure performance and improve outcomes.
• Records applicable laboratory data per training in the patient record. Incorporates principles of pain management into the provision of patient care.
• Administrates patient care in an efficient and timely manner.
• Performs phlebotomy for all sections of the lab using proper, appropriate technique.
• Performs venipunctures or capillary punctures (heelsticks, fingersticks, etc.) according to established guidelines.
• Knows specimen requirements, tube types, volumes required, and order of draw.
• Uses correct procedure for patient identification, verification, labeling of specimens.
• Performs LIS update, logging in of specimens to accurately reflect specimen collection times and receipt in the lab.
• Checks specimen collection lists and unavailable specimen lists and follows up on those specimens.
• Processes all outpatients requiring phlebotomies, attends to the patients, recognizing his/her role as the lab representative by being both professional and caring to the patient’s needs.
• The Phlebotomist is responsible for testing patients with clinician order for COVID-19 per hospital policy via nasal swab. The position will also be required to escort (via foot or wheelchair) and direct patients and visitors to various areas of the facility. This position works in a team environment with adequate PPE provided by BMH. This position requires an understanding of donning and doffing PPE and importance of infection control.
• Provides efficient, friendly service to the customers of the laboratory.
• Processes all outpatients. Requires skill in patient management, and public relations. They must receive, welcome and attend to all outpatients coming in for laboratory work. 
• Correctly enters the patient’s orders into the LIS and has labels ready for phlebotomist. Requires knowledge with the LIS program for ordering tests, making test notes, and requirements for performing the tests. 
• Requires knowledge of laboratory tests to prevent inappropriate or duplicate orders, be able to assess if orders are possibly wrong and need to be checked, etc. 
• Provides information that the patient may need and answers any questions they may have.
• Investigates; when missing information, questions on tests ordered.
• Produces requested reports within established timeframes.
• Requires contact with office staff, nursing and physicians in interpreting orders, and giving out results
• Requires contact with reference laboratory client services on issues with lab tests, results, and requirements. 
• Processes all drop-off specimens by assuring appropriate labeling and correctly entering orders into the LIS. Requires handling of “potentially infectious materials”. 
• Answers the lab telephones, answers questions give out lab results per hospital protocol., and screens calls. Must be able to demonstrate awareness of situations requiring intervention by others (troubleshoots, screens problems, and refers if necessary).
• Investigates and resolves problems in multiple areas from patient issues, orders, and reports to inquiries from offices, physicians, nursing and laboratory staff. 
• Demonstrates ability to manage the complexities of multiple tasks in a fast paced, stressful environment.

Computer skills: 

• Understands, and is familiar with all aspects of Laboratory Information System (LIS), HIS. Is capable of maintaining and troubleshooting all fax, printing, and LIS issues in Laboratory.
• Verifies correct patient identification.
• Orders lab tests and verifies correct orders, includes necessary comments for tech notification, or if problems with specimens, if call or faxing of report required, copies to other physicians with minimal errors.
• Test result lookup.
• Perform a variety of laboratory clerical functions.
• Basic Word processing skills for typing procedures, minutes to meetings (including taking the minutes during meetings) and notices.

LEVEL I Duties

• Includes all the above    
• Routine venipuncture, supervised blood collection, patient preparation, and safety protocol adherence.
• Outpatient Duties not otherwise specified.