Laboratory Assistant

Where You’ll Work

St. Joseph Health has been caring for the communities in and surrounding the Brazos Valley since 1936 (Bryan/College Station, Navasota, Caldwell, Madisonville (TX)). St. Joseph has a Level III Trauma Center, the first Joint Commission certified Primary Stroke Center and the first accredited Chest Pain Center in the Brazos Valley. 

St. Joseph Health is a leader in critical care and the largest provider of cardiovascular care in the region. As an integrated healthcare system St. Joseph Health includes a comprehensive network of over 100 employed providers including primary care physicians specialists and advanced practice clinicians. The network includes more than 30 ambulatory clinics featuring Primary Care, Express Clinics and Imaging and Diagnostic Services.

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As a Laboratory Assistant you will work primarily in the lab specimen processing/intake department of the lab. Assist with specimen management and clerical duties as requested. May perform blood collection and specimen processing. If allowed by local/state regulations, may perform waived or mod complex testing, if appropriate for the department organization.

Essential Functions:

Practices positive patient identification at all times, in all job functions.

Practices HumanKindness and courtesy with all patient and co-worker interactions. Establishes and maintains good communication within the department and with other hospital departments.

Takes responsibility for the department workflow, assists all members of the team to maintain department workflow and efficiency. Creates an atmosphere by manner, work and deed that fosters teamwork and collaboration.

Processes specimen into the lab, organized for department distribution. Moves processed samples quickly to laboratory departments for testing.

Handles Laboratory Send-out testing. Processes, organizes, packing lists and packaging for testing sent to external laboratories according to procedures.

Uses good judgment when problem solving and requests help when needed.

May perform phlebotomy. Follows blood collection procedures, performs venous and capillary punctures on all age groups of inpatient and outpatient populations, including blood bank collections. Utilizes appropriate collection techniques to obtain quality samples and adheres to appropriate volume requirements.

May assist with phlebotomy training under the direction of the supervisor and/or coordinator.

As allowed by local and state regulations, may perform CLIA waived and moderately complex laboratory testing following written technical policies and procedures. Evaluates and releases test results under the direction of a Clinical Lab Scientist. Evaluates result validity considering quality control results, instrument performance, specimen integrity and prior patient results.

Performs routine maintenance on lab equipment and maintains records as trained.

Monitors department supply inventory and assists in stocking, completes reagent logs.

Job Requirements

Required:High School Graduate, upon hire orHigh School GED, upon hire andBasic Life Support - CPR (BLS-CPR), within 90 Days andExcellent customer service and time management skills, upon hire

Preferred: Certificate Lab Assistant Program, upon hire or Certificate Phlebotomy program, upon hire and6 months experience in an acute care facility