Lab Tech Asst 1 PSC Full-Time Day

Inova Health System - Fairfax, VA

Full-time

Fairfax, VA

Hospitals

About the position

The Laboratory Technician Assistant 1 for the Patient Service Center (PSC) plays a crucial role in managing specimen accessioning and processing to ensure quality specimens for laboratory testing. This position requires effective communication and collaboration with team members to optimize job performance and foster positive working relationships. The technician is responsible for performing patient registration, billing, and test order procedures accurately and efficiently, ensuring compliance with testing, reporting, billing, and regulatory standards. The role emphasizes the importance of patient interactions, utilizing the AIDET patient care method to enhance customer service and patient experience. In this position, the technician must adhere to Inova Patient Safety policies, particularly regarding patient identification. Proper specimen collection techniques are essential, including confirming patient identity, collecting specimens in the correct tubes, and accurately labeling specimens to guarantee reliable patient results. The technician must demonstrate a thorough understanding of procedures for obtaining, preparing, and packaging specimens for transport, evaluating specimens for acceptability according to established policies. The technician is also responsible for maintaining a clean and well-stocked department, completing necessary documentation accurately, and responding to communications in a timely manner. Participation in continuing education is required, including attending department meetings and completing annual skills reviews. The technician manages specimen accessioning and processing efficiently, ensuring that all specimens collected by special procedures are handled according to facility policies. This role requires obtaining proper documentation to establish correct patient identity and performing patient registration and billing procedures accurately. Excellent patient and customer service is paramount, and the technician must prioritize collection requests to minimize patient wait times while ensuring the accuracy and integrity of specimens. Overall, the Laboratory Technician Assistant 1 is integral to the laboratory's operations, ensuring high standards of care and compliance with all relevant policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates understanding of and performs all procedures for obtaining, preparing, and packaging of specimens for transport.
• Evaluates specimen for acceptability per policy (volume, labeling, proper documentation for QA).
• Provides correct containers to patients with preservatives, when needed, as well as instructions for return of samples; verifies collection technique, total volume, and correct.
• Maintains clean, orderly and well-stocked department and notifies appropriate personnel of shortages; completes necessary documentation accurately each shift.
• Participates in continuing educational requirements by attending meetings, responding to instructional e-mail, etc.; attends 75% of all department meetings and reads minutes of 100% of staff meetings and communications.
• Completes Inova educational requirements and annual skills review by deadline.
• Manages specimen accessioning and processing accurately and efficiently to provide quality specimens for laboratory testing.
• Responsible for specimens collected by special procedure properly per facility policy (Irretrievable specimens, pathology specimens, 24 hour urine, cultures, chain of custody collections, Newborn Screens etc.).
• Obtains all proper documentation to establish correct patient identity.
• Performs patient registration/billing/test order procedures accurately and efficiently to ensure correct testing, reporting, billing and regulatory compliance.
• Accurately enters patient demographics, billing information, and test orders according to written physician order and information from customer insurance cards.
• Reviews insurance and tests requested, identifies Medicare patients and obtains medical necessity when appropriate; takes appropriate action when diagnosis code is missing/fails and collects an ABN when appropriate.
• Provides excellent patient and customer service by using AIDET principles and assuring the correctness and quality of technical information and directions provided to customers is appropriate.
• Demonstrates proper technique to provide standard of care including proper preparation (site selection and order of draw) proper technique, following standard precautions and proper disposal of supplies.
• Prioritizes collection requests and managing patient draw order to minimize patient wait time while ensuring accuracy and integrity of specimens.
• Correctly identifies every patient according to Inova Patient Safety Policy for identifiers and methods; compares and validates specimen labels and/or requisitions to patient identifiers prior to collection.
• Properly labels specimens attaching the correctly identified labels to the correct tube/collection containers after collection.
• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of Phlebotomy training required; completion certificate from a Phlebotomy program or another Allied Health training program, such as Medical Assistant, Medical Lab Technician or Medical Technologist.
• BLS within 90 days.