Summary:
Under general supervision of Pathology Supervisor and in accordance with established polices and procedures performs a variety of duties to provide for centralized receipt recording and distribution of specimens within laboratories. Assists with recording verifying and communicating tests results. Maintains detailed related records. Logs specimens received onto department microcomputers. Answers central telephone line for clinical laboratories. Responds to general and specific information requests concerns and problems. Resolves problems within scope of authority or refers as appropriate after obtaining sufficient background information.

Responsibilities:
Receives specimens for processing within various clinical laboratories. Numbers and checks labels accordingly. Completes master log worksheets and similar documents as required. Logs onto Department microcomputer. Organizes maintains and distributes all computer generated data. Generates appropriate billing data.

In conjunction with technologists checks specimens to identify any that require special handling or processing due to requirements of testing procedures patient diagnosis condition or volume of specimens and the like. Records and communicates same and ensures delivery to appropriate laboratory.

Contacts patient care unit departments and physician offices as necessary to clarify testing requests to notify of samples needing to be redrawn to prioritize tests to be run if volume of specimen is insufficient for tests requested and the like.

Answers central telephone line for laboratories responding to general and specific information requests such as related to patient specimen and culture reports and availability of test procedure. Responds to and assists in tracking and resolution of lab related problems and concerns requiring knowledge of the various laboratory sections procedures practices specimen handling requirements and the like. Resolves questions within the scope of authority or refers to appropriate resource after assimilating sufficient background information.

Receives test results from laboratory sections. Phones patient care units or physician offices with status or critical test results. Transfer results to laboratory record sheets and enters data to microcomputer.

Assists supervisors with editing and verification of results. Identifies questionable entries by checking against input document range of norms for procedure patients previous and concurrent test results and the like. Alerts supervisor or technologist if further investigation required. Assures that all testing requests are logged.

Performs a variety of clerical duties such as preparing and maintaining detailed records of laboratory procedure requests and results; coding outpatient billing forms; verifying requesting physicians name and address to send the outpatient results.

Other information: BASIC KNOWLEDGE:
The level of knowledge gained from the completion of High School with some course work in the fields of biology and chemistry.

Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care patients with consideration of aging processes human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.

General knowledge of variety of laboratory tests and procedures for obtaining and handling laboratory specimens for processing within various sections of laboratory in order to respond to requests for information; to receive prepare and distribute specimens to appropriate laboratories; to identify specimens requiring handling; to be knowledgeable in the use of universal precautions.

Organizational and clerical skills to maintain a variety of logs and records.

Microcomputer skills.

Analytical ability to assist supervisor in checking editing and verifying tests results; to track and assist in resolution of problems and concerns when answering the central telephone line.

Interpersonal and communication skills to exchange factual information with physicians nurses external laboratories etc. regarding laboratory services test results and test procedures.

EXPERIENCE:
At least one year progressively more responsible related experience to become familiar with various laboratories procedures specimen handling requirements and the like.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Some exposure to odors chemicals and infectious materials when handling laboratory specimens.

Hazards are minimized by following established precautionary procedures.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

Lifespan is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex national origin age ethnicity sexual orientation ancestry genetics gender identity or expression disability protected veteran or marital status. Lifespan is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Location: Rhode Island Hospital USA: RI: Providence

Work Type: Per Diem

Shift: Shift 1

Union: IBT