Medical Laboratory Assistant

Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA)

St. Charles Health System

The laboratory departments provide many services to our multi-hospital organization and outreach community including: blood collection, processing, testing, and reporting of results, spanning all disciplines of laboratory medicine.

The Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) registers, orders, and processes specimens from in-house draws and courier runs and assists clients from outside the laboratory with questions or problems. The MLA will support the workflow in the technical area of the laboratory. This position does not directly manage other caregivers, however may be asked to review and provide feedback on the work of other caregivers.

Essential Functions and Duties:

• Processes inpatient and outpatient specimens to maintain their integrity.
• Meets all competency requirements and training timelines.
• Prioritizes ordering, receiving, and processing of specimens for testing according to urgency of need and type of tests ordered.
• Registers and orders testing as ordered by their physician and in compliance with system policies and procedures.
• Thinks critically, multitasks, and maintains accuracy during periods of frequent interruptions in a fast-paced environment.
• Participates in the distribution of results via fax, phone, or delivery, as designated or as requested by clients.
• Trains and mentors effectively using constructive feedback after meeting competency and experience requirements.
• Assists with the pre-analytical, appropriate parts of analytical, and post-analytical steps of laboratory testing.
• Performs maintenance on laboratory equipment.
• Maintains inventory and ordering of supplies for technical areas of the laboratory.
• Provides and maintains a safe environment for caregivers, patients and guests.
• Conducts all activities with the highest standards of professionalism and confidentiality.
• May perform additional duties of similar complexity within the organization, as required or assigned.

Education:

• Required:
  
  High school diploma or GED.
• Preferred:
  Bachelor's Degree, Associate's degree, or participation in college-level science classes preferred

Licensure/Certification/Registration:

• Required:
  
  N/A
• Preferred:
  Current national certification or licensure at the Assistant level by one or more of the following accredited credentialing agencies: ASCP, NHWA. Acceptable credentials: MLA (ASCP), NCMSMLA.

Experience:

• Required:
  
  Minimum one (1) year of paid customer service work experience.
• Preferred:
  Two (2) years lab experience. Computer training and medical terminology knowledge.

Physical Requirements:

• Continually (75% or more):
  Use of clear and audible speaking voice and the ability to hear normal speech level.
• Frequently (50%):
  Sitting, sitting, walking, lifting 1-10 pounds, keyboarding operation, grasping, squeezing
• Occasionally (25%):
  Bending, carrying/pushing/pulling 1-10 pounds
• Rarely (10%):
  Stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing stairs, climbing ladder/step-stool, reaching overhead, lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling 11-25 pounds.
• Never (0%):
  Lifting/carrying/pushing/pulling 25-50 pounds, operation of motor vehicle, whispered speech level
• Exposure to Elemental Factors
• Rarely (10%):
  Cold, Chemical solution.
• Never (0%):
  Heat, wet/slippery area, noise, dust, vibration, uneven surface.
• Blood-Borne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Category
• Risk for Exposure to BBP

Schedule Weekly

Hours:

40

Caregiver Type:
Regular

Shift: Variable (United States of America)

Is Exempt Position? No

Job Family:
Assistant Lab

Scheduled Days of the Week:
Variable; includes every other weekend and holidays

Shift Start & End Time: 9:30 - 8:00 PM