Phlebotomist

Department/Unit:

Phlebotomy Service

Work Shift:

Per Diem (United States of America)

Salary Range:

$43,599.00 - $56,679.00ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER

PHLEBOTOMIST

Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

POSITION SUMMARY:

A Phlebotomist collects specimens that will aid in the detection and diagnosis of disease and/or to monitor the progress of defined illnesses or treatments initiated by a physician.  The Phlebotomist performs specimen collection procedures and provides phlebotomy support within the hospital and for those out-patient and off-site areas overseen by the Phlebotomy Service.  This position requires the individual to provide excellent customer service, exercising sound judgement and demonstrating responsibility and proficiency in those areas in which the individual is qualified by education, training and experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Include but not limited to the following:

1.         Communicates effectively with nursing staff, physicians and other hospital departments.

2.         Demonstrates cooperation and flexibility in continually meeting patient care needs

3.         Collects specimens for clinical laboratory analysis in a safe and effective manner that meets patient care needs.

4.         Assists with the delivery of specimens to the clinical laboratories in a safe and timely manner.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily as outlined in the attached competency assessment.  Where feasible, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the job’s essential functions.

EDUCATION, LICENSURE, REGISTRATION AND/OR CERTIFICATION:

Phlebotomist:  Formal academic training in phlebotomy or equivalent direct patient care education, CPR (BLS) certification required.

EXPERIENCE:

Phlebotomist:  Must have one to two years’ phlebotomy experience (preferably in a hospital setting). 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS:

Ability to:

• Read and interpret documents such as prescriptions for bloodwork, requisitions, safety rules and procedure manuals.
• Use effective written and verbal communication skills to cooperatively work with customers and employees.
• Listen well, take direction and engage in interactive dialogue with others.
• Seek the input of others to achieve consensus.
• Comprehend, remember and carry out instructions. The individual communicates any questions to a preceptor or Supervisor as the need arises.
• Accurately document daily work activities and quality control activities according to established standards. 
• Communicate effectively with nursing staff, physicians and other hospital departments.
• Conduct telephone and personal inquiries to any of the laboratory’s customers with courtesy, respect and confidentiality.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to:

Add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:

Ability to:

1.         Accomplish a wide variety of tasks in a specified time, prioritize and make decisions as well as effectively provide feedback.  

2.         Maintain competency and assume responsibility for continuing education relevant to responsibilities.

3.         Improve job performance through continuing education and productive feedback.

4.         Perform basic keyboarding skills needed for a highly computerized laboratory environment.

5.         Utilize computer systems to enter collection times, codes and comments as assigned according to standard laboratory practices.

6.         Demonstrate cooperation and flexibility in continually meeting patient care needs, incorporating aspects of the change process into the professional role.

7.         Perform job duties in an honest, punctual and ethical manner.

8.         Respond positively to changes in scheduling in conjunction with departmental needs.

9.         Adapt to new standards and policies.

10.       Follow accepted departmental guidelines such as wearing appropriate attire and maintaining personal hygiene, limiting personal phone calls, attending departmental in-services, completing specific mandatory in-services, and following break and mealtime limits.

11.       Exercise good judgement by making appropriate decisions.

12.       Accept constructive criticism in a professional manner and carry out directives to completion.

13.       Contributes to teamwork and the completion of the overall workload of the department.

14.       Successfully performs all of the technical and clinical procedures for which the phlebotomist has been trained.

15.       Collects specimens for clinical laboratory analysis in a safe and effective manner that meets patient care needs.

16.       Assists with the delivery of specimens to the clinical laboratories in a safe and timely manner.

17.       Maintains quality of performance during sample collection adhering to standards of practice.

18.       Utilizes computer systems to perform inquiries and requisition entry.

19.       Serves as a positive role model for other staff by following accepted departmental guidelines such      as wearing appropriate attire and maintaining personal hygiene, limiting personal phone calls, attending departmental in-services, completing specific mandatory in-services, and conduct one in-service per year.

20.       Provides thorough follow through on sample collection problems or issues.

21.       Assists with training and mentoring students, employees and other members of the healthcare team in the area of specimen collection. Must have pediatric experience.

22.       Generates ideas to resolve issues and problems.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to:

1.         Identify problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

2.         Seek guidance in areas of question.

3.         Make responsible decisions that benefit the patient and/or healthcare team.

DIRECT PATIENT CARE SKILLS:

Ability to:

1.         Provide care and services appropriate to the age and special characteristics of the patients served.

2.         Maintain an environment conducive to meeting safety needs. 

3.         Meet the patient/family needs related to major fears and stressors when providing direct delivery of care or services.

4.         Complete annual age-specific and pain management competency reviews as required.

5.         Incorporate pain management principles into daily practice.

6.         Provide age-specific information about pain relief to patient, family and/or significant others.

7.         Effectively assess and communicate patients pain management needs to the            

             interdisciplinary team involved in the patient’s care.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use both hands to probe, handle, cut, or feel objects, including tools or instrument controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to sit, stoop, kneel or crouch.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The phlebotomist may be required to work day, evening or night shifts including weekends, holidays and on-call.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to infectious and hazardous chemicals as outlined in the department’s Chemical Hygiene Plan. 

The noise level of the department is moderate to high.  The work environment is subject to constant interruptions in workflow.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently.  This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.  Employees will be required to perform any other job-related instructions given by their supervisor subject to reasonable accommodations.

All employees are required to read and be familiar with the policies and procedures applicable to the position and to either abide by them or, if in disagreement with them, to use appropriate channels to suggest changes.

Thank you for your interest in Albany Med Health System!​

Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer.

This role may require access to information considered sensitive to Albany Med Health System, its patients, affiliates, and partners, including but not limited to HIPAA Protected Health Information and other information regulated by Federal and New York State statutes. Workforce members are expected to ensure that:

Access to information is based on a “need to know” and is the minimum necessary to properly perform assigned duties. Use or disclosure shall not exceed the minimum amount of information needed to accomplish an intended purpose. Reasonable efforts, consistent with Albany Med Health System policies and standards, shall be made to ensure that information is adequately protected from unauthorized access and modification.