Lab Assistant

Job Title: Lab Assistant

Location: RWJ - New Brunswick

Department Name: Lab RWJNB

Req #: 0000209899

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $21.40 - $25.47 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Job Overview:

Assists the lab

Qualifications:

Required:

Education:
High school diploma
Experience:
Phlebotomy experience preferred

Essential Functions:

• Acts as the first point of contact at the front desk for employees, patients, physicians, family members, vendors and co-workers who arrive in the lab.

• Operates the phone system to route incoming calls and place outgoing calls. Answers patient, family and employee inquiries via phone and in person and directs calls to appropriate staff.

• Consistently performs venipuncture and capillary collection procedures competently and expediently with as little patient discomfort as possible.

• Maintains accurate patient files, including all pertinent patient information, laboratory and pathology results and reports.

• Provides appropriate patient preparation instructions to outpatients for laboratory testing.

• Demonstrates competency in all pre-analytical phases of testing, ordering, accessioning, specimen processing, and rejection of unacceptable specimens. Labels, distributes and stores samples appropriately.

• Accurately loads and unloads blood culture instrument, subcultures and prepares gram stain slides to tech review.

• Prepares specimens for transport to the appropriate reference lab; by courier or other delivery methods. Creates and exports electronic batches to Quest.

• Prioritizes work assignments according to the needs of the department.

• Adheres to confidentiality of medical record information, release of records and informed consent policies. Follows all HIPAA regulations.

• Demonstrates appropriate utilization of the laboratory (Sunquest), hospital (SCM), and ED (Picis) computer systems, entering information related to laboratory testing and patient charges.

• Consistently identifies the patient prior to collection of specimens in accordance to laboratory procedures, and patient safety requirements.

• Inoculates bacteriological specimens on culture media; identifies positive blood cultures and subcultures appropriately, prepares smears for staining.

• Maintains operates office equipment to ensure optimum performance at all times.

• Maintains and operates laboratory equipment such as centrifuges used to prepare samples for testing, performs quality control checks on refrigerators and freezers.

• Ensures that reference lab results are entered, verifies and completed within the same day of receipt – follows up on exceptions.

• Assists hospital staff and physicians with inquiries on a laboratory specimen requirements and handling, and ordering unusual test requests.

• Plates specimens to the appropriate biological media in a timely manner.

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees’ physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance

• Dental and Vision Insurance

• Retirement Plans

• Short & Long Term Disability

• Life & Accidental Death Insurance

• Tuition Reimbursement

• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

• Wellness Programs

• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)

• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health.

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey—whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer