LAB ASSISTANT II - Tri City Healthcare District

Tri-City Medical Center has served San Diego County’s coastal communities of Carlsbad, Oceanside and Vista, as well as the surrounding region for more than 60 years and is one of the largest employers in North San Diego County. Tri-City is administered by the Tri-City Healthcare District, a California Hospital District. As a full-service acute care public hospital with over 500 physicians practicing in over 60 specialties, Tri-City is vital to the well-being of our community and serves as a healthcare safety net for many of our citizens. The hospital has received a Gold Seal of Approval® from the Joint Commission showcasing a commitment to safe and effective patient care for the residents of the community. 

Tri-City Medical Center prides itself on being the home to leading orthopedic, spine and cardiovascular health services while also specializing in world-class robotic surgery, cancer and emergency care. Tri-City’s Emergency Department is there for your loved ones in their time of need and is highly regarded for our heart attack and stroke treatment programs. When minutes matter Tri-City is your source for quality compassionate care close to home. Tri-City partners with over 90 local non-profit and community organizations as part of our COASTAL Commitment initiative. Together we are helping tackle some of our communities’ pressing health and social needs.

Position Summary:

The primary functions of the Laboratory Assistant II are specimen collection, specimen handling and transport, specimen processing – including reference laboratory specimen processing and microbiology specimen processing, clerical support, inventory monitoring, and assisting the Clinical Laboratory Scientist in the performance of automated, semi-automated and manual procedures in the clinical laboratory. 

Major Position Responsibilities:

The position characteristics reflect the most important duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job in a fully competent manner. They should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. The characteristics of the position and standards of performance may be changed by TCMC with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

• Maintains a safe, clean working environment, including unit based safety and infection control requirements.
• Perform specimen collections, includes venipuncture and capillary sticks.
• Process specimens received in the laboratory. This task includes specimen transport, handling, sorting, requisition entry, distribution of specimens to all laboratory sections.
• Centrifuge and aliquot specimens to appropriate containers.
• Inoculate specimens following proper inoculation protocol.
• Enter blood culture bottles on the blood culture instrumentation, and perform blood culture work-ups on all positives.
• Answer the telephone, triage calls appropriately, take appropriate messages; review pending logs; locate samples for add on orders; look up patient reports on computer and give results to clinicians where appropriate.
• Assists in the Reception/Triage area of the Lab, as needed.
• Order tests in the LIS. Contact nursing units or physician’s offices to verify confusing incomplete or confusing orders or sample problems.
• Receives and distributes reports while maintaining files for rapid access.
• Monitors reports for accuracy of demographics and results transcriptions, timeliness of reporting, appropriate format, maintaining a file of QA problems and correspondence with referral lab QA personnel.
• Responsible for monitoring and correcting billing from referral labs; performs referral lab Quality Assurance monitoring. 
• Under the direct observation of the Clinical Laboratory Scientist, set up and load tests on instruments or procedures as determined by the section lead.
• Under the direct observation of the Clinical Laboratory Scientist, perform limited function checks and preventative maintenance on instruments and equipment.
• Under the direct observation of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, set up and run serological procedures.
• Take inventory of reagents and supplies and restock when needed; put away supplies as they are received.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Two years of relevant work experience in a laboratory, required.
• Minimum 6 months Phlebotomy experience, required.
• Knowledge and ability to use medical terminology, required.
• Excellent professional communication and interpersonal skills are essential.

Education: 

• Meets education requirements for California CPT Certification.
• Associates degree (2 years college) in life science courses or equivalent, preferred.

Certifications:

• Current California Certified Phlebotomy Technician, required.
• American Society for Clinical Pathology Medical Laboratory Assistant Certification, preferred.

Each new hire candidate who is offered employment must pass a physical evaluation, urine drug screen and pre-employment background checks before starting work.

*Salary/Hourly Wage range based on experience.

To protect the health of patients and staff, and to comply with the new State of California mandates, all job offers are contingent on the successful engagement in the TCMC COVID-19 vaccination program (fully vaccinated with documented proof or approved exception/deferral.)

TCHD is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity/expression), age, marital status, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.