The Phlebotomist is a professional multi-skilled person dedicated to assisting in all aspects of medical practice under the direct supervision and responsibility of a physician. This practitioner assists with patient care management and executes administrative and clinical procedures. Competence in the field also requires that a medical assistant adhere to ethical and legal standards of professional practice, recognize and respond to emergencies and demonstrate professional characteristics.
Clinical Responsibilities
Duties and responsibilities working as a Phlebotomist
- Preparing patients for the provider's care
- Performing venipunctures and non-intravenous injections
o Performs laboratory blood draws as ordered by the medical provider
o Collecting routine laboratory specimen as directed
o Performs required laboratory quality controls
o Utilizes third-party laboratory vendor provided computer systems to route lab specimens to appropriate vendor for analysis
o Performing basic laboratory procedures
- Observing and reporting patients? signs and symptoms
- Administering basic first aid
- Operating office medical equipment
- Assisting in emergencies as needed
Additional Position Expectations and Responsibilities
- Act as a contact for the providers and support staff in trouble shooting issues
- Ensure patients are properly check-in for laboratory visits via Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- Ensure patients are properly checked-out after every laboratory visit and depart with required paperwork
- Perform blood draws into appropriate containers and label them according to protocol
- Expected to have knowledge of standard (universal) precautions
- Prepare patient specimen(s) for testing by use of centrifugation and enter information into computer system for proper packaging and pick-up
- Adhere to all laboratory protocols for quality control and maintenance
- Expected to complete 48-hour chart check to ensure lab orders are in the system ready for patient appointment
Phlebotomist
- Expected to complete chart review to ensure all laboratory results have been received in a timely manner
- Expected to answer phones, check and returns voicemail messages in a timely manner
- Expected to respond to all correspondence and tasks (via letter, email, fax) in a timely manner
- Performs in-house labs as ordered by the medical provider and records the results in patient?s Electronic Medical Record
- Performs required laboratory quality controls,
- Utilizes third-party laboratory vendor provided computer systems to route lab specimens to appropriate vendor for analysis
- Expected to be able to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence and memos
- Expected to be proficient in all computer software utilized for patient care
- Expected to participate as part of a multi-disciplinary team, under the direction of the Laboratory Manager, and within the scope of practice to provide patient care and other patient need in a safe, timely manner
- Expected to complete all necessary documentation, department logs and reports
- Expected to keep laboratory clean, restock as needed, and assist with ordering supplies
- Expected to communicate effectively with all members of the patient care team
- Other duties as assigned
If a licensed physician is not on-site, a phlebotomist is prohibited from performing the following:
- Nursing activities that include the use of the nursing process and require the special knowledge, nursing judgment or skills of a registered or practical nurse, including:
o The initial nursing assessment or any subsequent assessments
o Prohibited from completing Review of Systems in the EMR
o Prohibited from performing injections (medication and/or vaccines)
o Prohibited from administering medication(s)
o Prohibited from performing aseptic procedures including wound care, dressing changes, etc.
o The determination of the nursing diagnosis or interpretations of nursing assessments
o Establishment of the nursing care goals and development of the plan of care
o Evaluation of progress in relationship to the plan of care
- Those activities for which the unlicensed assistive personnel has not demonstrated competence
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required
- Completion of Medical Assistant training is required
- Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate is required
- Must have good written and verbal communication skills
- Computer knowledge
Preferred Qualifications
- At least one year of related work experience
- Certification by the American Association of Medical Assistants
- Registered by the American Medical Technologists
- Phlebotomy Certification
- Bilingual (English-Spanish or English-Haitian Creole) a plus
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand, walk or view a computer screen for extended periods of time
- Ability to use hands and fingers to handle or feel
- Ability to reach with hands or arms
- Ability to perform repetitive hand and wrist motions for extended periods of time
- Ability to effectively talk and listen to patients
Relationship Reporting
- Reports to the Clinical Manager/Lead