Under general supervision, the incumbent in this position will support laboratory functions in the regional clinics including phlebotomy and assisting Medical Technologists and Medical Laboratory Technicians.  This position also provides general support to other areas within the regional clinic which may include nursing support, radiology, business office, etc.

Essential Job Functions
•Supports and models behaviors consistent with the mission and philosophy of Billings Clinic and department/service.
• Processes and accessions samples according to established policies and procedures.
• Assists with inventory management including stocking, ordering and monitoring to ensure adequate supplies to meet business needs within the assigned section of the laboratory.
• Performs waived laboratory testing and specimen processing within scope of practice.
• Provides administrative/clerical support for the departments including maintaining accurate record systems, quality control data, patient results, and workflow documentation.
• Assist pathologists and physicians with preparation of bone marrow specimens, preparing slides, maintaining integrity of specimens, and transporting specimens.
• Answers multi-line telephones and responds to the majority of all incoming calls before transferring to alternate resources. Responds to questions from patients, physicians and other reference labs and provides routine information, collection and testing procedures, specimen processing, turn around times, result reporting and reference lab availability. Also responds to non-routine questions regarding what steps need to be taken to rectify a situation when the integrity of a sample/specimen has been compromised.
• Facilitates result reporting. Results may be called to physician’s office, faxed or mailed depending on orders and situation.
• Monitors all label printers for incoming orders. Responsible for ensuring printers are maintained in good working order due to the critical nature of information being received. Acts as a resource in resolving printer related function problems, maintenance and form loading.
• Responsible for checking and verifying the integrity/quality of the specimens to ensure appropriate specimen volumes, packaging, etc. Assumes responsibility for initiating follow-up action necessary to prevent and/or resolve problem scenarios and coordinates as appropriate with other departments, management, etc.
• Maintains inventory management including ordering stocking and monitoring to ensure adequate supplies to meet the business needs for all areas within the department and reference laboratory.
• Dispatches and monitors the phlebotomy staff to maintain efficient response and turnaround times on hospital specimen orders.
• Receives specimens from the laboratory runners, phlebotomy staff, pneumatic tube system and external clients. Utilizes judgment to determine if sample/specimen is appropriate for testing according to established guidelines or if a redraw will be necessary. Initiates specimen preparation and processing by preparing spin-offs and aligots, and distributes to the appropriate area of the laboratory for final processing. Monitors printers for STAT orders from the nursing units.
• Phlebotomy training preferred
• Additional Qualifications for Regional Traveling Services: Current Montana or Wyoming Driver’s license, appropriate to service area & Ability to be insured to operate Billings Clinic vehicles
• Prior laboratory or health care experience preferred
• May be required to float to various areas within the laboratory and branch locations to assist with and/or fulfill staffing needs
• Perform phlebotomy blood draws
• Assist nursing with patient rooming
• Schedule appointments
• Enter lab orders
• Assist with charge ticket review and ensure ICD-9 coding
• Proficient in processing and accessioning samples according to established procedure
• Analytical skills necessary to understand and resolve routine operating problems within scope of practice.
• Analytical skills necessary to perform waived specimen analysis according to established policies and procedures
• Analytical skills necessary to evaluate data prior to reporting under direct supervision within scope of practice
• Works with the Technologist/Technician to establish an appropriate workflow in accordance with established standards
• Work is performed under general supervision in accordance with regulatory requirements, established policies and procedures and general directives.
• Assumes responsibility for initiating follow-up to prevent and/or resolve problem scenarios and coordinates with the appropriate department and/or person.
• Expected to prioritize all aspects of job
• Demonstrates ability to assess specimen integrity within service area or with guidance from Technologist/Technician, Laboratory Assistant II or Supervisor
• Interpersonal skills which enable the incumbent to appropriately respond to a variety of patient/family requests and inquiries, to respond to inquiries from physicians, nursing staff and other health care providers and to check for understanding, allay apprehension and enlist the cooperation of the patient. • Ability to deal with difficult situations in a mature and professional manner.   
• Quality Control – Laboratory
• Participates in and/or assists Technologist/Technician with the performance of quality control correlations and instrumentation checks
• Participates in and/or assists Technologist/Technician with the performance of routine and/or preventative maintenance of instruments and equipment
• Errors could result in customer satisfaction issues
• Errors related to identification of patients or specimens could result in serious and/or life threatening consequences.
• Errors in charge generation could result in loss of revenue or errors in patient/customer billing.