Laboratory Assistant - Full Time Jobs in Borough of Neptune City at Hackensack Meridian Health

Overview

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning. It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Lab Assistant is responsible for specimen handling, ordering, and triaging of specimens for inpatients and outpatients. Provides assistance to physicians and nurses regarding appropriate specimen collection. Provides support to the technical sections as needed.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Lab Assistant at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

1. Clerical Support: Accession logs, working draft and labels are printed and distributed according to SOP.  Ensures reports are appropriately mailed, faxed, and / or copies. Answers phone calls and accurately receives messages and transfers calls to another department. Interacts with physicians / nurses in a professional manner, and provides assistance as necessary. 
2. Competency: Understands the most commonly used functions of Lab Information System (CoPath), and Medical Information System (Misys)
3. Data completeness: Ensures that specimens for reference lab, request slips,  slides and tracking log are complete for proper transport
4. Fine needle aspiration: Assists in Fine Needle Aspiration procedures; prepares and stains slides with Diff Quik stains.
5. Instrument operations: Knowledge of instrument operations, basic problems and trouble shooting.  Documents all maintenance and corrective action taken when instruments, automatic slide stainer, centrifuge, Thin Prep processor, refrigerator, or freezer for malfunction.
6. Maintains Supplies: Ensures department / sections/ workstation is appropriately supplied and checks supplies and reagents on hand for expiration dates daily.  Orders cytology reagents and supplies, if necessary and if applicable.
7. Maintains/stores specimens: Maintains specimens and slides storage, ensures retrieval and disposal of GYN and Non Gyn specimens according to SOP
8. Maintenance/Troubleshooting: Performs daily maintenance and basic troubleshooting on Thin Prep processor and automatic slide stainer, automatic coverslipper and centrifuge.
9. Patient identifiers.: Reviews patient demographic and use two patient identifiers (Patient name, DOB or MR#), in accordance with SOP.  Registers accurate patient information in Medical Information System (MISYS).  Accessions specimen in Lab Information System (CoPath).
10. Prepares specimens: Assesses and processes specimens for Thin Prep preparation and prepares specimen for cell block
11. Prepares stained slides: Prepares stained slides for coverslipping .  Prepares Pap stained slides for coverslipping, free of air bubbles, excess mounting medium, and corn flaking.
12. Quality control: Recognizes problems and troubleshoots:  uses good judgment when resolving problems or notifying general supervisor, technical supervisor, manager or director in a timely manner
13. Reports system errors: Reports all system errors to supervisor in the inputting of data
14. Safety: Follows established laboratory safety practices all the time with no more than one documented incidence of non-compliance per year.  Completes Annual Basic Training and Environment of Care packets within established time frame
15. Specimen  labeling: Properly labels cytology specimens and slides according to SOP with no more than one patient identification error per year
16. Specimen acceptance: Team member reviews all acceptable & unacceptable specimens received. Investigates and documents unacceptable specimens; notifies floor / doctor office of any corrective action
17. Specimen handling: Processes specimens and properly label specimens according to the SOP with no more than two documented errors per year
18. Specimen preservation: Adds appropriate fixative to cytology specimens for proper preservation
19. Specimen processing: Processes specimens and stains with papanicolaou stain method.  Stains prepared slides for the Papanicolaou stain method.  Processes additional slides for special  stains, additional studies and HPV-DNA test
20. Specimen review: Reviews specimens and requisition forms for complete patient information (*use two patient identifiers) according to SOP, JCAHO and Patient Safety Act regulatory guidelines.     Team member can accept / reject appropriate or inappropriate specimens based on SOP guidelines for adequacy of specimens, timeliness of delivery and appropriateness of specimens, including proper patient identification
21. Other duties and/or projects as assigned.
22. Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

1. High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
2. Computer literate.
3. Strong attention to detail.
4. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
5. Proficient computer skills that include but are not limited to Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite platforms.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

1. Associates degree or some college in related science.
2. Hospital, university, or private Lab experience as a Lab Assistant and/or specific experience and knowledge in Histology

If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!

Our Network

Hackensack Meridian Health (HMH) is a Mandatory Influenza Vaccination Facility

As a courtesy to assist you in your job search, we would like to send your resume to other areas of our Hackensack Meridian Health network who may have current openings that fit your skills and experience.