Job Summary:

The Phlebotomist positions provide technical assistance in performing phlebotomy and other procedures as required for the procurement of specimens. The positions are responsible for properly collecting and transporting samples to the laboratory and performing limited laboratory procedures.

The Phlebotomist role will be filled according to the education, experience, and qualifications of the selected candidate. Refer to Required Education and Experience.

Major Responsibilities / Duties / Critical Tasks:

• Follows policies and procedures as defined by the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, the Department of Pathology and the Phlebotomy section.

• Interacts with patients, visitors, hospital employees, both within and outside the department, in a friendly cooperative manner.

• Cooperates with supervisor, responding in a timely manner for competency assessment data, human resource request, documentation of procedural changes and other information as required. Follows all safety rules, including using appropriate attire and disposing of waste properly.

• Collects blood cultures using aseptic techniques and never re-uses single use equipment or supplies.

• Maintains a clean, neat, and professional personal appearance and maintains work area in a clean and orderly fashion.

• Understands and communicates to other staff, i.e., nursing personnel proper specimen requirements for laboratory tests; follows proper protocol in transporting specimens, insuring specimen integrity.

• Follows proper collection protocol for special procedures such as therapeutic phlebotomy, sweat chloride, breath sample collections, glucose tolerance and other scheduled procedures.

• Identifies patient according to policy and labels specimens correctly.

• Maintains confidentiality of patients.

• Submits comments in specimen edits any time there is an issue with a collection or a delay. Performs bleeding times, therapeutic phlebotomies, and sweat testing as needed.

• Stocks workstation with necessary supplies.

• Other duties as assigned.

Additional duties assigned to Phlebotomist II level include training new staff, managing supplies, serves as a shift floater and completes special projects.

Accompanying Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to perform phlebotomy procedures appropriate to the age of the patient.

• Must have basic computer skills.

• Demonstrates professional behavior and works collaboratively with the team and all stakeholders.

• Maintains good communications and a suitable working relationship between the phlebotomy section and other laboratory sections, other hospital

Required Education / Experience:

• Phlebotomist – (non-certified)

• Phlebotomist II- (I – certified)

High school diploma or equivalent. Completion of an accredited phlebotomy/medical assistant program with clinical or previous phlebotomy experience. Phlebotomy certification from a nationally recognized agency is required.

• Phlebotomist III- (II – certified)

High school diploma or equivalent. Completion of an accredited phlebotomy/medical assistant program with a minimum of 5 years’ experience as a Phlebotomist. Phlebotomy certification from a nationally recognized agency is required.

Required license/certification:

Successful passing of the Phlebotomy Technician's registry (ASCP or other accrediting agency ) or registry eligible. ** Registry eligible employees must pass the registry exam within 6 months of employment.