Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA’s Agencies/Divisions/Services, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.  The Senior Medical Laboratory Assistant provides work direction to designated team members and assists the Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist as required in maintaining staffing levels and workload issues by scheduling and calling in relief staff, ensuring procedures, standards and safety protocols are followed, acting as an internal and external resource for Blood Collection, Accessioning and/or Inquiry Centre, assists the Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist to identify training deficiencies and coordinate training sessions for designated team members/students by providing input into evaluating the progress of designated team members/students, and arranging for additional training as required.  As well, the position performs other duties related to blood collection and specimen processing such as receiving patients for testing, collecting blood specimens using venipuncture and skin puncture, preparing specimens for analysis, forwarding specimens to referral laboratories or various laboratory areas and utilizing the laboratory database to generate blood collection lists and reports.  Performs clerical and reception duties as required.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.    Provides work direction to Medical Laboratory Assistants by performing duties such as monitoring and coordinating the work assignments, assessing and prioritizing workload, monitoring breaks and redirecting team members as required to meet operational requirements.  Provides input to the Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist regarding staffing and workload issues.

2.    Assists the Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist to ensure that staffing levels are maintained as required by methods such as scheduling and calling in of team members for relief purposes according to standardized procedures and availability.

3.    Ensures procedures, standards and safety protocols are followed according to departmental guidelines by performing duties such as identifying and troubleshooting inconsistencies, taking corrective action as required and referring problems to Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist.

4.    Acts as an internal and external resource for Blood Collection, Accessioning and/or Inquiry Centre by methods such as troubleshooting problems related to the work and service delivery and taking corrective action as required.

5.    Assists the Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist to identify training needs and coordinates training sessions for designated team members/students on a variety of processes, including phlebotomy, customer service, and data entry of patient and test information into the computerized laboratory and hospital information systems by providing input into evaluating the progress of designated team members/students and arranging for additional training as required.

6.    Assists the Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist with maintaining designated supply levels for the phlebotomy, laboratory, computer and reception areas by methods such as monitoring levels, identifying depleting items, and placing orders as required to maintain sufficient levels of designated supplies according to predetermined levels, and forwarding order information to Technical Supervisor/Technical Leader/Chief Technologist for budgetary purposes.

7.    Receives patients by methods such as examining test requisition to confirm patient demographics are current, checking for physician's signature, entering demographics into Laboratory Information system, printing label indicating patient information such as referring physician, name and test and affixing to requisition; explains procedure for collection of laboratory specimens and responds to routine inquiries.  

8.    Collects blood specimens from patients for specified tests by methods such as identifying patients, performing venipuncture and skin puncture, labelling specimens with required information and disposing of sharps in accordance with established procedures.

9.    Prepares specimens such as blood and urine for analysis by performing duties such as checking specimen identification with requisition, identifying whether additional tests or special testing is required, separating serum or plasma from cells by centrifugation and preparing blood films by spreading blood specimen onto slide before forwarding to Technologist for analysis.

10.    Processes specimens by methods such as receiving specimens, sorting and labelling for testing, logging data into a computerized database and batching specimens in order of established priorities for distribution to applicable area; stores specimens for which analysis has been completed and discards outdated specimens as directed in compliance with established facility procedures.

11.    Arranges for the shipment of specimens to referral laboratories by methods such as completing forms, packaging specimens according to established procedures ensuring safety regulations are met as outlined in the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act and contacting courier, air transport or alternate means.

12.    Performs clerical and reception duties as required by keying in a variety of data into computerized databases in on-line mode such as timekeeping records, billing information and laboratory results, printing off computerized reports and other related items upon request, responding to general enquiries from patients, nursing wards or external facilities and ensuring maintains work area is tidy and clean.

13.    Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience
Grade 12, successful completion of a recognized Laboratory Assistant training program plus two year's recent related experience, including one year of supervisory experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Skills and Abilities

•    Ability to type 30 wpm.
•    Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Ability to deal with others effectively.
•    Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.
•    Ability to organize work.
•    Ability to operate related equipment.
•    Ability to supervise.

** Please note: Support for nomination with the BC Provincial Nominee Program is not a guarantee, entitlement, nor an employee benefit after receiving a full time job offer with PHSA **