GENERAL SUMMARY:

Under general supervision performs routine clerical and laboratory tasks in compliance with established policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Exhibits excellent customer service and interpersonal skills to interact with physicians, nurses, medical students, patients, and co-workers at all times.
• Attends mandatory annual training sessions in fire safety, chemical hygiene, and laboratory HIPAA compliance.
• Performs all functions appropriate to position responsibilities that are required for the laboratory to meet the standards specified by accrediting agencies such as JCAHO and CAP with respect to administrative procedures and policies covering specimens handling, personnel policies, safety, and quality assurance.
• Maintains collaborative team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment.
• Performs additional and related duties as requested or directed.

NON-ANALYTICAL: (Clinical Lab Support)

Job Description

• Greets patients in the outpatient setting and facilitates their lab orders for phlebotomy ensuring that all orders are correctly ordered in the LIS system.
• Able to obtain clarification of orders by contacting clinic so that patient has a positive outcome.
• Reviews lab test requisitions for accuracy and completeness prior to ordering in the LIS.
• Performs clerical support functions including but not limited to telephone communication with internal and external customers and outreach clients to provide specific information on specimen requirements for specific testing.
• Telephone skills are professional and courteous at all times.
• Processes laboratory specimens by accessioning them, time stamping the receipt time and distributing to testing areas.
• Verifies positive patient identification on all specimens and requisitions by utilizing the two (2) approved hospital identifiers. (Full name and MRN)
• Will be responsible for learning all required computer skills including: add on testing, scanning of requisitions, understanding of electronic information and where to find it.
• Processes all outreach specimens from off sites timely and efficiently with no errors or omissions.
• May be asked to participate in training of new employees and students.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Candidate for Bachelor’s Degree in Science
• Must be able to work accurately and effectively under pressure
• Must have interpersonal skills necessary to interact with internal as well as external customers.

Working Conditions:

• Central Receiving Laboratory at Tufts Medical Center
• Position is 40 hours/week, no weekends and no holidays
• Opportunity to attend educational lectures, microbiology rounds, autopsy conferences and other learning opportunities
• Regular exposure to blood and body fluids

Analytical: Clinical Lab Co-op in Microbiology

Job Description:

• Daily involvement in lab rounds with the Tufts Medical Center Infectious Disease team and discussion of patient issues (potential to shadow Infectious Disease Clinicians)

• Working with clinical patient specimens

• Enter Microbiology specimens test requests in computer.
• Inoculate patient specimens for bacterial and fungal cultures
• Select appropriate media, based on the specimen source.
• Prepares gram stain and cytospin smears
• Evaluates specimens for acceptance/rejection criteria and appropriateness of test request.
• Calls appropriate person (nurse, physician, etc.) to relay or obtain information related to processing of specimens.
• Learn how bacterial culture selects for normal vs. pathogenic bacteria from various anatomic sites.
• Answers telephone and may perform other clerical duties as needed.
• Introduction to how insurance/regulations/billing affect the decisions doctors and labs make about testing and treating patients.
• Perform identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing on patient bacterial isolates using the bioMérieux Vitek antimicrobial susceptibility Instrument.
• Set up microbiology isolates for non- automated susceptibility testing, Kirby Bauers, Etests etc.
• Perform quality control of media and reagents used in testing.
• Receive and organize media supplies.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Candidate for Bachelor's degree in a Science.
• General laboratory exposure.
• General Microbiology course desirable.
• Must be able to work accurately and effectively under pressure.
• Must have interpersonal skills necessary to interact with peers, physicians, and other health care professionals.

Working Conditions:

• Hospital Diagnostic Microbiology laboratory at Tufts Medical Center
• Position is 40 hours/week, 7:30am-4.00pm, and includes every weekend.
• Ability to attend Grand Rounds (Medicine lectures) at Tufts Medical Center
• Subject to the stress of working under time pressure to meet production schedules.
• Regular exposure to body fluids and other infectious material, toxic and hazardous substances; disagreeable odors.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES STATEMENT:

Must be able to perform all essential functions of this position with reasonable accommodation if disabled.

Tufts Medicine is a leading integrated health system bringing together the best of academic and community healthcare to deliver exceptional, connected and accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts. Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital, MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford, Care at Home — an expansive home care network, and large integrated physician network. Please note that effective October 1, 2021, as a condition of employment at Tufts Medicine, all employees and new hires must have received their complete dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, unless they have been granted an exemption. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at Tufts Medicine. Tufts Medicine does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation by emailing us at careers@tuftsmedicine.org.