Hospital Lab Technician - 136234

The mission of the Student Health & Well-Being (SHW) cluster is to promote a culture of health and well-being for the student community, deliver equitable high quality innovative services, incorporate inclusive approaches, and celebrate diversity, with the goal of adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviors contributing to the academic success and personal development of all students.

The UC San Diego SHW cluster, which reports through UC San Diego Health System, plays a leadership role in creating a strong and active wellness culture that enables all students to flourish in body, mind and spirit. This includes promotion and the expansion/development of a student health and well-being center, and the transformation of existing departments, under the oversight of the executive director, into a cohesive, trans-disciplinary source of integrated wellness services. The SHW cluster includes the departments of Student Health Services (SHS), Health Promotion Services (HPS), Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and SHW Administration (ADM); Strategic Planning, Innovation and Research (SPIR); Assessments and Analytics (SHAA).

SHS provides primary medical care, including urgent care and support services such as laboratory, pharmacy, and x-ray to over 45,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. SHS staff consists of a diverse team of physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists, x-ray technologists, clinical laboratory scientists, medical lab assistants, optometrists, medical assistants, health educators, administrative and other healthcare professionals. SHS provides integrated clinical services to address the medical needs of the individual students, as well as to foster the well-being of the students as a whole person. In addition, SHS oversees the public health needs of the campus community. SHS is accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care and is fully committed to self examination, peer review, and quality control through the utilization of data, outcome, and patient experience measurements.

Under the direction of the Lab Manager and supervision of a Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS), the Laboratory Technician performs waived and moderate complexity testing, supports quality control procedures, conducts routine equipment checks, and coordinates preventive maintenance. Additional responsibilities also include managing reference lab results, assisting with phlebotomist training, performing patient check-in and instructions, handling EMR messages, maintaining the lab schedule template, and may perform venipuncture.

The technician also supports administrative and lab management tasks as needed, including overseeing lab operations and coordinating sample routing to the reference lab in the absence of a CLS, assisting with updates to pre-analytical SOPs, creating and updating lab orders in the EMR/LIS, and compiling lab-related statistical data for analysis.

• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure, calmly and efficiently, and to cope with and prioritize variable workloads under variable work demands, producing laboratory results in a timely fashion.

• Demonstrated ability and knowledge to accurately perform a wide variety of repetitive technical and specialized laboratory procedures in Hematology, Urinalysis, Microbiology, and Immunology in a clinic setting.

• Demonstrated accuracy and efficiency in positive patient identification when performing laboratory tests and transcribing laboratory results.

• Demonstrated ability to select and prepare specimens for proper examination.

• Demonstrated ability and knowledge to obtain blood samples from difficult patient draws using appropriate blood drawing equipment, and using various parts of the arms and hands.

• Knowledge of and compliance with patient confidentiality regulations in accordance with HIPAA. Ability to use discretion, maintain utmost confidentiality and comply with all requirements in use of computer systems and access to any and all patient, student, employee and University data, in electronic and hard copy formats, in compliance with University, state and federal guidelines, including, but not limited to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

• Knowledge of proper disinfection and safety procedures in a laboratory setting

• Knowledge of medical terminology and laboratory equipment.

• Ability to maintain a sanitary, safe lab and comply with state and OSHA regulations

• Skill and creativity in developing more efficient and satisfactory procedures.

• Ability to communicate clearly and accurately, both verbally and in writing.

• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with all levels of professional staff and patients with tact and diplomacy.

• Skill in maintaining and ordering of laboratory supplies.

• Demonstrated ability to use the electronic medical record, laboratory information system, and reference laboratory computer systems for test order entry and results retrieval.

• Knowledge and willingness to carry out departmental policies and procedures.

• Demonstrated ability to operate laboratory machinery without assistance such as automated Urinalysis dipstick reader, automated slide stainer, automated Hematology analyzer, laboratory centrifuges, and laboratory computer systems

• Instruct and demonstrate technical procedures to lab staff, physicians, nurse practitioners.

• Demonstrated knowledge and practice of professional behavior. At all times, demonstrate the characteristics of professionalism in attire, attitude, conversation, behavior and attentiveness to others. All staff members are required to uphold the UCSD Principles of Community and to promote a positive and collaborative team environment. Ability to adhere to and practice the mandatory University Core Values & Safety Standards of performance. Ability to at all times adhere to UCSD Health Medical Center (C.A.R.I.N.G.) Standards of Performance as applicable to position.

• Must be computer literate. Demonstrated experience and competency with standard business equipment, computer technologies and a variety of software including system and networking software, Microsoft Office suite, email and a variety of web-based programs and browsers, with the willingness and ability to update and increase skills as needed to meet the goals of the unit, the department and SHW.

• Current phlebotomy certification by State of California preferred.

• At least 2-3 years of experience in processing clinical lab specimens.

• Current CPR certification preferred.

• Working knowledge of EPIC, Lab technology systems and other Student Health patient data systems.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.
• Must be willing to work with bio-hazardous materials.
• Occasional evenings and weekends may be required.