Clinical Lab Control Clerk

SUMMARY

• Under general supervision of Pathology Supervisor and in accordance with established polices and procedures, performs a variety of duties to provide for centralized receipt, recording and distribution of specimens within laboratories.
• Assists with recording, verifying and communicating tests results.
• Maintains detailed related records.
• Logs specimens received onto department microcomputers.
• Answers central telephone line for clinical laboratories.
• Responds to general and specific information requests, concerns and problems.
• Resolves problems within scope of authority or refers as appropriate after obtaining sufficient background information.
• Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another.
• In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done:
  • Instill Trust and Value Differences
  • Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receives specimens for processing within various clinical laboratories.
  • Numbers and checks labels accordingly.
  • Completes master log, worksheets and similar documents as required.
  • Logs onto Department microcomputer.
  • Organizes, maintains and distributes all computer generated data.
  • Generates appropriate billing data.
• In conjunction with technologists, checks specimens to identify any that require special handling or processing due to requirements of testing procedures, patient diagnosis, condition or volume of specimens, and the like.
  • Records and communicates same.
  • Ensures delivery to appropriate laboratory.
• Contacts patient care unit, departments, and physician offices as necessary:
  • To clarify testing requests.
  • To notify of samples needing to be redrawn.
  • To prioritize tests to be run if volume of specimen is insufficient for tests requested.
• Answers central telephone line for laboratories.
  • Responds to general and specific information requests, such as patient specimen and culture reports and availability of test procedure.
  • Responds to and assists in tracking and resolution of lab-related problems and concerns.
  • Resolves questions within scope of authority or refers to appropriate resource after assimilating sufficient background information.
• Receives test results from laboratory sections.
  • Phones patient care units or physician offices with status or critical test results.
  • Transfers results to laboratory record sheets.
  • Enters data into microcomputer.
• Assists supervisors with editing and verification of results.
  • Identifies questionable entries by checking against input document, range of norms for procedure, patient's previous and concurrent test results, and the like.
  • Alerts supervisor or technologist if further investigation is required.
  • Assures that all testing requests are logged.
• Performs a variety of clerical duties, including:
  • Preparing and maintaining detailed records of laboratory procedure requests and results.
  • Coding outpatient billing forms.
  • Verifying requesting physician's name and address to send outpatient results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

BASIC KNOWLEDGE

• The level of knowledge gained from the completion of High School with some course work in the fields of biology and chemistry.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care patients with consideration of aging processes, human development stages and cultural patterns in each step of the care process.
• General knowledge of a variety of laboratory tests and procedures for obtaining and handling laboratory specimens for processing within various sections of laboratory in order to:
  • Respond to requests for information.
  • Receive, prepare and distribute specimens to appropriate laboratories.
  • Identify specimens requiring handling.
  • Be knowledgeable in the use of universal precautions.
• Organizational and clerical skills to maintain a variety of logs and records.
• Microcomputer skills.
• Analytical ability to:
  • Assist supervisor in checking, editing and verifying tests results.
  • Track and assist in resolution of problems and concerns when answering the central telephone line.
• Interpersonal and communication skills to exchange factual information with physicians, nurses, external laboratories, etc. regarding:
  • Laboratory services.
  • Test results.
  • Test procedures.

EXPERIENCE

• One year experience performing similar duties successfully in another institution or one year on-the-job training under supervision at Rhode Island Hospital.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Some exposure to odors, chemicals and infectious materials when handling laboratory specimens.
• Hazards are minimized by following established precautionary procedures.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

• None.