Specimen Processor, BioCenter at Dallas – Evenings (1PM to 9:30PM M-F, with rotating weekends and holidays, and on-call)

Why UT Southwestern?

With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the #1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth for the sixth consecutive year, we invite you to continue your healthcare career with us at UT Southwestern. You’ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and consistent opportunities for learning and advancement into leadership roles.

All full-time employees will have a robust benefits package including employer paid medical insurance. Children and family medical insurance plans are available at a cost to the employee.

To learn more about the benefits UT Southwestern offers visit https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/employees/hr-resources/.

Job Summary

As a valued part of the UTSW team, you will be responsible for processing laboratory samples for testing or research. This includes checking specimen information for accuracy, entering specimen information into the Laboratory Information system (LIS), as necessary, and ensuring the right department receives the correct specimen and information.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate keen knowledge and skills in laboratory and specimen processing functions; strong laboratory acumen preferred.

Work Location: BioCenter at Dallas, Texas

Shift Requirement: 1:00 PM to 9:30 PM, Monday through Friday; with rotating weekends and holidays, with on-call.

Minimum Experience and Education Requirements

• Requires high school diploma or equivalent (GED).
• Requires one (1) year work experience in a clinical/hospital laboratory setting, or active certification as an MLT (Medical Laboratory Technician).

Please Note: Attach the following prior to submitting your application:

An updated resume with all relevant work experience, education, training, certifications, and/or licenses.

A copy of training diplomas or certificates.

A copy of certifications or licenses.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 

• Work requires internal contact with patients, nurses, physicians, and allied health practitioner from other departments regarding specimen collection.
• Work requires exercise of considerable judgment in application, evaluation, and implementation of new or revised procedures, techniques, and practices to work problems.
• Able to lift up to 10 pounds.
• Requires constant walking.

Job Duties

• Job Knowledge:
  • Labels and processes patient specimens accurately and distributes to appropriate areas of laboratory.
  • Processes laboratory samples according to procedure.
  • Centrifuges and prepares aliquots when needed.
  • Maintains specimen requirements at all times according to protocol.
  • Dispatches specimens to the main laboratory or other designated testing facility as per established procedure with fewer than 2 mislabeled specimens.
• Quality Orientation:
  • Prints appropriate labels for specimen labeling. Ensures all tests on requisitions are accounted for in the ordering system.
  • If necessary, contacts physician’s office to obtain order clarification/verification prior to collecting specimens.
  • Tracks every specimen to ensure specimen integrity, accounting particularly for those samples which must be transported to other locations with fewer than 3 occasions of errors involving maintaining specimen batches (opening, reconciling, and closing).
  • Prioritizes and organizes activities to achieve optimal and efficient patient care during daily operations.
  • Maintains positive patient identification for all specimens collected, using defined protocols.
  • Maintains patient confidentiality throughout all activities and communications.
• Ensures specimens are processed according to specimen requirements and that all specimen requirements are met. Ensures specimen requirements are maintained during transportation and storage as per protocol with fewer than two instances of processing, aliquoting and archiving errors. Centrifuges and prepares aliquots when needed. Dispatches specimens to the main laboratory or other designated testing facility as per established procedure with fewer than two mislabeled specimens. Document all correct and accurate information in regard to the specimens collected to ensure best is being met daily and may receive specimen using Epic Beaker. May have to enter orders or look up orders in EPIC Beaker. May be required to contact the Core Laboratory for retrieval of specimens (e.g., for add-on test). Proficient in maintaining and utilizing the automation track in loading and unloading samples and troubleshooting errors.
• Monitors pneumatic tube system (if applicable) and ensures when tubes arrive, that specimens and/or reports are removed. Participates in process improvement activities. Logs specimen in archives for efficient retrieval. Maintains awareness of turn around expectations and organizes work duties to ensure expectations are met.
• Ensures all tests are accounted for in the ordering system. If necessary, contacts physician’s office or nurse to obtain order clarification/verification prior to collecting specimens. Tracks every specimen to ensure specimen integrity, accounting particularly for those samples which must be transported to other locations with fewer than three occasions of errors involving maintaining specimen batches (opening, reconciling, and closing).
• Supplies:
  • Keeps area stocked with essential supplies.
  • Keeps work area decontaminated with proper cleaning solutions and disposes of waste and trash in appropriate containers.
  • Keeps work area well organized and free from clutter.
  • Handles add-on requests according to established procedures.
• Adheres to Patient Safety Goals as defined by UTSW, TJC, CAP, and other regulatory/accreditation agencies.
• Utilizes the Risk Management and Process Improvement tools (Event Reports) in an accurate and timely way to identify issues concerning Quality Improvement and assists coworkers in this process as needed. Follows chain of command when reporting unsafe practices observed.
• Actively participates in the review of the monthly schedule and work assignments in conjunction with the Supervisor/Coordinator. Know daily tasks and be accountable for the daily workflow, including the status of the phlebotomy tracker, workflow assignments, and priority test requests. Also, acts as a liaison/problem solver for phlebotomy issues.
• Attendance Reports for work on the assigned days at the assigned times. Follows procedures regarding requesting and using leave in manner that consistently supports effective job performance.
• Provides training to other Specimen Processors as needed. Monitors pending lists, including but not limited to the unreceived specimen list.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The following is the acronym, “PACT”, and is fundamental to all non-clinical positions at UT Southwestern Medical Center: 

• P-Problem Solving: Employees take ownership in solving problems effectively, efficiently, and to the satisfaction of customers, or managers. They show initiative in addressing areas of concern before they become problems.
• A-Ability, Attitude and Accountability: Employees exhibit ability to perform their job and conduct themselves in a professional and positive manner reflecting a professional environment readily assuming obligations in a dependable and reliable manner.
• C-Communication, Contribution, and Collaboration: Who are our customers? Anyone who requests our help, needs our work product, or receives our services. Employees focus on customer service with creative solutions while improving the customer experience through clear, courteous, and timely delivery and communication. Sharing ideas with others helps expand our contribution to department goals.
• T-Teamwork: Employees work to contribute to the department’s success by supporting co-workers, promoting excellence in work product and customer service, and in maintaining a satisfying, caring environment for each other. 

Working Conditions 

• Work is performed primarily in laboratory area with exposure to one or more disagreeable elements, such as bodily fluids, infectious agents, odors, chemicals, contagious diseases, etc. 

This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code §51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.