Phlebotomist, Inpatient – Clements University Hospital – Evenings

Inpatient Phlebotomist, Evening Shift (1:30 PM to 10:00 PM, Monday through Friday 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. UT Southwestern is honored to be a veteran-friendly work environment that is home to approximately 800 veterans. We value your integrity, dedication, and the commitment you’ve made to our country. We’re proud to support your next mission.

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 will 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

UT Southwestern Medical Center is in search of a Phlebotomist for their Laboratory department. As a valued part of the UTSW team, you will be responsible for drawing blood samples from a patient safely and accurately for testing and research, will submit samples of blood, urine, or tissue with proper label for analysis to the laboratory in an accurate and timely manner.

Work Location: Clements University Hospital (CUH), Dallas Campus

Shift Requirement: 1:30 PM to 10:00 PM, Monday through Friday; with rotating weekends and holidays, with on-call.

Minimum Experience and Education Requirements

• Requires High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Requires entry level phlebotomist work experience or has completed a Phlebotomy training program through an accredited college or university.
• Requires an active Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Certification, course MUST be for healthcare providers and accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC).

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

1. An updated resume with all relevant work experience, education, vocational training, certifications, and/or licenses.
2. A copy of training diplomas or certificates.
3. A copy of certifications and/or licenses.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Work requires internal contact with patients, nurses, physicians, and allied health practitioners 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.
• Wears RFID tag to check out collection device throughout the entire shift.

Job Duties

• Job Knowledge:
  • Obtains blood specimens by venipuncture and/or capillary puncture (limited use) with minimum trauma to patient by using the Phlebotomy collection device.
  • Instructs patients on proper collection of urine samples.
  • Research specimen requirements prior to specimen collection for esoteric or new tests.
  • Maintains a fast and accurate specimen collection turnaround time.
  • Use Epic Beaker to enter lab orders.
  • Verify tests ordered on the requisition with respect to details for accurate test codes while processing specimens through the LIS system, maintain positive patient identification and specimen requirements/handling via Phlebotomy collection device.
• Quality Orientation:
  • Helps monitor pending lists, including but not limited to the unreceived specimen log.
  • Supports CLS Quality Assurance program, actively participating in performance improvement activities by Identifying process improvement opportunities and implementing as appropriate.
  • Ensures specimen requirements are maintained during transportation and storage as per protocol.
  • Ensures that specimens sent via tube system are sent successfully before leaving the area.
  • Maintains specimen integrity at all times.
  • Maintains positive patient identification for all specimens collected, using defined protocols.
  • Maintain patient confidentiality throughout all activities and communications.
  • Enter data of patient demographics and lab order instructions as needed.
  • Labels patient specimens and paperwork accurately according to established procedures, maintaining positive patient and specimen identification at all times.
  • Performs Final Check at all times.
• Customer Service:
  • Provides exceptional customer service to patients of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds.
  • Greets patients kindly, puts patients at ease, addresses any patient concerns, properly communicates and demonstrates compassion and respect to all patients.
  • Answers calls/communication in a pleasant and professional manner.
  • Follows up and accepts responsibility for the resolution of the caller’s concerns and or gives an informed hand off to the next person of authority.
• 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 two mislabeled specimens.
• Document all correct and accurate information in regard to the specimens collected to ensure best is being met daily, deliver collected specimens to the laboratory (window specimen receiving), 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).
• Adheres to Patient Safety Goals as defined by UTSW, TJC, CAP, and other regulatory/accreditation agencies.
• Performs inventory of supplies as assigned.
• Provides training to other Phlebotomists as needed.
• May provide team leadership for other Phlebotomists in the absence of the Lead Phlebotomist.
• Ensures all tests are accounted for in the ordering system. If necessary, contact 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).
• Orders and monitors supply and ensure all are within expiration date.
• Ensures that expired supplies are discarded, and none are in the general supply, storage or on phlebotomy carts.
• Phlebotomy carts need to be fully stocked with required supplies, delivered to the specific staging area, document daily use on current phlebotomy log.
• Keeps work area well organized and free from clutter, stocked with essential supplies and decontaminated with proper cleaning solutions and disposal of wastes and trash in appropriate containers.
• 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.
• Acts as a liaison/problem solver for phlebotomy issues.
• Perform blood collections, blood cultures, and other special collections (Lactic acid, Ammonia, QFTs, to name a few), according to procedures defined by the LIS Collection Management with minimum errors.
• 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.
• 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 the 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 areas with exposure to one or more disagreeable elements, such as bodily fluids, infectious agents, odors, chemicals, contagious diseases, etc.

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents in lieu of stated minimum require prior approval of Vice President for Human Resources Administration or his/her designee.

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.