Phlebotomist, Laboratory Services- Palmerton (M-F 6 AM - 12 PM)

St. Luke's is proud of the skills, experience and compassion of its employees. The employees of St. Luke's are our most valuable asset! Individually and together, our employees are dedicated to satisfying the mission of our organization which is an unwavering commitment to excellence as we care for the sick and injured; educate physicians, nurses and other health care providers; and improve access to care in the communities we serve, regardless of a patient's ability to pay for health care.

Palmerton Outpatient Lab, Monday- Friday 6a-12p and every 3rd Saturday rotation

The Phlebotomist provides patient-centered laboratory support services across Patient Service Center (PSC) settings. This role is responsible for collecting quality blood specimens through venipuncture, capillary collection, and heel sticks for patients across all age groups and patient populations, including newborns, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients. The Phlebotomist ensures accurate patient identification, specimen labeling, order verification, and adherence to established laboratory collection, safety, infection prevention, and regulatory standards.

In addition to core phlebotomy responsibilities, this position supports related PSC workflows as assigned, including Epic patient registration, kiosk registration assistance, collection of approved non-blood specimens, outpatient EKG performance, and specimen processing, preparation, and packaging for transport to the core laboratory. The Phlebotomist is expected to demonstrate strong technical skills, sound judgment, service excellence, and the ability to maintain required competencies while supporting safe, efficient, and high-quality care.

This job description summarizes the primary duties and responsibilities of the position and is not an exhaustive list. Duties may be added or modified based on departmental, operational, regulatory, or organizational needs.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provides patient-centered registration, laboratory, and diagnostic services in PSC settings while maintaining professionalism, service excellence, patient safety, confidentiality, and compliance with Network and departmental standards.

• Interprets verbal, written, and electronic laboratory orders; verifies patient identity; confirms test requirements; and ensures accurate order verification prior to specimen collection.

• Transcribes non-SLUHN laboratory orders from outside laboratories and external providers, into the St. Luke's EHR system in accordance with established workflows.

• Assists patients with kiosk registration workflows, including helping patients navigate check-in prompts, clarifying next steps, and escalating registration issues when additional support is needed.

• Performs Epic registration workflows in support of patient care, including accessing the appropriate Epic application, creating or updating the Hospital Account Record, entering detailed demographic and clinical service information, and completing required encounter documentation.

• Contacts ordering providers, financial representatives, or insurance companies as needed and where applicable to obtain required referrals, pre-certifications, insurance benefit verification, medical license numbers, NPI, UPIN, or other required registration information.

• Maintains knowledge of applicable insurance regulations, trends, and Network policies; verifies insurance or self-pay eligibility through online systems or phone verification when required and where applicable.

• Collects and records applicable self-pay liabilities, co-pays, and deductibles prior to or at the time of registration where applicable, including posting credit card payments in Epic or Trust Commerce, collecting cash, closing the daily cash drawer, and preparing deposits for transport as assigned.

• Completes required patient notification or signature processes as applicable, including Important Message from Medicare and Medicare Outpatient Observation Notice workflows.

• Performs blood specimen collection from patients across all age groups and patient populations, including newborns, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, using appropriate equipment and technique for venipuncture, capillary collection, and heel sticks.

• Accurately labels specimens, verifies specimen integrity, and follows established laboratory collection, handling, safety, infection prevention, and SLUHN policies and manuals.

• Collects approved non-blood specimens, including throat and nasal swab specimens, using proper patient identification, collection technique, labeling, infection prevention practices, and required personal protective equipment.

• Maintains required competency for respirator fit testing, including the use of N95 or respirator-level protection when indicated.

• Performs outpatient EKGs as assigned, including patient preparation, lead placement, image acquisition, quality review, troubleshooting, and completion of the Epic workflow required to route studies to cardiology for interpretation.

• Processes specimens as required, including centrifuging, verifying specimen requirements, preparing specimens for transport, and ensuring proper specimen transfer and storage.

• Prepares and packs specimens for transport to the core laboratory, ensuring specimens are properly labeled, stored, tracked, packaged, and transferred in accordance with laboratory, courier, regulatory, and current workflow requirements.

• Completes accurate and timely EHR documentation. Maintains compliance with required documentation to support patient care, account activity, and downstream claim processing.

• Operates and maintains PSC equipment, including centrifuges, EKG equipment, kiosks, and related technology, while identifying and reporting equipment or workflow issues promptly.

• Maintains site cleanliness and supports site supply inventory management to ensure the location is prepared for safe, efficient, and reliable patient care.

• Communicates timely and effectively with patients, outpatient lab central scheduling, operational lab leadership, registration teams, courier services, cardiology, and laboratory processing areas to resolve workflow issues and support continuity of care.

• Travels between PSC locations when needed to support unscheduled absences, staffing gaps, service needs, EKG coverage, specimen collection, or emergency operational needs.

• Maintains required competencies, training, and documentation for venipuncture, capillary collection, heel sticks, care of all patient populations, non-blood specimen collection, PPE use, respirator fit testing workflows, outpatient EKG performance, Epic registration and order workflows, insurance and payment workflows, specimen processing, and specimen packaging.

• Reviews, understands, and complies with all Network and departmental policies, procedures, safety standards, infection prevention practices, regulatory requirements, service expectations, and current workflow requirements on an ongoing basis.

PHYSICAL AND SENSORY REQUIREMENTS: 

This position requires the ability to perform physical and sensory activities commonly associated with Patient Service Center operations. Physical demands include continuous balancing, crouching, fine manipulation, gross manipulation, twisting, and walking; consistent standing; frequent reaching and sitting; occasional kneeling; and rare climbing, crawling, and use of foot or leg controls.

Keyboarding and data entry are performed continuously in support of registration, EHR documentation, order entry, and related workflows.

Lifting and carrying requirements include continuous lifting or carrying of 1 to 10 pounds, frequent lifting or carrying of 11 to 49 pounds, and rare lifting or carrying of 50 pounds or more.

Pushing and pulling requirements include continuous pushing or pulling of 10 pounds or less, occasional pushing or pulling of 11 to 49 pounds, and rare pushing or pulling of 50 pounds or more.

Sensory and communication demands include continuous hearing, vision, and verbal communication to accurately understand instructions, communicate with patients and team members, and support safe patient care. Vision requirements include near, far, peripheral, and color vision.

Environmental and operational considerations include consistent operation of a car for travel to assigned location, with rare operation of other equipment as applicable. The role involves frequent exposure to biological materials and rare exposure to chemical, radiological, heat, cold, or other environmental factors that may require the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.

EDUCATION: High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor’s degree preferred.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Required:

Phlebotomy program completion certificate or documented competency through a recognized training program, including a minimum of 100 successful venipunctures, is required Basic computer skills, with the ability to accurately use Epic or other electronic health record systems, registration tools, kiosk workflows, and related laboratory applications. Strong customer service skills Reliable transportation to arrive at work locations as scheduled.

Preferred:

One year of phlebotomy experience. Experience with outpatient laboratory workflows, patient service center operations, specimen collection, specimen handling, processing, registration, and patient identification practices preferred. Experience using Epic or another electronic health record, registration, or laboratory information system preferred.

Please complete your application using your full legal name and current home address.  Be sure to include employment history for the past seven (7) years, including your present employer.  Additionally, you are encouraged to upload a current resume, including all work history, education, and/or certifications and licenses, if applicable.  It is highly recommended that you create a profile at the conclusion of submitting your first application.  Thank you for your interest in St. Luke's!!

St. Luke's University Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer.