Blood Culture Collect Special at Beacon Health System – South Bend, Indiana

Blood Culture Collect Special

Reports to the Emergency Department Manager and Director. Ensures that blood culture collections are appropriately completed and documented. Obtains and verifies pertinent information for the patient's record and billing purposes. Performs general clerical duties as assigned.

MISSION, VALUES and SERVICE GOALS

• MISSION:?We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.
• VALUES:?Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.
• SERVICE GOALS:?Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Blood Culture Collection Specialist responsibilities include:

• Collect blood samples using appropriate collection procedures.
• Dispose of blood or other biohazard fluids in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
• Dispose of contaminated sharps in accordance with applicable laws, standards, or policies.
• Draw blood cultures from veins using PIVO, straight stick, steri-path or other facility approved device.
• Explain blood culture collection process to patients.
• Verify test requisitions in collaboration with nursing staff to address any discrepancies.
• Confirm patient identity to ensure accurate specimen collection.
• Perform blood culture collection with precision meaning no harm to patient and no contamination.
• Maintain specimen integrity through strict aseptic technique and departmental procedures.
• Work closely with nursing personnel to draw blood culture samples at correct times.
• Upholding quality results by adhering to department protocols and draw schedules, as well as documentation per policy.
• Resolving unusual test orders by effectively communicating with ED physicians and nurses when necessary.
• Support the efforts of the unit in eliminating blood culture contaminations by upholding professional standards and contribute ideas to support department goals.

Provides general clerical duties by:

• Greeting all patients and visitors in a professional manner and providing all reasonable assistance.
• Receiving and making telephone calls with professionalism and manners.
• Obtaining information from the patient and care team to accurately complete the patient’s electronic medical record.
• Completes other job-related duties as assigned.

Professionalism & Workplace Readiness

• Requires ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, nursing staff, other team members, and the public.
• Attendance, punctuality, communication, teamwork.
• Maintaining patient privacy & confidentiality (HIPAA awareness).
• Professional appearance, behavior, and customer service.
• Ability to take direction, accept feedback, and follow chain of command.

Safety, Infection Control & OSHA Compliance

• Correct use of PPE.
• Types of Isolation and their precautions.
• Hand hygiene.
• Sharps safety / proper disposal.
• Understanding and preventing needlestick exposure.
• Biohazard labeling, spill response, and safe handling of specimens.

Patient Interaction & Identification

• Proper patient verification using two identifiers.
• Therapeutic communication and managing patient anxiety.
• Recognizing complications and when to stop a procedure.

Specimen Collection Skills

• Venipuncture using evacuated tube system.
• Venipuncture using a syringe.
• Blood cultures.
• Order of draw (updated CLSI).
• Tube selection based on test requirements.
• Labeling, mixing, and handling specimens accurately.

Equipment Knowledge & Use

• Tourniquets, needles, holders, lancets, transfer devices.
• Proper selection of needle gauge based on vein assessment.
• Basic troubleshooting during specimen collection.

Anatomy & Physiology Related to Phlebotomy

• Function of the heart and blood flow through the body.
• Vein anatomy: median cubital, cephalic, basilic.
• Artery vs. vein differences.
• Site selection and contraindications and complications.

Workflow, Documentation & Quality Assurance

• Completing requisitions accurately.
• Specimen transport and storage requirements.
• Recognizing pre-analytical errors.
• Following facility protocols and chain of custody when required.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Associate complies with the following organizational requirements:

• Attends and participates in department meetings and is accountable for all information shared.
• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies, and department specific education within established timeframes.
• Completes annual employee health requirements within established timeframes.
• Maintains license/certification, registration in good standing throughout fiscal year.
• Direct patient care providers are required to maintain current BCLS (CPR), and other certifications as required by position/department.
• Consistently utilizes appropriate universal precautions, protective equipment, and ergonomic techniques to protect patient and self.
• Adheres to regulatory agency requirements, survey process and compliance.
• Complies with established organization and department policies.
• Available to work overtime in addition to working additional or other shifts and schedules when required.

Commitment to Beacon's six-point Operating System, referred to as The Beacon Way:

• Leverage innovation everywhere.
• Cultivate human talent.
• Embrace performance improvement.
• Build greatness through accountability.
• Use information to improve and advance.
• Communicate clearly and continuously.

Education and Experience

• This position could be filled by an RN, LPN, CNA, or PCT. High School Education or GED preferred. Willing to consider students in healthcare career pathways, including Biomedical, Pre-Nursing, Medical Assisting or similar programs. Requires typing and computer skills. Demonstrates the communication and telephone skills necessary to greet patient and answer the telephone in a pleasant, clear, concise, and helpful manner.

Working Conditions

• Possible exposure to communicable diseases, hazardous substances, chemicals and other conditions common to an emergency room.

Physical Demands

• Requires physical ability and stamina, i.e., to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time, position patients with assistance if needed, assist in providing CPR. Requires visual acuity, normal color perception and full range of body movements, including manual and finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination.