Phlebotomist

About Company:

As one of the largest primary care practices in Southwest Georgia, Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) provides health care services to more than 54,000 patients and nearly 217,000 office visits per year. AAPHC is also one of the largest Community Health Centers in our region!

At AAPHC, we strive to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and continuous care to all who access our services. Did you know that all qualifying medical offices operated by AAPHC are recognized as a Level III Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA)? NCQA offers three levels of PCMH recognition with Level III being the highest level. As a Level III PCMH, AAPHC is committed to continuously raising the quality of care within our practices, while also lowering our patients health care costs.

Our health care teams are comprised of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives. Assisting these providers are clinical staff members, laboratory personnel, and business office professionals.

Our goal is to always provide access, and even expand access, to your provider so you always can reach AAPHC when you need us most! When you visit an AAPHC office, you can trust that you'll be well cared for by our team. Always.

About the Role:

The Phlebotomist plays a critical role in the healthcare system by accurately and safely collecting blood specimens from patients for diagnostic testing, transfusions, research, or blood donations. This position requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure proper identification, labeling, and handling of specimens to maintain sample integrity and patient safety. The Phlebotomist must establish rapport with patients of diverse backgrounds to ease anxiety and ensure cooperation during blood collection procedures. Additionally, the role involves maintaining compliance with health and safety regulations, infection control protocols, and documentation standards. Ultimately, the Phlebotomist contributes to timely and accurate laboratory results that support effective patient diagnosis and treatment planning.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Completion of an accredited phlebotomy training program.
• Certification as a Phlebotomy Technician (e.g., CPT, PBT) from a recognized certifying body.
• Demonstrated proficiency in venipuncture and blood collection techniques.
• Knowledge of specimen processing and handling procedures.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a clinical laboratory or healthcare setting.
• Additional certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR.
• Familiarity with electronic health record (EHR) systems and laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to effectively interact with patients and healthcare team members.
• Ability to handle high-volume specimen collection in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities:

• Perform venipuncture and capillary blood collection procedures following established protocols and safety guidelines.
• Verify patient identity and explain procedures to ensure patient comfort and cooperation.
• Label and process blood specimens accurately to prevent contamination or misidentification.
• Maintain and calibrate phlebotomy equipment and supplies to ensure readiness and compliance with health standards.
• Document all procedures and patient interactions thoroughly in electronic health records or laboratory information systems.
• Adhere to infection control and safety policies to protect patients and staff from exposure to bloodborne pathogens.
• Assist with plasma processing techniques and other specimen handling tasks as required.
• Monitor and record vital signs when necessary to assess patient condition prior to specimen collection.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills:

The required skills such as drawing blood, venipuncture, and specimen collection are fundamental to performing accurate and safe blood draws daily, ensuring high-quality samples for laboratory analysis. Proficiency in blood drawing and plasma processing techniques enables the Phlebotomist to handle various specimen types and prepare them appropriately for testing. Knowledge of vital signs is essential to assess patient readiness and identify any contraindications before specimen collection. Preferred skills like familiarity with electronic health records enhance efficiency in documenting procedures and managing patient information securely. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are utilized continuously to build patient trust, reduce anxiety, and collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals.