Work duties of a phlebotomist technician can be categorized into 4 categories
Equipment
Procedure
Patient Care
Patient Information
Equipment
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... [Show More] phlebotomists must ensure that all equipment and areas used are sterile
- equipment includes needles, bandages, gauzes, tubes, other
collection devices, as well as labels for tubes
- tracking supplies to ensure that proper amounts are always present - disposal of needles and other used supplies
Procedure
- correct puncture or incision of patient's skin
- collecting the correct amount of blood or other fluids - correct labeling of collection tubes/devices
- completing and submitting documents needed to lab
Patient Care
- reassuring patients, as some may have fear of needles
- being able to answer questions that patients may have
- verifying patient information to ensure accuracy of tests or procedure - monitoring patient during procedure to prevent movement or fainting
Patient Information
- patients' rights must be respected
- keeping patients' medical records confidential
- accurate documentation of collection, ordered tests, and test results - providing accurate documentation to the laboratory to ensure
performance of tests ordered by physician
Quality Improvement Methods
Include the use of data-based methods in order to reach improvement
Include flow charts and pareto charts
Flowchart
- used to break out components into diagrams in order to understand a process
Pareto Chart
- bar charts are made that show the frequency of problems
What does quality improvement for specimen collection involve?
Technique of Phlebotomist
Frequency of hematoma
Recollection Rates
What is included in quality control records
Expiration Date
Stability Information
Storage Information
Proper Use
Precision of testing supplies/reagents
Accuracy of testing supplies/reagents
Where can phlebotomists work?
Hospital
Clinic
Doctor's office
Laboratories
Blood Banks
Research Firms
Pharmaceutical Firms
Hospital
institution which provides medical and surgical treatment
Clinic
institution or hospital department focusing on diagnosis and care of outpatients
Doctor's Office
suite/office where doctors receive and treat patients
Laboratory
building or room where tests are performed to evaluate specimens in order to diagnose medical conditions
Blood Bank
institution where blood is collected from donors, and then stored and prepared for transfusion
Research Firm
institution equipped for scientific/medical research that may specialize in basic research or on specific areas
Pharmaceutical Firm
institution that develops and markets drugs for use as medications
How must all needles be discarded?
intact
What does it mean if an infection is classified as nosocomical
A patient developed the infection while they were in the hospital that was not present before entering the hospital
What is included in the chain of infection
source
susceptible host
poor isolation technique [Show Less]