VOLUNTEER MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

OUR MISSION:

The Wausau Free Clinic (WFC), sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church, is committed to offering no-charge, quality primary care services to low income, uninsured individuals of Central Wisconsin, utilizing highly qualified volunteers.

POSITION TITLE:

Medical Lab Technician Volunteer (Med Tech)

REPORTS TO:

Clinic Coordinator

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Volunteer Med Tech performs laboratory duties under the WFC Medical Director with oversight from the Clinic Coordinator to support patient care and clinic operations. The WFC is a CLIA Waived Laboratory performing manual testing.

The Clinic Coordinator, along with the Volunteer Medical Lab Technician Team Lead, will mentor individuals who have nursing, paramedic, or EMT experience interested in building upon their skills.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Med Tech is responsible for preparing and processing specimens (blood, urine, feces, a variety of bodily swabs and tissues), using a centrifuge, running diagnostic tests on urine samples using a Clinitek analyzer, maintaining quality control, performing kit testing, managing inventory with the Clinic Coordinator, and ensuring safety protocols. The Med Tech Volunteer must be proficient in venipuncture and capillary techniques to collect blood samples.

• Patient Interaction: Obtaining blood samples using venipuncture or capillary techniques; collecting bodily swabs, urine, and feces.
• Specimen Handling: Receiving, labeling, aliquoting, and storing blood, urine, feces, swabs, and tissue. Ensuring samples are properly collected and stored at the correct temperature for Marshfield Clinic courier pickup.
• Documentation: Accurately completing Marshfield Clinic order sheets, WFC manual testing record sheets, and properly recording quality control results. Following protocol for maintaining all records.
• Safety and Compliance: Adhering to lab safety rules and regulatory standards set forth by CLIA waived lab requirements and following OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens universal precautions and clinic engineering controls (e.g., sharps disposal).
• Time Commitment: Minimum of 2 shifts per month on Tuesdays (2:30–7:30 PM) or Thursdays (12:30–5:30 PM), including time needed to process samples after the last patient leaves.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 1 year experience in a medical setting, drawing blood and/or assisting in lab procedures.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Consideration given to RN, LPN, CNA, Paramedic, or EMT backgrounds.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Willingness to comply with current public health standards and internal policies/procedures.
• Work conditions: Volunteer hours are performed in a clinic setting with potential exposure to safety and health hazards. Potential exists for contact with blood, blood components, urine, feces, or tissues due to splashes, spills, and/or needlesticks.
• Ability to use or learn a variety of lab or medical equipment.
• Attention to detail, accurate documentation, and good decision-making skills.