Phlebotomist Duties and Responsibilities
Phlebotomy is the science of collecting samples of blood of the patients by venipuncture in a medical location. The person who is trained to perform this job is called a phlebotomist. The phlebotomist facilitates the compilation, storage and transportation of the blood specimens. However simple the job appears, it requires a good high school background coupled with a minimum four to eight months of on job training experience.
Although the main responsibility of the phlebotomists is to collect blood, their duties do not end here. There are other responsibilities which they have to fulfill in order to perform their work efficiently.
Main Roles and Responsibilities of a Phlebotomist
The regular roles and functions a phlebotomist is listed below in the following key points:
1. As said above, the principal duty of the phlebotomist is to collect blood specimens for tests, research and donation purposes. Since blood may contain various germs and bacteria, the phlebotomist must compulsorily see to it that the instruments used for collection are properly cleaned and sterile.
2. Dealing the patients of different age groups with utmost care is the second most important duty on part of the phlebotomist. Since they are already provided with formal training, they are expected to take the blood with no trouble caused to the patient.
3. The phlebotomist should take proper care to note down the samples collected with precise details including the patient’s name, registration / hospital bed number etc. Any error occurring in the identification might lead to dire consequences with the patient being treated for the disease he doesn’t have and the patient suffering the particular disease with no treatment at all.
4. The phlebotomist acts as a link between the patient and the physician. It is the phlebotomist’s responsibility to keep track of all the vital information about the patient. From collecting the sample to follow up, they have to be in contact administration. Ensuring the reports produced match with the samples collected by matching the identifications and pass it to the physician for review is also a part of their job.
5. All patients feel uncomfortable during the blood collection procedure. Above that they are also worried about the safety and hygiene. To make them feel comfortable, it is necessary for the phlebotomists to present themselves in a clean and presentable manner. Such an appearance of the phlebotomist gives confidence to the patient that the job will be done in a neat and clean manner.
6. Phlebotomists must also follow the infection control rule which includes various measures to be taken by the phlebotomist like washing hands in correct method, using personal protective equipment, proper clearance of used materials and cleaning and sterilization of instruments.
7. A few years of experience makes the phlebotomist perfect in their job. At times they might also be assigned to train new trainees under them. Giving such trainings also puts the responsibility of brining up good quality phlebotomists in the segment of health care.
8. Last but not the least; patient care is the central focus of the phlebotomist before and after the collection session. As many patients might be afraid of syringe, their mind should be diverted by talking about different topics so that the blood is collected smoothly. Also post the collection procedure, patients may tend to faint or feel dizziness. In such conditions, the phlebotomist must monitor the patient continuously.
Conclusion:
The phlebotomist plays a crucial part in the healthcare by doing the collection and releasing the nurses and doctors to perform other duties. An efficient performance of all these responsibilities by the phlebotomist ensures proper care and treatment of the patients.
