Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for OPSEU BA Mobile Lab Patient Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The OPSEU BA Mobile Lab Patient Technician provides front-line mobile laboratory and patient-facing services in community, outreach and institutional settings. This role is responsible for safe and accurate specimen collection (venipuncture, capillary, nasal/throat swabs), point-of-care testing, secure specimen handling and transport, patient consent and education, routine maintenance of the mobile lab vehicle and equipment, and accurate clinical documentation within the Laboratory Information System (LIS). The Mobile Lab Patient Technician acts as the primary ambassador for mobile health services, ensuring compliance with provincial public health directives, infection prevention and control (IPAC) standards, and organizational quality assurance programs.

This position requires strong clinical skills, exceptional patient communication, reliable transportation and route planning skills, and the ability to document and escalate clinical incidents appropriately. Ideal candidates are certified in phlebotomy or as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, demonstrate experience with mobile specimen logistics and cold chain management, and are comfortable working independently in varied community environments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Medical Laboratory Assistant / Phlebotomist transitioning from hospital outpatient clinics
Patient Service Representative with specimen collection experience
Community health worker or healthcare aide with phlebotomy certification

Advancement To:

Senior Mobile Lab Technician / Lead Mobile Services Technician
Mobile Laboratory Supervisor or Site Coordinator
Laboratory Quality Assurance / Training Specialist
Clinical Services Coordinator or Community Outreach Program Lead

Lateral Moves:

Patient Services Coordinator
Community Health Outreach Worker
Central Specimen Processing Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform safe and competent venipuncture, capillary (fingerstick) collections and other specimen collections (saliva, urine, nasal/throat swabs) according to provincial protocols, organizational procedures and patient-specific considerations to ensure sample integrity and patient comfort.
Verify patient identity, obtain informed consent, explain procedures in plain language, and triage patients for urgent care or additional interventions when clinical indicators require escalation.
Receive, inspect, label and document specimens at point of collection and enter accurate patient and specimen data into the Laboratory Information System (LIS) or electronic requisition system to maintain chain of custody and traceability.
Adhere to strict infection prevention and control (IPAC) standards including proper use of PPE, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning of mobile lab surfaces and instruments, and safe handling of sharps and biohazardous materials.
Prepare, package and maintain the cold chain for temperature-sensitive specimens (refrigerated and frozen requirements), including validated transport containers, temperature logs, and temperature monitoring devices to ensure compliance with specimen stability requirements.
Operate and perform point-of-care testing (POCT) platforms and rapid diagnostic devices, following manufacturer instructions, daily quality controls, and documentation of results within required timeframes.
Manage specimen transport logistics by coordinating pick-up and drop-off schedules, completing transit documentation, liaising with central laboratory couriers, and ensuring timely delivery to testing facilities.
Accurately complete paper and electronic requisitions, labels, and courier manifests, ensuring billing, OHIP (or provincial billing) numbers and required clinical information accompany each specimen as per policy.
Maintain mobile unit readiness by performing daily vehicle inspections, stocking consumables (vacutainers, swabs, PPE), monitoring inventory levels, and notifying logistics for resupply to prevent service interruption.
Perform routine maintenance and basic troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and mobile unit systems (centrifuges, POCT devices, refrigerators, generators), coordinating repairs with biomedical services when needed.
Provide compassionate, culturally safe, patient-centered care for diverse populations, including seniors, pediatric patients and clients with disabilities — adapting collection techniques and communication style to meet individual needs.
Identify, document and escalate critical or abnormal test results according to clinical escalation protocols, notifying the appropriate clinician or public health authority in a timely manner.
Participate in quality assurance activities including proficiency testing, internal audits, incident reporting, corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives to uphold service accuracy and compliance.
Maintain strict patient privacy and confidentiality in accordance with PHIPA/federal and provincial privacy legislation, ensuring secure handling of personal health information and secure storage/transfer of electronic records.
Drive and navigate scheduled outreach routes safely and efficiently, plan daily logistics to optimize client throughput and travel time, and maintain accurate mileage and travel records where required.
Provide on-site patient education about specimen collection, follow-up procedures, test result timelines and post-procedure care, escalating patient concerns to clinical staff when required.
Support vaccination clinics and public health screening activities when required, including set-up, specimen collection for surveillance programs (e.g., COVID-19, influenza) and accurate documentation of immunization/screening events.
Respond to and manage adverse events (fainting, bleeding, allergic reactions) during specimen collection by applying first aid, BLS as needed, documenting incidents and notifying supervising clinical staff.
Train and mentor new mobile lab technicians and students by demonstrating collection techniques, data entry standards and safety protocols to ensure consistent service delivery.
Participate in outreach planning with community partners (long-term care homes, shelters, community health centres), coordinating clinic set-up, flow, and client privacy requirements to support community testing and screening programs.
Perform routine housekeeping and waste management in the mobile unit, including safe segregation, labeling and disposal of biohazardous waste, sharps containers and compliance with provincial waste regulations.
Maintain up-to-date professional competency through mandatory training, certifications (phlebotomy, BLS), and participation in departmental meetings and educational sessions.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
Assist with patient appointment scheduling, follow-up reminders, and documentation of cancellations or no-shows to support operational efficiency.
Participate in community engagement events to promote mobile lab services and improve access to laboratory testing for underserved populations.
Complete administrative duties such as timesheets, mileage claims, supply request forms and incident reports in a timely and accurate manner.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Certified phlebotomy and venipuncture skills with documented competency in adult and pediatric collections and capillary sampling.
Proficiency with point-of-care testing devices (rapid antigen, glucose meters, POCT analyzers) and understanding of POCT quality control procedures.
Experience using Laboratory Information Systems (LIS), electronic requisition platforms and basic electronic medical record (EMR) systems for specimen tracking and result entry.
Strong knowledge of specimen handling, labeling, storage and cold chain management including temperature monitoring and documentation.
Demonstrated competence in infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices, PPE use, sharps safety and biohazard waste management.
Ability to perform basic equipment maintenance, calibration checks and to escalate technical faults to biomedical engineering when required.
Familiarity with provincial laboratory regulations, public health directives (e.g., outbreak reporting), and documentation requirements for diagnostic testing.
Valid driver's license with a clean driving record and experience operating a mobile clinic or outreach vehicle; ability to navigate and plan community routes efficiently.
Knowledge of patient privacy legislation (PHIPA) and experience handling personal health information securely and professionally.
Basic life support (BLS/CPR) and first aid certification, with ability to manage common collection-related adverse events.
Strong documentation skills: accurate completion of requisitions, manifests, chain-of-custody forms and incident reports.
Competence with Microsoft Office (Excel/Word/Outlook) and basic data entry/data reconciliation tasks.

Soft Skills

Exceptional interpersonal and patient-centered communication skills; able to explain procedures clearly, reassure anxious patients, and communicate with empathy and cultural sensitivity.
Strong attention to detail and accuracy to minimize pre-analytical errors and ensure specimen integrity.
Ability to work independently in community settings and manage competing priorities, time and mobile route schedules.
Team player mentality: collaborate effectively with nurses, laboratory technologists, community partners and administrative staff.
Problem solving and critical thinking skills to rapidly assess and respond to unexpected clinical or logistical challenges.
Adaptability and resilience to work in variable weather and community environments, including outreach to remote or high-need locations.
Professional integrity and commitment to confidentiality, regulatory compliance and ethical practice.
Organized with strong inventory management and supply forecasting skills to maintain uninterrupted service.
Cultural competence and awareness of accessibility needs for diverse patient populations.
Customer-service orientation with a commitment to high-quality patient experience and community trust.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Secondary school diploma or equivalent plus completion of an accredited Phlebotomy program or Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA) certificate.

Preferred Education:

College diploma or post-secondary certificate in Medical Laboratory Technology, Nursing, or Health Sciences.
Additional certifications in Point-of-Care Testing, Infection Prevention & Control, or community health practice are an asset.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Medical Laboratory Assistant / Phlebotomy
Medical Laboratory Technology
Practical Nursing or Registered Practical Nursing
Health Sciences / Community Health
Emergency First Aid / BLS

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–3 years of direct specimen collection experience in clinical or community settings; experience with mobile or outreach health services preferred.

Preferred: Minimum 2 years of phlebotomy or mobile lab experience, demonstrated competency with LIS/EMR systems, experience in public health screening programs (e.g., COVID-19 testing) and experience working with diverse community populations.