Hire Clinical Technicians
In hiring a clinical technician, it is essential to highlight their importance to the healthcare delivery system of any medical facility.
An accurate job description is the first point of communication between candidates and the hiring medical facility or institution. Create a job posting that is clear, concise, and detailed. Are you looking for candidates who live in a specific area? What is the schedule? Is prior experience required? Outline the responsibilities and requirements clearly. Keep in mind that the job description should be more than just a list of expectations. Highlight what you can offer the candidate.
Additionally, be clear about the schedule, the number of hours, and location. Depending on the need, clinical technicians may work in hospitals, clinics, doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and medical facilities on a part-time or full-time basis.
Once you have a compelling job description, posting your job announcement is the next step. Aside from general job boards, it is best for hiring managers to post job announcements on healthcare-specific job boards, online groups, and in community groups as well.
Responsibilities of a Clinical Technician
Clinical technicians are generally in charge of collecting samples from patients for routine tests and work with various laboratory and medical equipment. Clinical technicians collect blood, urine, and other bodily fluid specimens safely following appropriate protocols and hospital policies. It is their responsibility to properly label and store these specimens and send them out for testing. When needed, clinical technicians conduct these tests themselves under the supervision of medical technologists.
Clinical technicians clean and sterilize all equipment and materials and ensure that they are always in working condition. Also, the clinical technician maintains records of all tests conducted and relays the results to authorized healthcare professionals involved in the patient's care plan. Lastly, clinical technicians maintain patient confidentiality by keeping patient records and other documents secure.
Clinical Technician Skills and Qualifications
The ideal candidate for a clinical technician is calm under pressure and professional at all times. Candidates must have excellent organization skills and keen attention to detail. Moreover, strong communication skills are a must as clinical technicians interact closely with patients and work with other health team members.
The minimum educational qualification is a high school diploma or GED. However, hiring managers typically require a bachelor's degree in a related field as well. Certification as a phlebotomist, medical technician, or similar is required. Prior work experience as a clinical technician in a medical facility is an advantage.
Moreover, other requirements include HIPAA compliance and a strong ability to follow instructions and standard protocols. Proficiency in data entry and computer systems is helpful as clinical technicians maintain records of different samples and tests. As the schedule may vary per medical facility, flexibility to work on evenings, weekends, and even holidays is a plus.
Clinical technicians aid the healthcare delivery team in many ways. By taking on the responsibility of collecting samples and laboratory tests, they are an integral part of the care and management plan.
