“We certainly cannot overemphasize the importance of the service our phlebotomists provide for our patients. The accuracy of the patient’s lab results depends on the quality of the specimen drawn by the phlebotomist. Our phlebotomists completed between three and 12 months of concentrated training and education to teach them how to locate the best veins, what type of tube to use for each test how much blood is needed for each test, and how to care for the site after the blood draw or venipuncture. They are required to obtain certification in phlebotomy to work at SLH.

The lab has an invaluable resource in Wilma Lynch, the department administrative assistant who has worked for St. Luke’s for more than 35 years.  In addition to handling all phone calls and providing excellent customer service to our outpatients, she makes sure all orders contain the correct information required by Medicare and needed to process, bill and be paid for the tests.  She processes all specimens from outpatients, including those from home health agencies, hospice, and area nursing homes and also processes those specimens being sent out for pathology or to reference labs.  Lynch also is responsible for making sure the reports are sent to and received by the ordering physician or facility.

St. Luke’s Hospital laboratory employees include: Jennifer Arnold, Ernie Bautista, Paula Beam, Carolyn Best, Dr. Rory Dalton, Amanda Dyer, Jody Flynn, Chardae Foster, Bruce Herbert, Angela Ireland, Amy Johnson, Genova Kimbrell, Norman Lewis, Wilma Lynch, Nancy Marburg, Robbi Pace, Hope Pittman, Dorothy Stanley, Ashley Terry, Jamie Thelen and Christy Thompson.

It takes all of these medical laboratory professionals with more than 250 years of combined experience to keep the St. Luke’s Hospital Laboratory operating 24/7, providing exceptional care, close to home.

– article submitted by Jennifer Wilson