Inpatient Phlebotomy Services
General Information
Inpatient Phlebotomy is a 24/7 service for all adult and pediatric non-intensive care units. All routine draws orders are made via the Hospital Epic Order Entry. Lab test names, along with synonyms and complete test information, can be found in the Test Directory.
Routine Phlebotomy Orders
All routine orders are ordered in Epic as Lab Collect. Routine collections are scheduled for two hour draw windows during the following draw times: 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, 2200, and 0000. Orders must be placed prior to 30 minutes before these draw times. The 0500 (morning draw) is a 5 hour draw window with a team of phlebotomists. Orders for the 0500 morning draw period must be placed by 0300. Units are prioritized according to patient population needs and volume of draws on specific units.
Collect Now and PRN Phlebotomy Orders
Orders that cannot wait until the next collection list time can be ordered for >15 min collection. If > 15 min is not acceptable, the RN must collect specimen(s). Collect Now and PRN orders are collected 24/7 by inpatient phlebotomy using a dispatch service. The orders must be placed or modified in Epic as unit collect orders. For patient care coordination, PRN orders for specific times can be ordered up to several hours ahead of time. The patient RN places the collect order through dispatch using the following workflow processes. Note that Add-Ons to routine collection lists are no longer available except for patients already scheduled on a list and have not already been collected.
0900-1730
The patients' RN calls 418-1760 phlebotomy dispatch requesting service at "X" time. Dispatch confirms whether the requested timeframe is available. If available, the RN provides the unit, room, patient name, DOB, test(s), RN name, and desired collection time. Dispatch then confirms that orders are in Epic and requests that the RN release all desired Collect Now orders. Do not print the labels. When the Float phlebotomist arrives on the unit, they print the patient label(s) out of Epic and proceed with the collection and transportation.
1730-0900
The workflow process is the same as 0900-1730 except that the RN calls the phlebotomist using the Vocera and either calls "Float Phlebotomy " or "X in phlebotomy" by name. If the Night Float phlebotomist is in a non-private location to take order and patient information, they will call RN back.
Miscellaneous Information
An OHSU ID bracelet with the patient's MRN, correctly spelled name, and date of birth must be affixed to the patient's wrist or ankle prior to draw. Patients improperly identified will have 10 minutes (or less depending on phlebotomists time availability) to be properly banded prior to the collection. Orders involving patients improperly ID banded, refusal of draw, nurse draw required (IV), no site available and patient unavailable x 2 attempts will be "handed off" to the nursing staff for collection. Phlebotomy will cancel draws that are already drawn, canceled by provider, patient discharged, and patient expired. In all cases, a Notification of Labs Unable to Be Collected (NOLUC) form will be completed by phlebotomy with RN signature required. A copy will be left on the unit. Phlebotomy may request patient hold assistance, heparin drips and IV's turned off prior to draw, or verbal identification of patient prior to collection. Access to a workstation on all units for completion of required paperwork prior to transporting specimens is necessary.
