CommunityHealth celebrates our lab technicians during Phlebotomists Recognition Week from February 13-17.
To learn more about phlebotomy, we talked to Jazmin Ascencio, our beloved Clinic Support Coordinator who has been with CommunityHealth for two years…
Phlebotomy is the puncture of a vein in order to draw blood or introduce fluid. “Crucial to the diagnosis and therapeutic solution of patients,” phlebotomy allows providers to assess information on patients’ kidney function, heart health, chronic disease maintenance, viral infections, and more. With results typically delivered within 3 to 5 days, doctors can examine proteins, vitamins, hormones, glucose, and other indications to understand what a patient experiences and how to increase their quality of life.
CommunityHealth allows providers to order same day lab testing so our patients can see their doctor and get their blood drawn in the same visit. Our compassionate, certified phlebotomists assure quick and easy collection of samples. With technicians who speak Spanish, English, and Polish, our patients are guided through each step of the blood draw process. Our lab also offers stool samples, vaccinations, urinalysis, flu tests, pre-cancer screenings, and more.
“Phlebotomy is used to understand the patients’ representation and improve their clinical outcome.” – Jazmin Ascencio (Clinic Support Coordinator at CommunityHealth)
Patients can expect to have labs ordered for a variety of conditions related but not limited to: Diabetes, pregnancy, autoimmune inflammation, heart disease, liver failure, and hepatitis. A phlebotomist will introduce themselves and confirm the patient’s identity with their birthday. An extraction site will be decided, most often on the inside of the elbow but sometimes in the hand or foot if the veins are too thin. After sanitization of the extraction site, a butterfly or straight needle will puncture an accessible vein and collect the samples in a vacuum tube. From sanitization to bandaging, the entire process should take about 60 seconds.
Jazmin says her goal is for her patients to tell her that they “did not feel a thing.” Considering that people will “remember the person who did a good job on” them, she focuses on “building comfortability and trust with patients.” Our technicians like Jazmin prioritize patient satisfaction by offering juice to patients with low blood sugar after draws, heating pads for people with thin veins, or ice packs for those who are dizzy. Our lab team may “work fast” but, more importantly, it “makes them feel good to make patients feel good.”
CommunityHealth is proud to work with devoted phlebotomists like Jazmin who ensure these critical samples are collected properly while assuring patient comfort and safety. Thank you to our team in the lab for your patience, positivity, and precision!
Jazmin Ascencio studied phlebotomy at Malcom X College and served in the lab at Mount Sinai Hospital for a year before joining the CommunityHealth team in 2021.