DELPHOS, Ohio (WLIO) - Phlebotomy is the process of drawing blood from a vein, commonly done in lab testing to diagnose or watch different medical conditions.
That's the day-to-day job for Lisa Wisner, who is the Lead Phlebotomist at Mercy Health - Delphos Urgent Care. She says that her job involves drawing blood from patients, then preparing those samples for testing.
Wisner was inspired to pursue this line of work after getting her own blood drawn.
Lisa Wisner says that her job involves drawing blood from patients, then preparing those samples for testing.
"I donated at BioLife, and as I watched them, I thought that was very interesting," said Wisner. "Before that, I really didn't know what I want to do, and I started doing it, and I've been doing it for 20-some years now."
Being a small town phlebotomist, Wisner says that she often sees the same patients, and that that part of the job - helping people in their own backyard - is rewarding.
Being a small town phlebotomist, Wisner says that she often sees the same patients.
"It's a hometown, so you get used to your people, especially if there's people have to be tested often, like if you have a liver transplant or something like that; we get used to those people," Wisner said. "They come in here, and they've just been through a big surgery, so we make sure that we're ordering the right test, and that they get to know us personally, which is nice, and we kind of watch their journey while they're healing, and everything like that."
She adds to become a phlebotomist, you'll need to enroll in a phlebotomy program and get some working hours under your belt.
"Apollo has one, and Mercy will help you," said Wisner. "I learned on the job too, so I was going to school while I was working here at Mercy, which was nice. They teach you everything that you need to know."
More information on Apollo Career Center's phlebotomy program can be found on their website. Rhodes State College also offers a phlebotomy program, which you can learn more here.
