Autopsy Assistant

University of Rochester•City of Rochester, NY

1d•$20 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive. The Autopsy Assistant performs body incisions and evisceration of organs during postmortem examinations. They deliver specimens for special studies and prepare and expedite the delivery of cadavers to funeral directors. The role also involves instituting universal precautions, obtaining consent forms, setting up dissection areas, retrieving autopsy consent and charts, notifying the prosecutor, completing administrative work, setting up the autopsy room and tools, removing bodies from the cooler, assisting with gross examination, cleaning the autopsy table and instruments, and maintaining the general cleanliness and stocking of the autopsy suite and morgue room. The assistant serves as a liaison for technology issues, prepares brains, readies COW's, collects and readies administrative and storage needs, and is available for Brain Cutting and Autopsy conferences. They maintain equipment, store and handle chemicals safely, and ensure prosecution instruments are sharp and in good working condition. The role includes collecting and delivering tissue for incineration, picking up placentas, verifying identification tags, maintaining logs of autopsy cases and bodies delivered, assisting with coordinating specimens for the specimen museum, and preparing bodies for family viewing. Daily monitoring of bodies in the cooler, checking identifications, and contacting appropriate personnel in case of discrepancies are also key responsibilities. The assistant maintains and picks up scrubs from laundry for faculty, prosecutors, and technicians, and assists funeral directors with body removals. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Associate's degree in biological science with anatomy background required
1 year autopsy assistant experience required
Equivalent combination of education and experience

Responsibilities

Performs body incisions and evisceration of organs during postmortem examinations.
Delivers specimens for special studies.
Prepares and expedites delivery of cadaver to funeral director.
Institutes universal precautions, especially during infectious cases, as prescribed by Autopsy Procedure Manual.
Obtains consent forms, charts, and necessary paperwork for each patient to be autopsied.
Sets up dissection area with instruments and specimen containers.
Retrieves autopsy consent and charts from the Admitting Office.
Notifies prosecutor of autopsy by page or phone call.
Completes administrative work throughout autopsy, including logging, tracking, and processing paperwork/copies.
Sets up autopsy room and tolls needed for autopsy.
Removes body from the cooler, puts on autopsy table, and assists with providing gross examination, including specimen samples.
Cleans and returns body to cooler.
Cleans autopsy table and instruments.
Responsible for general cleanliness of autopsy suite, including all tables, sinks, and counter tops.
Keeps all items stocked in morgue room, including all PPE, gloves, aprons, and face shields.
Copies and restocks work sheets, etc. as needed.
Keeps full decal supply at trim areas.
Keeps trim areas stocked with basic instruments, including scalpel handles, scissors, forceps, probes, rulers, towels, ink, small empty specimen containers, and scalpel blades.
Cleans up and disinfects morgue after every prosecution, organ review, and conference.
Requests special assistance with floors, etc., as needed.
Cleans cooler after spills.
Restocks spill kit for after-hours and weekends.
Serves as liaison to administrative assistant for technology issues.
Rinses brains, readies COW's, and collects and readies administrative and storage needs and remains available for Brain Cutting and Autopsy conferences.
Maintains equipment, including requesting inspections and service as needed.
Keeps maintenance and temperature logs.
Institutes precautions as prescribed by autopsy procedure manual during infectious cases.
Stores and handles chemicals involved in safe manner as prescribed by autopsy procedure manual.
Maintains supplies and ensures prosecution instruments are sharp and in good working condition.
Arranges for scheduled instrument sharpening bi-annually.
Collects and delivers tissue for incineration in approved manner, as prescribed by autopsy procedure manual.
Picks up placentas from the Obstetrics department for cremation purposes.
Verifies identification tags and tags indicating specimen for cremation.
Maintains logs of autopsy cases, bodies delivered to funeral directors, and organs for disposal and assists with coordinating specimens saved for specimen museum.
Readies bodies for family viewing on an as needed basis.
Monitors disposition of bodies stored in the cooler on a daily basis.
Checks body identifications with log book at the beginning and end of each day.
Contacts appropriate people at the funeral home and/or unit if a discrepancy occurs.
Maintains and picks scrubs up from laundry for use by Neuropathology and Autopsy Pathology faculty, prosecutors, and technicians.
Assists funeral director with body removals.
Other duties as assigned.