Morgue Attendant - Pathology

The Ohio State University

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, this role functions as a Morgue Attendant providing periodic coverage of the Morgue during business hours, after business hours, and holidays. The position involves managing the routine receipt and release of decedents, routine phone coverage, and processing various notifications and requests related to each decedent. Responsibilities include assisting with the transfer of decedents, completing documentation for receipt/release protocols, and performing data entry into databases such as Microsoft Excel and SharePoint. The attendant will guide transporters, operate after-hours access points, and communicate with clinical staff, external entities, residents, faculty, and autopsy staff via email and fax regarding decedent updates and other pertinent information. This role also serves as a liaison with physicians, staff, researchers, families, funeral homes, and representatives from other healthcare facilities.

Additional duties include the safe disposal of biohazardous and chemical waste, requesting environmental health and safety supplies, discarding and organizing surgical and autopsy specimens, and delivering specimens to appropriate laboratories. Barcode scanning for asset tracking and preparing/closing conferences are also part of the role.

The position requires reviewing and obtaining documentation for autopsy authorization from legal next-of-kin, discussing autopsy authorization processes with families and external representatives, and obtaining medical records. The attendant will operate clinical and pathology-specific laboratory information systems to prepare autopsy cases, accession cases, and produce case labels. Preparing case folders, including data entry into laboratory information systems, is also a key function.

Routine and unanticipated cleaning, attending meetings, and completing additional duties as assigned are also expected.

Requirements

• High School diploma or GED.
• 1 year of relevant experience required.
• Ability to move a minimum of 100 pounds.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 pounds.
• Computer skills including knowledge of basic internet operation and Microsoft Office required.

Nice To Haves

• Certification or vocational training may be preferred.
• 2-4 years of relevant experience preferred.
• Experience with the principles, operations and maintenance of laboratory procedures and equipment desired.
• Ability to conduct professional and empathetic phone conversations strongly desired.
• Basic familiarity with medical terminology desired.

Responsibilities

• Manage routine receipt and release of decedents.
• Provide routine phone coverage for the Morgue.
• Process funeral home notifications/designations, autopsy requests, organ procurement notifications, and coroner’s office referrals.
• Assist with the transfer of decedents from cart/bed to cart/bed.
• Complete documentation required for receipt/release protocols.
• Perform data entry into databases including Microsoft Excel and SharePoint systems.
• Guide transporters in proper receipt/release protocols.
• Operate badge-only access points during after-hours coverage.
• Communicate with clinical staff, non-OSU entities, residents, faculty, autopsy staff and more via email and fax regarding decedent updates, required documentation, hand-off notices, and other pertinent information.
• Serve as a liaison with internal and external physicians, staff, researchers, families, funeral homes and representatives from other healthcare facilities.
• Dispose of biohazardous and chemical waste safely and appropriately.
• Request pickup and delivery of environmental health and safety supplies.
• Discard surgical and autopsy specimens.
• Organize and catalog surgical specimens following transport from appropriate laboratories.
• Deliver specimens and cassettes to appropriate laboratories.
• Perform barcode scanning to track assets throughout workflows.
• Prepare and close conferences (cleans surfaces/tools/supplies, processes/replaces tissues).
• Review and obtain documentation associated with authorization from legal next-of-kin for autopsy.
• Discuss autopsy authorization processes and requirements with families and non-OSU facility representatives.
• Obtain medical records and documentation from internal and external sources.
• Operate clinical and pathology-specific laboratory information systems to prepare autopsy cases.
• Accession cases to chart autopsy data/documents and produce case labels.
• Prepare case folders including requesting/receiving, sorting, & entering autopsy data into laboratory information systems.
• Perform routine and unanticipated cleaning.
• Attend intra and interdivisional meetings.
• Complete additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Eligible for premium pay for shifts of at least four consecutive hours worked after 3:00 PM on weekdays, weekends, or holidays.
• Participation in an on-call rotation and occasional holiday coverage is required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED