PATHOLOGISTS' ASSISTANT

Los Angeles County (CA)•Los Angeles, CA

58d

About The Position

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. Through its unified system of 23 health centers and four hospitals - and expanded network of community partner clinics - DHS annually provides direct care for over 500,000 outstanding patients, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual budget of over $8.4 billion. For additional information regarding DHS please visit www.dhs.lacounty.gov. Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition, to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings, to supportive housing. To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care. Under the direction of a licensed and qualified pathologist, prepares and performs gross examination and dissection of anatomic pathology specimens and human postmortem examinations. Prepares surgical specimen for pathology gross examination through a comprehensive macroscopic examination and evaluation of all surgical pathological specimens, including measuring, weighing, inking margins, dissecting, and sectioning tissues. Obtains relevant clinical information, identifies necessary techniques or procedures, describes gross anatomic features of specimens, dissects surgical specimens, and prepares tissue for histological examination. Obtains related clinical history (i.e., scans, x-rays, and laboratory data) to direct the processing of specimens. Obtains biological specimens for studies, such as flow cytometry, image analysis, immunohistochemistry, etc. Assists the Pathologist with rendering the provisional gross anatomic diagnosis, through observations made in dissection. Performs frozen sectioning and staining for intraoperative consultation. Performs biomedical photography of specimens. Performs postmortem examinations including external examinations, in situ organ inspections, evisceration, dissection and recording of applicable data. Moves bodies from crypt to autopsy table and manipulates other large surgical specimens. Updates and maintains laboratory databases and orders supplies for the grossing and frozen section rooms. Fulfills administrative duties in the grossing room, including coordination of specimen type to grossing station, accessioning specimens, managing holding times for stored specimens after processing, and managing inventory. Assists in troubleshooting workflow issues and recommends changes using process improvement techniques. Acts as a preceptor and assists Pathologist in training pathology residents and other pathology lab personnel. Assists in the organization and coordination of anatomic pathology conferences. Communicates with surgeons, pathologists, residents, and ancillary medical staff for continuity of care concerning orientation, gross findings, and margins. Assists in maintaining surgical pathology policies, protocols, procedures, and quality reports. Participates in departmental inspections and surveys to ensure regulatory compliance. Assists in obtaining proper legal authorizations for autopsies and notifies appropriate authorities to coordinate requests for tissue sampling. Assist with receiving and processing cytology specimens (i.e., gynecological and non gynecological) as needed. Perform accessioning of specimens as needed.

Requirements

Current certification as a Pathologists' Assistant from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
Applicant must include a legible copy of their current certification as a Pathologists' Assistant from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) with your application at the time of filing or email it to the analyst at [email protected] within 7 calendar days from filing online.

Nice To Haves

Internship or shadowing or work experience as a certified Pathology Assistant in an approved Pathology Department.

Responsibilities

Prepares and performs gross examination and dissection of anatomic pathology specimens and human postmortem examinations.
Prepares surgical specimen for pathology gross examination through a comprehensive macroscopic examination and evaluation of all surgical pathological specimens, including measuring, weighing, inking margins, dissecting, and sectioning tissues.
Obtains relevant clinical information, identifies necessary techniques or procedures, describes gross anatomic features of specimens, dissects surgical specimens, and prepares tissue for histological examination.
Obtains related clinical history (i.e., scans, x-rays, and laboratory data) to direct the processing of specimens.
Obtains biological specimens for studies, such as flow cytometry, image analysis, immunohistochemistry, etc.
Assists the Pathologist with rendering the provisional gross anatomic diagnosis, through observations made in dissection.
Performs frozen sectioning and staining for intraoperative consultation.
Performs biomedical photography of specimens.
Performs postmortem examinations including external examinations, in situ organ inspections, evisceration, dissection and recording of applicable data.
Moves bodies from crypt to autopsy table and manipulates other large surgical specimens.
Updates and maintains laboratory databases and orders supplies for the grossing and frozen section rooms.
Fulfills administrative duties in the grossing room, including coordination of specimen type to grossing station, accessioning specimens, managing holding times for stored specimens after processing, and managing inventory.
Assists in troubleshooting workflow issues and recommends changes using process improvement techniques.
Acts as a preceptor and assists Pathologist in training pathology residents and other pathology lab personnel.
Assists in the organization and coordination of anatomic pathology conferences.
Communicates with surgeons, pathologists, residents, and ancillary medical staff for continuity of care concerning orientation, gross findings, and margins.
Assists in maintaining surgical pathology policies, protocols, procedures, and quality reports.
Participates in departmental inspections and surveys to ensure regulatory compliance.
Assists in obtaining proper legal authorizations for autopsies and notifies appropriate authorities to coordinate requests for tissue sampling.
Assist with receiving and processing cytology specimens (i.e., gynecological and non gynecological) as needed.
Perform accessioning of specimens as needed.