Pathology Assistants

Jobs for Humanity•Cambridge, MA

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Lab Director and Associate Pathologist will assist in the preparation of human surgical specimens and perform other assigned duties in order to ensure optimal patient care and the safety and efficiency of the Pathology Department.

Requirements

Minimum of a Baccalaureate degree. Degree in biomedical or health sciences preferred.
Completion of NAACLS accredited Pathologist's Assistant program required; Masters degree in Health Science preferred.
Current Pathologist's Assistant certification through the American Society for Clinical Pathology is required and must be maintained in good status throughout employment.
New certified graduates acceptable but 3 or more years experience in a clinical pathology setting preferred.
Must have dictation experience; experience with Voice recognition preferred.
Must have some experience with pathology computer systems.
Knowledge of human anatomy and medical terminology
Knowledge of Universal precautions, chemical safety guidelines, and basic laboratory safety
Knowledge of gross pathology
Must be fluent in the English language
Effective interpersonal and communication skills

Responsibilities

Specimen Processing and Gross Description of Surgical Specimens: Accurately and efficiently provides gross descriptions of all surgical specimens
Competent and adept in the use of Dragon Voice recognition
Independently troubleshoots issues with Dragon Voice
Creates new templates for dictation for Dragon Voice
Accurately and efficiently dissects tissue and puts the tissue into a properly labelled cassette for processing
Accurately and efficiently prints cassettes as needed
Accurately and efficiently completes worksheets for each specimen
Ensures specimen comments, which include IHC, special stains, and levels are transcribed correctly onto the specimen worksheets
Accurately and efficiently performs frozen sections with staining and delivery of frozen section slides within the acceptable time limits
Prepares touch preps and stains the slides as needed
Provides high quality photographs of gross specimens and microscopic slides
Provides high quality digital pictures with diagrams as needed for complicated cases and delivers specimens to radiology for new images
Efficiently delivers tissue, hardware or other foreign bodies to doctors' offices or directly to patients as needed
Willingly assists in the printing of proofs of dictation and other patient's information as needed
Loads the specimens on the processor as needed
Gross Room Quality Control and Equipment Maintenance: Correctly performs all required daily and monthly instrument processes according to department specific scales and protocols
Effectively troubleshoots and resolves quality control failures and instrument failures
Independently contacts technical service representatives when required to resolve problems
Ensures that the fume hood is functioning properly at all times
Maintains an adequate supply of inventory at all times
Ensures that the grossing room is kept clean and organized
Ensures that there is appropriate monitoring of all temperature-dependent equipment
Ensures there is proper management and labeling of the chemicals and the chemical hazardous waste
Team Skills: Participates daily in the team effort to efficiently complete all required department work within the appropriate time interval
Constructively analyzes work processes and contributes to the team effort to improve workflow as needed
Identifies opportunities for improvement and willingly adjusts as change is needed
Actively participates in committee's/task force team meetings as assigned
Attends and participates in all department meetings, reads minutes and completes assigned follow-up tasks within the required deadline
Demonstrates flexibility in resolving scaling issues
Trains new employees by accurately conveying information on policies and processes of the department
Verifies their work until they are able to work independently
Supports department initiatives with technical knowledge, active participation in work groups and education for other departments
Acknowledges supervisory roles of the managerial and medical staff of the laboratory
Works with both managers and pathologists in ensuring good patient care, efficient workflow and the safety of themselves and others
Administrative Responsibilities: Readily assists in the organization and coordination of anatomic pathology conferences; participates as required
Readily assists in the preparation of documents and tissue for send-out cases as needed
Assists the pathologists in the preparation for accreditation inspections
Writes technical processes as needed in accordance with established technical guidelines
Readily performs other tasks as assigned or directed by the manager
Safety: Keeps work area disinfected by washing surfaces with appropriate disinfectant at frequent intervals
Understands and applies principles in the Laboratory Bloodborne Pathogen Control Plan
Adheres to universal precautions at all times
Understands and applies principles in the Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan
Uses appropriate safety attire and devices according to guidelines
Demonstrates adequate knowledge of disaster responses and all other laboratory and CHA safety policies
Demonstrates adequate competency in response to fire drills, chemical spill drills, and infectious spill drills
Has no failed drills
Successfully completes annual review training in Safety and Risk Management within designated time period
Demonstrates techniques to minimize exposure to formalin fume exposure and passes formalin badge testing annually