Pathology Navigator

Beth Israel Lahey Health•Burlington, VT

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pathology Navigator performs operational support functions and manages workflow, including processing internal Pathologists consult requests to outside pathology departments, opening incoming patient Cytology and Surgical consult material, and preparing slides for clinical medical conferences such as Tumor Board and Breast Tumor Board. This role also involves determining appropriate CPT/ICD10 codes and charges for Pathology specimens, processing add-on testing for Immuno-Histochemistry Staining and Molecular Pathology, and coordinating with external vendors and reference laboratories. The navigator directly communicates and liaises with physicians/physician extenders regarding ordering and coordinating send-out reference testing, manages incoming result reporting, and ensures results are posted to the patient's Electronic Health Record. Additional responsibilities include managing addendums and scans to final pathology reports, identifying and reporting problems to supervisory staff, answering incoming phone calls, managing FAX transmissions, maintaining compliance with hospital and laboratory policies, managing supplies, following safety procedures, participating in quality improvement activities, and handling incoming mail. This critical role represents the Department of Pathology both intradepartmental and external to clients and patients.

Requirements

Minimum education required: High School Diploma
Excellent communications skills
Medical Terminology
Excellent typing and computer skills

Nice To Haves

Associate Degree, preferred
Medical secretarial training or laboratory experience, preferred

Responsibilities

Processes internal Pathologists consult requests to outside pathology departments. Obtains specimen (slides/blocks) chosen by the Pathologists. Coordinates with Pathologists to obtain correct testing kit and reference lab, when applicable. Completes requisition and provides appropriate billing information. Packages and mails to requested laboratory. Amends the patient electronic records to reflect slide/block status.
Open all incoming patient Cytology and Surgical consult material. Place electronic orders to assign internal accession numbers to external cases. Completes the electronic record of the pathologist determination and scanning of result forms.
Prepare slides for presentation for clinical medical conferences, to include but not limited to, Tumor Board and Breast Tumor Board. Requires: Receipt of expected case presentation list from external providers. Locating requested case slides and organize in folders Distribute to Pathologists. Refile returned slides.
Determines appropriate CPT/ICD10 codes and charges for Pathology specimens and testing requests.
IHCS- Processes add on testing to existing pathology cases for Immuno-Histochemistry Staining at the request of the Pathologists. Obtains ICH completed requisition from the Pathologist. Places orders in the patient electronic record. Packages and mails to requested laboratory. Receives returned stained slides and distributes to the ordering Pathologist.
Molecular Pathology- Processes add on testing to existing pathology cases for Molecular Pathology testing at the request of the Pathologists.Coordinates with external vendors and reference laboratories for ordering. Oncotyping Next Generation Sequencing Additional genetic testing as applicable Places orders in the patient electronic record, when applicable. Packages and mails to requested laboratory.
Directly communicates and liaises with physician’s/physician extenders on matters of ordering and coordinating send out reference testing. Requires: Knowledge of slides and blocks handling and send out test requirements. Paper and electronic requisition requirements. Coordinates with Pathologists to obtain correct testing kit and reference lab. Electronically order reference testing, when applicable. Knowledge of packaging and shipping requirements. Maintains shipping company relationships. Manage incoming result reporting from reference laboratories. Document Pathology review of the results and communicate to ordering clinician. Assure results are posted to the patients Electronic Health Record (EHS). Scan reports into the patient record as applicable.
Manage all addendums and scans to incorporate to the final pathology report.
Identifies problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of results to supervisory staff and assist in follow through to resolution and report.
Answer all incoming phone calls with proper etiquette and respond to the needs of the caller which may include: Respond to external clients requesting specimen material and patient medical information. Respond to (non-laboratory) internal physicians and physician extenders for results and/or changes to specimen processing status. Respond to (non-laboratory) internal requests for corrections to the pathology medical record. Respond to patients requests for preparation of specimen materials. Manage and screen incoming calls for the Pathologists.
Manage all incoming and outgoing FAX transmissions.
To understand and maintain compliance with the job description, performance expectations and all related hospital and laboratory policies and procedures.
Maintain adequate supplies.
Follow established safety procedures.
Participate in and contribute to the departmental quality improvement activities
Open all incoming mail, review and distribute to appropriate parties.
Perform other duties as required.