Pathology Tissue Technician

Job Summary:

Under the direct supervision of a Pathologist, and in accordance with established policies and procedures, performs preparation and gross examination of surgical pathology specimens, preparation and staining of fine needle aspiration, bone marrow smears, and frozen sections. Direct supervision by a Pathologist requires that the Pathologist must be on site, in office or within the Medical Center where tissue grossing and dissection is being performed.

Essential Responsibilities:

This description is for recruitment posting purposes only. It has not received full HR review and approval.

• Autopsy Duties:

  Prepare body, set up for autopsy and clean after autopsy; dictate gross description and cassette summary; dictate clinical summary; dissection and displaying of organs for pathologist, taking sections of tissue and submitting for processing.
• Dissect large and complex specimens.
• Gross examination and description including performance of grossing/dissection; examines tissue as to type, size/ measurement, color, status of tissue such as open, un-open, in a fresh state or in other fixatives, dissects and/or take sections for microscopic exam as defined by grossing protocol, and if necessary, order stains per protocol.

Such action must be documented as by dictation as elements of the gross examination.

• Submits specimens into cassette.
• Prepare tissue for intra-operative consult including sectioning of tissue for frozen sections as instructed by the Pathologist. Prioritizes rush specimens.
• Prepare frozen sections slides of tissue including staining, cover-slipping, and submission to the Pathologist.
• Prepare Touch Prep slides including staining, cover-slipping, and submission to the Pathologist.
• Assist Pathologist and Clinician in performance of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, FNA and other study (if necessary).
• Also stain, cover-slip and submit to Pathologist any bone marrow aspirate smears or FNA smears.
• Accessions pathology and cytology specimens, ensures patient identification and verifies orders against requisitions and specimen containers and resolves discrepancies, lining up specimen, accessioning, engraving cassettes, put sections in cassette given by Pathologist, verify tissue in cassettes before closing; logging of all cassettes and submitting in fixatives for histology.
• Tracking Specimens and preparing specimens for transportation.
• Maintenance in Morgue and Cutting Room; cleaning, change solutions, dispose tissue, chemical waste handling, etc.
• Manages overdue reports.
• Files tissue slides and cards.
• Troubleshoots CoPath computer and dictation equipment.
• Releases slides and reports per policies and procedures.
• Communicates with patients, clinicians and hospital staff.
• Prepares data and reports, e.g., quality assurance activities.
• Takes notes and minutes for the department.
• Transports tissues to the Pathology department from external departments
• Maintains department supply inventories
• Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

• One (1) year of experience as a Pathology Technician or equivalent. If unable to fill, will train if candidate meets educational requirements. Education
• AA Degree or higher (e.g., BS in Science) in Laboratory Science or Medical Laboratory Technology
• The above includes 60 semester hours or equivalent of 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses OR 24 semester hours of science courses that includes 6 semester hours of chemistry, 6 semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination.

(Individuals who attended foreign schools must have an evaluation of their credentials determining equivalency of their education to education obtained in the United States).

• The equivalency evaluations may be performed by a nationally recognized organization.

License, Certification, Registration N/A Additional Requirements:

N/A Preferred Qualifications:

• Medical/ pathology terminology and basic computer knowledge, preferred.
• Certification as a Histotechnician or Histotechnologist, preferred.

Notes:

Schedule to include all shifts, rotating weekends, holidays, and floating within the established seniority section.