Senior Clinical Pathology Specialist

Position Summary

Coordination and performance of all aspects of histologic preparation for clinical and research tissues. Carries out and leads the Diagnostic Cytology Service function, including second opinion Pulmonary Pathology service, and coordinates the Digital Imaging Service for clinical cases and research applications.

Essential Duties

• Responsible for appropriate handling, fixation, processing, cutting and staining of tissue specimens for diagnostic and research applications. Cuts sections of frozen, paraffin embedded and methacrylate embedded tissues. Maintains all quality assurance records and temperature logs daily for the Facility.
• Responsible for coordination, performance and planning of histopathologic, cytologic and immunocytochemistry workflow, including delegation of projects to appropriately trained co-workers and training less experienced staff members.
• Performs administrative functions, which include the addition of all patient samples to several tracking sheets, billing patient insurance, creating pathology templates for pathology reports associated with in-house surgical specimens, cytology specimens, and outside pulmonary pathology consultations. Extensive knowledge and skillful use of the electronic medical record and Affinity system.
• Responsible for digital scanning of pulmonary tissues, as well as other tissues using the Aperio Scan Scope to create permanent images of outside consult slides, research investigators' projects, and morphometry applications. Prompt documentation of patient materials and saving images to specific investigator’s files required.
• Obtains biopsy tissues from the Minimally Invasive Diagnostic Center and collects pathology slides and cytospin preparations from the ADx Clinical Laboratory area throughout the day. Prepares patient cell smears and touch-preps, with onsite appropriate cytology staining for intra-operative diagnosis during special endobronchial ultrasound and Super-D procedures, and assists the pathologist on duty.
• Stores, prepares, and appropriately uses toxic chemicals, as well as carcinogenic chemicals and stains. Ensures personal and facility safety by strict adherence to facility standard procedures and policies.
• Works as part of a team to accomplish multiple clinical and research functions within strict time limits that are imposed by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) regulations, patient care priorities and facility expectations for research turnaround times. Updates procedure manual for CAP inspections and general requirements.
• Responsible for maintenance, routine care, and troubleshooting lab equipment, including microscopes, embedding centers, tissue processing machines for light level, microtomes for sectioning tissues, photographic equipment, and processors.
• Appropriate filing / storage of all clinical samples, including finished histology slides, patient and research paraffin blocks. Promptly returns all pathology consult material to the originating institution after the consultation is performed.
• Optimizes revenue generation by billing patients on a daily basis and researchers on a monthly basis, using the chargeback system.
• Performs ordering and inventory control functions, while keeping within current budgetary constraints.
• Performs frequent (hourly / daily) special staining procedures for pathologists.
• Provides technical assistance and expertise to biomedical faculty, which may include instruction on preparative methodology and contributing to the writing of grant proposals.

Other Duties

Competencies

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

None

Travel

None

Core Values

Minimum Qualifications

Salary Range : $77,572.56 - $102,583.71

Benefits

At National Jewish Health, we recognize that our outstanding faculty and staff are the essence of our organization. For every aspect of health care, our employees are our greatest asset. With that in mind, we have designed a valuable, comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees and their families.

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