Pathology Tech

Summary

Performsa variety of routine quality control and specialized pathologylaboratory tasks under the direction and supervision ofhistotechnicians.

Assists the histotechnicians and pathologists inthe handling and preparation of a variety of human pathologyspecimens in the disciplines of clinical histology and cytology.

Provides processing embedding staining and slide preparation ofselected specimens for the diagnosis treatment and prevention ofdisease.

In addition to pathology laboratory tasks this positionmust assist with registering patients accessioning histology andcytology specimens as well as providing administrative support tothe Pathologylaboratory.

EssentialDuties andResponsibilities

• Supportsand promotes the mission and values of Covenant HealthMinistry.
• Collectsspecimens from Operating Room and Central Processing and maintainstrackinginformation.
• Evaluatesspecimens for proper identification labeling and preservation andinquires with pathologists physician practices hospital departmentsand technical staff as necessary to clarify specimen source andobtain any incomplete or discrepantinformation.
• Accessionsspecimens using the pathology information system and enters patientregistration information accurately andcompletely.
• Checksand maintains accuracy of patient identification through all phasesof test cycle. Outliers are followed up as appropriate withOccurrence Reporting System and / or entered into deficiencyreporting system forQI.
• Accuratelyprepares cassettes for Pathologist to use in the gross diagnosisprocess. Knowledgeable about specific tissue types requiringcertain protocols for setup.

Properly labels slides perprotocol.

• Assiststhe Histology Technicians with selected routine histologicprocedures as needed and is familiar with back up manualmethods.
• Performstissue embedding on selected small tissues ensuring that tissueorientation is correct for the biopsy and tissuetype.
• Unblockshardened paraffin blocks from molds and sets up forcutting.
• Trimsselected quality control tissue blocks to an appropriate depth andplaces representative section on slide to be dried stained andcoverslipped.
• Performsless complex manual special stain techniques selecting and stainingappropriate positive controls simultaneously and checking forcorrect staining patterns under microscope with supervision.

Records results for qualitycontrol.

• Performsscheduled and as needed maintenance and regent changes on allequipment routinely used in specimen preparation and slidestaining.
• Reportstechnical or procedural problems to the supervisor if unable toresolveindependently
• ReceivesnonGYN cytology specimens into Anatomic Pathology department andcorrectly enters patient data into pathology informationsystem.
• Preparesselected nonGYN cytology specimens for staining on the automatedstainer.
• Mountsstained slides with coverslips using both manual and automatedtechniques.
• Maintainsthe surgical pathology specimen cutting and tissue storagearea.
• Performsand documents reagent changes on the tissueprocessor.
• Ensuressafe and prompt disposal of tissues andfixative.
• Discardscompleted specimens at designated times per CAP LaboratoryRetentionGuidelines.
• Cleansand restocks working areas of frozen sectionroom.
• Rotatesand cleans the H & E staining run asneeded.
• Disinfectscryostats asneeded.
• Documentsdaily cryostat temperature and stainrotation.
• Otherduties as consistent with thisrole.

JobRequirements

JobKnowledge andSkills

• A minimumof one year experience in a medical laboratory environment whichincludes experience handling and processing human clinicalspecimens
• Previousexperience in an anatomic pathology laboratory ispreferred

EducationandExperience

• Associatesdegree or equivalentpreferred
• Completionof the American Society for Cytotechnology (ASCT) NonGYN SpecimenProcessing course ispreferred
23 days ago