Cytologist - Pathology

CHRISTUS Health; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

CHRISTUS Health seeks a Cytotechnologist to prepare and stain slides, evaluate cellular morphology, and assist pathologists with aspirations in a busy cytology lab.

Responsibilities include data entry into LIS, adherence to CLIA/CAP/JCAHO standards, daily maintenance, and ongoing professional development through in-house education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or equivalent required.
• 1-2 years of experience required.
• 2-3 years of experience in high complexity testing in an acute care hospital setting preferred.
• Cytotechnologist (ASCP) or eligible.
• Must obtain Annual Membership (current) with certification agency.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.
• Customer Service
• Enters patient information, orders, and technical information into LIS.
• Within acceptable TAT guidelines, devises and directs staining for slides.
• Operates staining equipment, ThinPrep equipment, coverslippers and other AP equipment.
• Performs manual stains as needed.
• Assists Pathologists with fine needle aspirations.
• Uses microscope to identify and mark unusual findings.
• Evaluates cell samples for normal/abnormal patterns.
• Refers changes meeting supervisor/pathologist review guidelines.
• Quality Control/Improvement: performs QC per CLIA/CAP/Joint Commission.
• Maintenance/Lab Management: maintains equipment, orders supplies, documents policies.
• Continuing Education/Development: attends 10-12 in-house programs yearly; trains new staff.
• Completes tasks or projects as assigned by Supervisors/Managers/Directors.
• Accreditation: follows CAP, AABB, CLIA, JCAHO, OSHA standards; participates in inspections.
• Follows safety, infection control, and hazardous materials protocols.

Skills

Customer Service

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science

Tools

LIS

Job description

Summary

Follows established standard practices: Prepares and stains microscopic slides from specimens of blood, tissue scrapings, and body fluids. Examines cells of the human body to detect evidence of cancer, abnormalities, and other pathological conditions. Categories slides, records classification, compiles listings of patients for follow-up analysis, and reports all unusual cell structures or abnormalities to the Pathologist. Addresses all daily operations of the cytology laboratory.

Responsibilities

• Meets expectations of the applicable OneCHRISTUS Competencies: Leader of Self, Leader of Others, or Leader of Leaders.


• Customer Service


• Enters patient information, orders, and technical information into LIS.


• Within acceptable TAT guidelines, devises and directs performance of routine and special stains to provide appropriate slides for the microscopic evaluation of tissues, fluids, and other cytopathology specimens.


• Operates staining equipment, ThinPrep equipment, coverslippers and other AP equipment to provide quality slides for examinations.


• Performs manual stains, as needed, to provide quality slides for examinations.


• Assists Pathologists with fine needle aspirations.


• Using the microscope and stained slides, identifies and mark all unusual findings in the specimen using accepted morphologic criteria.


• Examines and evaluates the cell sample for the presence or absence of normal/abnormal cellular patterns; assesses malignant, pre-malignant, inflammatory, and benign changes.


• Refers to cellular changes that meet guidelines for supervisor and/or pathologist review.


• Quality Control / Improvement: performs analysis and records QC according to policy and procedure following CLIA, CAP, and Joint Commission guidelines and standards.


• Maintenance/Lab Management: performs established daily and periodic preventative maintenance with documentation; troubleshoots minor problems and initiates service calls as needed; orders and restocks supplies/reagents; reviews policy & procedure manual; dates reagents and discards expired reagents.


• Continuing Education/Development: attends, reads, or listens by tape to material of 10-12 in-house educational programs yearly; trains new staff in practices


• Completes tasks or special projects within the time frame as assigned, or as requested by Supervisors, Managers, or Directors.


• Accreditation: follows CAP, AABB, Compliance, CLIA, JCAHO, and OSHA standards and prepares/participates in all applicable inspections.


• Follows established protocols for safety, infection control, security, compliance, and the use of hazardous materials.

Job Requirements

Education/Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in science or equivalent required

Experience

• 1-2 years of experience required


• 2-3 years of experience in high complexity testing in an acute care hospital setting preferred

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• Cytotechnologist (ASCP) or eligible


• Must obtain Annual Membership (current) with certification agency

Work Schedule

5 Days - 8 Hours

Work Type

Full Time