HISTOLOGY TECHNICIAN

Excela Health; Butler (Butler County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Histology Technician to process and prepare pathology specimens, ensuring quality diagnostic slides for pathologists. The role requires strong organizational and communication skills, with responsibilities including specimen management and equipment maintenance.

Qualifications

• Completion of NAACLS accredited HT program or equivalent education.
• Strong ability to communicate complex topics.
• High level of visual acuity for detailed inspection.

Responsibilities

• Processes and prepares pathology specimens for examination.
• Operates and maintains histology equipment.
• Prepares slides and performs routine stains.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Visual Acuity

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor of Science or Associate of Science

Job description

Shift: Monday-Friday, Daylight hours, no weekends or holidays. *Days and hours are subject to change.

The Histology position will consider Technician and Technologist levels of the career ladder. The final title and pay will be determined by education, experience, and certification.

Histology Technician

Processes and prepares pathology specimens to produce quality diagnostic slides for examination by a pathologist. Competent in the performance of routine and special stains.

Essential Job Functions

• Accessions and systematically organizes specimens to safeguard specimen identification and integrity.
• Prepares for and assists in the grossing of specimens with a pathologist.
  • readies the grossing area in an organized manner to assist the pathologist and efficiently prioritize workflow
  • Supplies materials to the pathologist as needed-gloves, surgical instruments, inks, etc.
  • accurately documents specimens, blocks and slides as the pathologist grosses
  • orders blocks, levels, frozen sections, path determinations, photos, flow cytometry tracking, touch preps, special stains and special requests as needed
  • cleans the grossing station and instruments when the pathologist is finished, maintaining the area in a safe and sanitary condition
• Operates and maintains equipment in accordance with guidelines.
  • loads and starts processors at day's end, choosing the appropriate program for processing
  • operates microtomes, cryostats, staining equipment, recycler, etc., as trained and according to guidelines
  • performs routine, preventative and corrective maintenance, resolving problems as they occur
  • documents maintenance as performed; assists in keeping accurate records of preventative and corrective maintenance performed by outside vendors
• Embeds, cuts and performs routine stains on tissue sections.
• Demonstrates competency in performance of routine and special stains.
• Prepares slides for reading by pathologist.
  • coverslips slides using manual or automated methods
  • labels slides accurately, ensuring positive patient identification with clear notation of slide source and stain procedure
  • facilitates the distribution of slides between pathologists to provide timely progression of workflow
• Performs and completes frozen sections.
  • produces quality frozen section slides with accurate identification of patient and source
  • performs frozen section procedure and delivers slides to pathologist in a manner that allows for a 20 minute or less turnaround time
  • documents receipt and delivery of the frozen section
  • follows written protocols for cleaning, defrosting and decontamination of the cryostats, documents in the QC manual
• Participates in routine departmental tasks.
  • files slides and paraffin blocks accurately and independently
  • restocks supplies as needed
  • performs recycling when necessary
  • maintains adequate supplies of filled specimen containers
  • makes reagents, filters stains according to established protocols
  • performs supply inventory and places stock and non-stock orders as needed
• Maintains skills in utilization of Pathology, LIS and HIS computer system functions.
  • Works with the pathology software on a daily basis for accessioning and documentation of specimens, pulling work lists, ordering slides, labels, etc.
  • Uses the pathology software to document tracking issues, QA variances, etc.
  • monitors reports to track specimens and/or results as needed
• Functions in an organized and independent manner, complying with policy and procedures to cooperatively enhance department operations.
  • cognitive of the importance of clear and concise communication between pathologists, histologists, manager and medical secretaries
  • handles requests from the pathologists in a timely manner
  • recognizes areas for improvement in department operations, contributes to and participates in quality management processes
  • participates in section readiness to meet CAP, JCAHO, OSHA and DOH compliance
  • maintains competency in assigned areas, and completes assessments in a timely and independent manner
  • participates in continuing education programs, staff meetings, etc., as appropriate
• Functions as cytopreparatory tech for preparation of gyne and non-gyne thin prep specimens.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience [Knowledge, Skills and Abilities]

Required Qualifications/Experience

• High School Diploma or GED or higher level of education.
• Completion of the educational requirements needed to take the Histotechnician (HT) exam:

• Successful completion of a NAACLS accredited HT program OR;
• High School Diploma or GED and at least 60 semester hours of academic credit from a regionally accredited college/university with a combination of 12 semester hours of biology and chemistry.

• OR Bachelor of Science or Associate of Science with one (1) to two (2) years of histology experience.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

• Basic Math and Keyboard Proficiency
• Basic working knowledge of computers and office equipment
• Problem solving involving several variables in or from standardized situations.
• Apply technical principles. Interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic or schedule form.

• High level of visual acuity (with/without correction) necessary for very close inspection and attention to minute detail, very small objects and scant variations in color.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• None preferred.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Obtain HT (ASCP) or HTL (ASCP) certification within fifteen (15) months of hire or transfer.
• Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system
• Must complete HAZMAT training in 90 days

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Extreme Heat

x

Extreme Cold

x

Heights

x

Confined Spaces

x

Extreme Noise(>85dB)

x

Mechanical Hazards

x

x

Use of Vibrating Tools

x

Operates Vehicle (company)

x

Operates Heavy Equipment

x

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

x

x

Rotates All Shifts

x

x

8 Hours Shifts

x

x

10-12 Hours Shifts

x

On-Call

x

x

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hrs/wk)

x

x

Travel Between Sites

x

x

Direct Patient Care

x

Respirator Protective Equipment

x

x

Eye Protection

x

x

Head Protection (hard hat)

x

Hearing Protection

x

Hand Protection

x

x

Feet, Toe Protection

x

Body Protection

x

x

Latex Exposure

x

x

Solvent Exposure

x

x

Paint (direct use) Exposure

x

Dust (sanding) Exposure

x

Ethylene Oxide Exposure

x

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

x

Blood/Body Fluid Exposure

x

x

Chemicals (direct use) Exposure

x

x

Mist Exposure

x

Wax Stripper (direct use)

x

Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

x

Ionizing Radiation Exposure

x

Laser Exposure

x

Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Essential – Absolute Necessity.

Marginal – Minimal Necessity.

Constantly – 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently – 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally – 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely – Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Physical Condition

Essential

Marginal

Constantly

Frequently

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

Bending (Stooping)

x

x

Sitting

x

x

Walking

x

x

Climbing Stairs

x

x

x

Climbing Ladders

x

Standing

x

x

Kneeling

x

x

Squatting (Crouching)

x

x

Twisting/Turning

x

x

Keyboard/Computer Operation

x

Gross Grasp

x

Fine Finger Manipulation

x

x

Hand/Arm Coordination

x

x

Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force)

x

x

Carry

x

x

Transfer/Push/Pull Patients

x

Seeing Near w/Acuity

x

x

Feeling (Sensation)

x

x

Color Vision

x

x

Hearing Clearly

Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead

x

x

Reaching Above Shoulder Level

x

x

Reaching Forward

x

x

Lifting Floor to Knuckle

###

10-29#

30-49#

50>50#

Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle

###

10-19#

20-29#

30->50#

Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder

###

10-19#

20-29#

30->50#

Lifting Shoulder to Overhead

###

10->50#

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.