Lab Assistant- Pathology

Yale New Haven Health; Westerly (RI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale New Haven Health is seeking a pathology support staff member to assist the Pathology Department with data entry, specimen verification, and report generation. You will work under supervision to process specimens, prepare slides for sendouts, and maintain accurate records in EMR/LIS.

The role requires AS degree or equivalent with at least one year of lab procedures and data entry experience, plus strong communication and teamwork skills to support pathologists and clinicians.

Qualifications

• AS degree or equivalent directly related experience required.
• One year experience in general laboratory procedures and data entry/computer experience required.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills required. Diplomacy, tact, and a calm positive attitude required. Knowledge of laboratory and pathology office procedures is preferable and computer skills required.

Responsibilities

• Serves as principal support staff for Pathology Department and performs data entry, specimen verification, and generation/distribution of reports with clerical staff.
• Accurately receives specimens into the laboratory and ensures correct accessioning in EMR/LIS.
• Evaluates specimens for acceptability and notifies physicians if unacceptable; prepares specimens/slides for sendouts.
• Interacts professionally with hospital staff and assists in interpreting physician orders for correct lab tests when needed.
• Prioritizes specimens during peak workload and communicates issues to relevant personnel; notifies supervisor if unresolved.
• Maintains logs, registers, and accessioning details; ensures proper demographics on all specimens.
• Prepares specimens for reference laboratories and ensures proper labeling and disposal per policy.
• Distributes all slides and reports; maintains quality control and safety standards.

Skills

Attention to detail

Clear communication

Teamwork

Customer service

Education

AS degree or equivalent

Tools

Epic system (Registration)

Job description

Overview

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Overview

To be part of our organization, every employee should understand and share in the YNHHS Vision, support our Mission, and live our Values. These values - integrity, patient-centered, respect, accountability, and compassion - must guide what we do, as individuals and professionals, every day.

Serves as principal support staff for the Pathology Department. Performs a variety of data entry, specimen verification, and other related computer functions including the generation and distribution of cytology/histology reports with the assistance of the pathology clerical staff. Evaluates specimens for acceptability and notifies physician offices if the specimen received is unacceptable in any way. Completes and sends Irreplaceable Specimen Form to correct any errors. Performs tasks and procedures, under general supervision to assist other laboratory staff, including but not limited to: specimen collection, processing, staining, disposal of specimens, and requisition/slide filing. Prepare specimens/slides for sendouts. This includes specimens for ancillary testing, slides for consult, slides for immunostaining, slides/specimens sent to another institution for any reason

EEO/AA/Disability/Veteran

Responsibilities

• 1. Serves as principal support staff for Pathology Department.
• 2. Performs a variety of data entry, specimen verification, and other related computer functions including the generation and distribution of cytology/histology reports with the assistance of the pathology clerical staff.
• 2.1 Accurately and timely receives specimens into the laboratory
• 3. Evaluates specimens for acceptability and notifies physician offices if the specimen received is unacceptable in any way. Completes and sends Irreplaceable Specimen Form to correct any errors.
• 4. Assists in the interpretation of any physician orders for the correct lab test selected when necessary.
• 4.1 Interacts professionally with all members of the hospital staff
• 5. Prioritizes specimens during times of peak workload to ensure timely processing. Collaborates with co-workers in the department regarding workload and problem resolution. Effectively communicates issues to the appropriate personnel.
• 5.1 Immediately notifies supervisor or designee when unable to resolve a problem
• 6. Registers, Accessions, and orders cytology/histology specimens in EMR/LIS. Obtains missing information necessary to complete accessioning of specimen (i.e. patient name, date of birth, source of specimen, or any other pertinent information)
• 7. Performs tasks and procedures, under general supervision to assist other laboratory staff, including but not limited to: specimen collection, processing, staining, disposal of specimens, and requisition/slide filing.
• 7.1 Complies with established laboratory and hospital policies for universal precautions and safety
• 8. Prepares specimens needing to be sent out to a reference laboratory by centrifuging, aliquoting, labeling, etc.
• 8.1 Accurately prepares all specimens sent to reference laboratories
• 9. Processes, aliquots, and labels with correct demographics specimens to be processed in other laboratory departments.
• 10. Generates labels, slides, cassettes, and work list for the day as required. Set up, clean, and prepare work area including storage and disposal of specimens when appropriate according to department policies.
• 11. Complete gross set up (match containers with requisition). Handles the receipt and routing of all cytology/histology specimens (including checking all respective refrigerators for specimens in the morning and throughout the day).
• 12. Prepares cassettes for microtomy.
• 13. Maintains cytology daily and monthly charts for: refrigerator temperature, stainer cleaning and disposal/maintenance, thin prep machine maintenance, and centrifuge maintenance.
• 14. Checks pending logs and schedules in order to track incoming specimens and follows-up on any missing or overdue specimens.
• 15. Safely operate department equipment according to manufacturer's guidelines.
• 16. Files all blocks and slides that have been reviewed and are ready to be filed according to department policies.
• 17. Pulls archived slides and blocks when required by pathologists or technologists.
• 18. Strictly follows hospital regulatory guidelines in carrying out the duties of the position and provides general support to maintain laboratory records and supplies.
• 18.1 Complies with established laboratory and hospital policies for universal precautions and safety
• 19. Meets performance expectations for customer service, teamwork, resource utilization, and staff development as outlined in performance review.
• 19.1 Uses Patient/Family center values/Conducts all work activities with respect of the rights and wishes of patients, visitors and patients families
• 20. Performs other duties as assigned or directed to ensure smooth operation of the department.
• 21. Transcription of dictated pathology reports.
• 22. Correct all edited working drafts before they are printed and sent to pathologist with slides.
• 23. Distribute all slides to pathologists for screening
• 24. Phone calls- answer department phone calls from outside offices and well as placing calls for pathologist when necessary.
• 25. Prepare specimens/slides for sendouts. This includes specimens for ancillary testing, slides for consult, slides for immunostaining, slides/specimens sent to another institution for any reason
• 26. Filing slides/paperwork. This includes inhouse slides/paperwork as well as slides returned for an outside institution.
• 27. Copy, fax, file, scan, distribute reports. This would include all reports that may need to be sent to a physician?s office or reports for ancillary testing received into the pathology lab that need to be added to a case in which an addendum needs to be created.
• 28. Prepare Tumor board material. This includes pulling slides, printing reports, and collating the information for the presenting pathologist.

Qualifications

EDUCATION

AS degree or equivalent directly related experience required.

Experience

One year experience in general laboratory procedures (eg. centrifugation, specimen handling, specimen processing) as well as data entry/computer experience required.

Special Skills

Clear written and verbal communication skills required. Diplomacy, tact, and a calm positive attitude required. Uses good judgment in performance of work. Great attention to detail required. Knowledge of laboratory and pathology office procedures is preferable and computer skills required. Knowledge of Epic Registration and other Epic tasks is preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMAND

Ability to sit, stand, or walk, and occasionally reach for prolonged periods of time.

YNHHS Requisition ID

193840