Pathologists' Assistant

UPMC; Harrisburg (Dauphin County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Sr. Pathologists' Assistant to oversee pathology assistant activities and ensure quality in surgical pathology evaluations. This essential role involves providing technical leadership, maintaining laboratory equipment, and ensuring compliance with all relevant procedures. A competitive salary with a $20,000 sign-on bonus is offered to qualified candidates, who will play a vital role in supporting pathologists and enhancing patient care.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge in pathology processes and procedures.
• Competence in training and leading pathology assistants.
• Ability to manage and maintain laboratory equipment and tools.

Responsibilities

• Perform various administrative and technical duties related to pathology operations.
• Examine surgical pathology cases for evaluation and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with safety standards and policies.

Skills

Technical Leadership

Attention to Detail

Knowledge of Anatomic Pathology

Tools

Laboratory Information System

Medical Archival Retrieval System

Job description

This position can hire candidates into the Pathologists' Assistant level or the Sr. Pathologist's Assistant depending on the experience/education requirements met.

This position is eligible to receive up to a $20,000 sign-on bonus!

Purpose of the Sr. Pathologists' Assistant:
Under the general direction of the Manager or Supervisor and the applicable Medical Director, oversees and also performs the activities of the pathology assistants in the evaluation, examination, description, dissection, and sectioning of the gross tissue in surgical pathology for the microscopic evaluation and review by the pathologists. Performs various auxiliary functions such as photography and specimen radiology, and performs various training, supervisory and administrative functions.

Responsibilities of the Sr. Pathologists' Assistant:

• Perform the proper operation, repair and replacement, and preventative maintenance of area equipment and tools. Maintains record logs for the equipment.
• Assist manager or Supervisor with administrative functions as they relate to the Pathologists' Assistant portion of the department including assisting with development of quality assurance monitors, quality control monitors, data gathering and preparations of QA report, input for performance reviews, budget preparation and monitoring, regulatory compliance and continuing education and training.
• Ensure that tests are prepared properly at all stages from specimen collection through results reporting, and performs additional special handling of the specimens if necessary or requested (i.e. radiography, photography, special fixation, cultures and tissue procurement).
• Competent at operating the Laboratory Information System and Medical Archival Retrieval System relative to the functions of the pathology assistants team.
• Perform special projects such as research protocols when required.
• Perform duties according to the policies and procedures of the Pathology Department and Hospital including compliance and confidentiality. Remain abreast of policies, regulations, guidelines, techniques, procedures and methodologies in anatomic pathology.
• Provide independent technical leadership, consulting with the Manager or Supervisor on unusual and complex cases, such as oncology cases where the tumor has spread into other organs, cancers that extend into surrounding structures, and initial intraoperative examination and tissue banking for uncommon specimens of interest to research such as wide section melanomas and thoracic biopsies. Provides ongoing training and orientation to the pathology assistant team members.
• Examine and prepare surgical pathology cases for microscopic evaluation by providing gross description, dissection and sections of each case as defined by the Surgical Pathology Manual while maintaining accurate records of all activities.
• Adhere to all safety standards, policies and procedures related to the handling and disposal of specimens. Comply with standard precaution procedures.
• Participate in and performs frozen sections, intraoperative consultations and prenatal procedures.
• Continually provides and participates in on-the-job training conferences, seminars and continuing education to ensure competence and awareness of most recent technology and advances in the field. Participate in competency evaluation of pathologist's assistant team members for skill and task assessment.