Pathologists' Assistant

Baylor College of Medicine; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 124,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

Baylor College of Medicine, located in Texas Medical Center, Houston, seeks a Pathologists' Assistant to perform gross description and dissection of surgical specimens. Proficient dictation and LIS use are essential for accurate documentation.

The role includes tumor banking tasks, frozen section participation, and specimen triage. Responsibilities also cover photographing specimens, CPT code review, resident instruction, and workflow organization in the gross room.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with NAACLS-accredited Pathologists' Assistant program.
• ASCP-PA certification; if not current, must obtain within six months.
• Current BLS certification.
• Authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Performs gross dissection of surgical specimens, selecting appropriate tissue for histologic review.
• Takes gross photographs and catalogues them in the computer.
• Dictates verbal reports regarding the specimens.
• Collects and catalogues fresh tissue for Tumor Bank and special studies.
• Selects and submits tissue for special procedures (cultures, flow cytometry, frozen sections, electron microscopy, immunofluorescence).
• Reviews CPT charge codes and obtains A-charges for international patients.
• Instructs/pathology residents and PA students on techniques and procedures.
• Participates in organizing the workflow in the grossing area.
• Participates in continuous improvement activities.
• Inspects equipment and assists in maintaining supplies and cleanliness.

Skills

Dictation proficiency

LIS systems

Gross dissection skills

Educational instruction

Education

Bachelor's degree + NAACLS Pathologists' Assistant program

ASCP-PA certification

BLS Certification

Job description

Location: Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX

Salary Range: $124,453 to $146,415

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Schedule: Flexible

Summary

This position will perform the gross description and dissection of simple and complex surgical specimens. The ideal candidates should be able to proficiently utilize dictation and LIS systems to accurately document surgical samples. Frozen section participation and specimen triage are also key responsibilities of this position. Other duties include collecting and cataloging fresh tissue for tumor banking, research and special studies.

This position is in the Texas Medical Center.

Job Duties

• Performs gross dissection of surgical specimens, selecting appropriate tissue to be submitted for histologic review.


• Takes gross photographs and catalogue them into computer.


• Dictates verbal reports regarding the specimens.


• Collects and catalogs fresh tissue for Tumor Bank and special studies.


• Selects and submits tissue for special procedures (e.g., cultures, flow cytometry, frozen sections, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence).


• Reviews and revises CPT charge codes and obtain A-charges for international patients.


• Instructs/advises Pathology residents and PA students on pathology techniques and procedures.


• Participates in organizing the work flow in the grossing area.


• Participate in continuous improvement activities.


• Inspects equipment in the gross room and assist in the provision of adequate supplies and general cleanliness of the gross room suite.


• Assists in the selection and preparation of tissue sections for intraoperative consultations (frozen section).


• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and completion of a Pathologists' Assistant Program accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).


• No experience required.


• Certified as a Pathologist’s Assistant by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP-PA). New employees who are not currently certified must obtain certification within six months of employment. Must meet applicable hospital privileging and credentialing requirements.


• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification through American Heart Association.

Work Authorization Requirement:

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application and throughout the duration of employment.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

Baylor College of Medicine fosters diversity among its students, trainees, faculty, and staff as a prerequisite to accomplishing our institutional mission and setting standards for excellence in training healthcare providers and biomedical scientists, promoting scientific innovation, and providing patient-centered care. Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.