Pathology Technician I 40 Hours Day Bwh - Pathology

GENERAL SUMMARY/OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

In the Department of Pathology the Pathology Technician I works independently under general supervision of the Clinical Supervisor. Performs a wide variety of tasks including eviscerations autopsy suite and morgue operations and general support responsibilities. Demonstrates basic proficiency efficiency and technical skill in autopsy service. Under the direction of the clinical supervisor performs other technical and administrative tasks. The Department of Pathology performs approximately 300 autopsies annually.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

I. Autopsy: Functions independently under general supervision of pathologist physician and Clinical Supervisor.

a. Evisceration

proper legal authorization for human post mortem examination as directed by pathologist. Contacts Admitting Office each morning and in the case of an autopsy retrieves permit and chart from Admitting for the Resident on duty.

with resident pathologist to identify special risks involved in particular case or special techniques that will be necessary.

autopsy work flow by setting up equipment and preparing patients body for autopsy according to protocol.

that patients identification bands and tags match that of the properly completed autopsy consent paperwork.

approved protocol performs evisceration obtains all necessary tissues or fluids for cultures obtains routine sections and measures presence of body fluids.

permitted by Autopsy Consent and upon direction of pathologist performs special procedures including but not limited to leg vein removal enucleation of eyes inner ear bone dissection and spinal cord removal.

permitted by Autopsy Consent Human Research Committee IRB and upon direction of pathologist obtains tissues for research.

body after autopsy for removal by funeral home.

and trains new residents and medical students to the autopsy suite. Instructs in the use of personal protective equipment and evisceration technique. Maintains training checklist for new residents each year.

in orienting and general supervision of volunteers and interns assigned to the autopsy service.

call at least one weekend per month and several evenings per week or as needed depending on staffing levels. Performs all tasks and duties required according to protocol.

b. Operations

daily maintenance of Autopsy Suite and Morgue. Ensures a clean safe and functional work environment.

autopsy suite for conferences including all equipment materials specimens and facility preparation. Restore facilities to safe functional state following decontamination schedule. Also coordinates with Neuropathology Secretary and Neuropathology Fellow regarding cases that need to be presented at the biweekly conferences.

for adult and perinatal remains accountability. All remains are to be identified daily and cross referenced with the Morgue Log Book. Any discrepancies are to be documented in the Morgue Discrepancy Binder. All Disposition of Remains forms for Perinatal decedents are to be filed in the Perinatal Disposition Binder and all Remains are to be documented in the Perinatal Accountability Binder.

Funeral Directors Medical Examiner and New England Organ Bank with decedent identification removals viewings and organ harvests.

Chaplaincy Social Work and Nursing by preparing patients for viewings per request of family/next of kin.

as advisor to staff on technical autopsy protocol for highly infectious cases or cases involving incurable diseases such as Hepatitis C and transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (CreutzfeldtJacob Disease). Maintains and updates Infectious Disease Binder and updates protocols as needed.

manages autopsy and neuropath specimen dispositions checking computer logs for case signout status. In consultation with the Director of Autopsy Service the Director of Neuropathology and/or the appropriate Pathologist Physician discards specimens in accordance with State and Joint Commission guidelines. Specimens are organized maintained and tracked for archival teaching research use or disposal. Maintains Autopsy Wet Tissue Binder Neuropath Disposition Binder Saved Tissue Binder and Neuropath Research Tissue Accountability Binder as well as computer databases for QA/QC purposes on all autopsy and neuropath tissue.

8. documentation contact with investigators and maintenance of IRB Protocol Binder for IRB approved research tissue.

resident staff on radiograph machine in Morgue.

functionality of autopsy suite equipment. Initiates corrective action and brings to attention of Clinical Supervisor. Assists in maintaining the Lab Inspection Records Binder.

operational problems and initiates resolution. Brings complex issues to the attention of resident or appropriate senior personnel or Clinical Supervisor.

Patient Belongings Accountability Log Book. Any patient valuables left in the Morgue are cataloged with the Clinical Supervisor and documented in the Patient Belongings Accountability Log Book.

II. General Support Responsibilities:

surgical benches work stations general lab surfaces tools and containers for each days specimen workload. Organizes instruments and dissecting supplies for each station appropriate to its service.

and maintains adequate supplies in an organized fashion for the various laboratories. Such supplies consisting of but not limited to clean dissecting instruments specimen containers personal protective equipment pathology workstation supplies chemical reagents and all other supplies and consumables needed for the individual laboratories. This will be a daily task due to unpredictable patterns of use as well as limited storage space for stocking consumable supplies.

prepares infectious biohazardous waste for transport in a manner that meets the requirements of BWH Environmental Safety and Health Policy.

and files pathology specimens in an established organized specimen storage system. Assists Pathology Residents and Senior Staff in specimen retrieval to permit additional diagnostic testing.

routine and special specimens within the hospital maintaining diagnostic viability and specimen integrity for each case.

Satellite Accumulation Areas (SAA) within the various anatomic pathology laboratories. Transport chemical wastes in compliance with MWRA and hospital regulations. Transfer waste formalin from workstations to SAA. Updates and maintains Powered Air Purifying Respirator Usage Log when appropriate.

temperature and functional verification charts. Initiates corrective action and brings to attention of Clinical Supervisor.

staff as appropriate with routine and special projects.

established department policies procedures and objectives including the areas of quality assurance safety environmental and infection control.

all Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals and related BWH Laboratory and Hospital Policies.

all other duties and responsibilities as directed.

Variable Day evenings and on call as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High school diploma or equivalent.
Associates or Bachelors Degree including 2 years college level courses in Biology Chemistry Biochemistry Funeral Directing or other related Health Science preferred.
Minimum of one year of relevant experience specifically involving autopsy evisceration funeral directing/apprenticeship accessioning or anatomic pathology.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

Ability to perform evisceration of body and brain removal according to established protocol.
Proficient in medical terminology and well versed in human anatomy.
Ability to function independently.
Ability to make independent effective decisions in appropriate situations.
Posses a strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Proficient in most Microsoft Office applications Excel Word and Outlook.
Ability to use hospital and departmental computer programs.
Perform computer data entry both efficiently and accurately.
Must demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills to permit collaborative and effective working relationships with intra and extra departmental employees.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Orientation and training of new residents fellows pathology assistants medical students less experienced technicians interns and volunteers.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:

Enters specimen codes into lab information system to generate technical component of patient charges that comply with Federal Medicare/Medicaid and third party payer billing standards.