Pathology Assistant Jobs

The Pathologists' Assistant, PA, performs anatomic pathology services. She/he works under the direct supervision of the Medical Director in cooperation with the Pathologists' Assistant Lead. The PA assists Pathologists at the CoCoPath Laboratory and assigned CoCoPath contracted hospital laboratories in the preparation and performance of human surgical specimen dissection. The PA's day-to-day assignments and scheduling are based on CoCoPath Laboratory and contracted hospital site specific needs as determined by the PA Lead in consultation with the CoCoPath Pathologist staff and Medical Director.
This is a client facing position and as a professional member of the CoCoPath team, the PA works cooperatively with physicians, clients, and staff to facilitate superior patient care and to represent CoCoPath positively by acting with courtesy, dignity, respect, and professionalism.
SKILLS And KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge: Demonstrated advanced knowledge and technical competence in gross examinations, laboratory operations, and quality assurance in surgical pathology.
Quantity of Work: Ability to organize and prioritize assigned job duties and tasks for completion within expected timeframes.
Workflow Management: Ability to appropriately respond to fluctuations in volume, unexpected situations or problems such as equipment or information system failures, shift-to-shift hand-offs, shift changes, priority test orders, and specimen integrity issues.
Quality of Work: Ability to accurately, precisely, and reliably perform assigned job duties and tasks. Demonstrates sound judgment and problem solving relevant to assigned duties.
Culturally Competent Communication: Ability to compassionately and effectively interact with individuals and groups of diverse ages, backgrounds, values, beliefs and behaviors.
Adherence to Practices & Procedures: Ability to follow standard practices, processes, and procedures in sequence. Knowledge of applicable local/state/federal regulations, codes, policies, and procedures aimed at ensuring the privacy and safety of patients.
DUTIES And RESPONSIBILITIES

• Follows all laboratory safety protocols, including appropriate decanting of formalin and other chemicals per laboratory protocol, and contributes to quality improvement initiatives within the grossing laboratory.
• Additional duties may be assigned as needed.
• Confers with pathologists to identify special stains, techniques and procedures that will be necessary (i.e., pre-processing immunohistochemical or special stains, cultures, flow cytometry, smears, etc.) and notifies appropriate personnel.
• Obtains pertinent clinical history and takes pictures as appropriate for dissection of specimens.
• Adheres to and maintains certificate documenting knowledge of HIPAA regulations.
• Under supervision of the Pathologists and Pathologist's Assistant Lead, prepares human surgical specimens for gross description and dictation into the Laboratory Information System (LIS); inks/orients specimens as necessary; performs dissection; and submits tissue for histologic examination, as determined by and within scope of documented protocol.
• Ensures correct patient identification and accurate specimen and cassette labeling according to laboratory policies and procedures.
• As necessary, helps prepare frozen sections by freezing tissue as directed by pathologist, cutting frozen section, and/or staining and cover-slipping frozen section slides.
• Demonstrates knowledge of regulatory standards for satisfying compliance with and inspection by CLIA, CAP and other regulatory bodies.
• Demonstrates excellent written and verbal communication skills, and exhibits analytic and diagnostic reasoning skills.

Maintains a working knowledge of hospital and CoCoPath laboratory standard operating procedures. This knowledge may include the use of specialized instrumentation, quality control requirements, and preventative maintenance.
Ability to work at CoCoPath main laboratory and client sites as needed to support client needs and optimally manage workload for all of CoCoPath operations.
Projects an image of professionalism in communication, appearance and conduct.
Supports the CoCoPath laboratory mission of customer service and excellence in pathology services for hospital and ASC clients in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Participates in the continuous quality improvement process.
Required

• Certification: PA (ASCP) certified
• Education Minimum:

Associate Degree in a laboratory science or medical laboratory technology, obtained from an accredited institution.
OR
Education/training equivalent to the above that includes at least 60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution. This education must include 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses,
OR
24 semester hours of science courses that includes 6 semester hours of chemistry, 6 semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination.

• Laboratory training: completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by the ABHES, NAACLA, or other organization approved by HHS

OR
at least 3 months documented laboratory training in each specialty in which the individual performs high complexity testing.
Preferred
Bachelor's Degree: Biological science or related field from a regionally accredited college/university
2 or more years of relevant work experience
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