Job Description
JOB TITLE: Pathology Support I DEPARTMENT: Anatomic Pathology
DIVISION/ SPECIALTY: Accessioning
REPORTS TO: Pathology Support Supervisor CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt
JOB SUMMARY:
This position is responsible for various duties supporting lab procedures including accessioning tissue
specimen.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Accession all tissue specimens and make cassettes.
Assist pathologist and pathologist assistants in cutting room.
Perform frozen sections (location dependent).
Properly hang tissue on the processors.
Responsible for determining/selecting specimens for grossing.
Photograph specimens (Polaroid, digital, and 35 mm).
Prepare tissue to be sent out for further testing such as Lymphoma Phenotyping, Quantitative Iron
studies, etc.
Operate the Faxitron machine for specimen radiographs.
Check campus surgery schedules for probable frozen sections, collect specimens from all campus
surgery locations ensuring they are properly listed, and check the surgery board for add cases,
cancels, and late specimens (location dependent).
Records the number of cases daily, maintains the log of decal specimens, and keeps quality control
charts on equipment in the accession and cutting room.
Prepare routine solutions, maintain an inventory of supplies and store in proper location and keep a
clean work area.
Responsible for proper disposal and handling of hazardous waste to include xylene recycling (i.e.
xylene, reagent alcohol, formaldehyde, B5) and dispose of specimens according to procedures.
Perform routine maintenance on cryostats, both in house and in outlying hospitals (location
dependent).
Run Quality Control reports, extracting data into monthly reports to Anatomic Pathology. (location
dependent)
Initial Here Please
Receive incoming calls and answer questions about reports/handling tissue. (location dependent)
Review procedure manuals and stay current with procedural changes that have occurred.
Exercise all laboratory safety precautions and adhere to lab procedures as stated in procedure
manuals.
Perform all job responsibilities in alignment with the industry’s best security practices and
regulatory guidelines to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of protected health
information and other sensitive company data.
Must be familiar with and abide by the Corporate Compliance Program and all Corporate policies,
including the Privacy and Security policies.
NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Work with other departments within PathGroup and subsidiaries.
Nothing in the job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and
responsibilities to this job at any time.
Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION & LICENSURE:
• High school diploma or GED is required.
REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum two years of previous health care environment job-related experience is preferred.
PHYSICAL , MENTAL DEMANDS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS:
Job Requirements
Physical Requirements
(positions classified with this job-code may require many or all of the following physical requirements)
Mobility: (Ability to assist in the movement of objects)
• Sitting • Bending • Lifting • Pushing
• Pulling • Walking • Stooping • Standing
• Turning
Dexterity: (Ability to manipulate objects)
• Reaching • Grasping • Handling
Visual: (Ability to recognize, register, and respond)
• Color recognition• Depth perception• Reading / Close-up work• Graphing
• Calibration
Communication: (Ability to understand, respond and translate into action)
• Communication
Environmental Conditions
(positions classified with this job-code may require work in or near the following environmental
conditions)
Noise:
• Normal office environment
Vibration:
(None)
Atmospheric Conditions:
(None)
Hazards:
• Handling of biological materials
• Blood borne Pathogens
Work Activities
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant
sources.
Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and
software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying
information or data.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge
to your job.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating,
recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials,
events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to
identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving
materials, and manipulating things.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and
individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining
information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize,
organize, and accomplish your work.
Knowledge
English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the
meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of computer software applications.
Clerical — Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing,
managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and
terminology.
Medical Terminology— Knowledge of the information and terminology used to enter patient care data.
This includes patient demographics, clinical information, specimen source, and test(s) orders from specimen
requisitions.
Laboratory Science-Knowledge of laboratory information and services to perform a variety of laboratory
test, ensure the quality of test results, explain the significance of laboratory test, and evaluate new methods.
Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Skills
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the
points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future
problem-solving and decision-making.
Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to
evaluate quality or performance.
Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Abilities
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through
spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will
understand.
Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions
(includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that
make sense.
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not
involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a
specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while
holding your arm and hand in one position.
This job description is not intended to be completely comprehensive. It is merely an overview of the position