Pathologists' Assistant I - Anatomic Pathology

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Job description

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday
Work Location: Anatomic Pathology, UAB Hospital, North Pavilion

Benefits include: 100% tuition assistance, wellness initiatives, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program eligible employer, plus more. In addition to our many benefits and perks, UAB Medicine provides a variety of resources to support employees both personally and professionally.

The Surgical Pathology department at UAB processes over 60,000 surgical specimen per year, comprised of 50% biopsies and 50% complex cases, with robust ENT, breast, GYN, and GI surgical services, just to name a few. The incumbent will work in a fast-paced environment alongside three grossing technicians, three additional pathologists' assistants and residents.

The incumbent will rotate through the surgical pathology gross room, autopsy service and frozen section room with shifts ranging from 8:00 to 4:30 to 9:00 to 6:00.

The Pathologists' Assistant is a trained allied health professional who provides anatomic pathology services under the direction and supervision of a pathologist. This position will interact with pathologists in the same manner that physician assistants carry out their duties under the direction of physicians in surgical and medical practice. The Pathologists' Assistant contributes to the overall efficiency of the laboratory or pathology practice in a cost-effective manner by performing a variety of tasks, consisting primarily of gross examination of surgical pathology specimens.

Key Job Responsibilities:
1) Performs all aspects of tissue prosecution of biopsy and larger tissue and organ specimens; accurately identifies tissue, tissue containers and requisitions for proper case evaluation and maintains identification integrity; performs dictation to create gross tissue description, follows templates where appropriate while observing all safety rules and standards.

2)Assists the Pathologist in autopsy including external examination, PAD's, prosection of tissues blocks and autopsy conference. Evisceration of
bodies is performed by an autopsy technician.

3) Assists the Pathologist with frozen section intraoperative consultation as needed, including, but not limited to: accessioning and grossing of specimen, cutting of frozen tissue, staining and troubleshooting, maintenance of cryostat equipment, and routine maintenance and cleaning of all related equipment.

4) Obtains and applies relevant clinical history including any and all scans, radiographic images and laboratory data as indicated per the case and Pathologist

5) Maintains various records, logs and files as required by institutional standards and procedures and regulatory and accrediting organizations

6) Provides off-sight coverage at the Community Practice Program as needed to include all aspects of grossing from biopsies to complex specimens

Position Requirements:
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Required: BS in biological or allied health science, and graduation from a NAACLS accredited Pathologists' Assistant program

LICENSE, CERTIFICATION AND/OR REGISTRATION:
Required: Current ASCP Certification, or eligible for certification within 24 months of hire

TRAITS & SKILLS: Must be self-directed / self-motivated; must have good communication and interpersonal skills. Must be able to: (1) perform a variety of duties often changing from one task to another of a different nature without loss of efficiency or composure; (2) accept responsibility for the direction, control and planning of an one's own work; (3) work independently; (4) recognize the rights and responsibilities of patient confidentiality; (5) convey empathy and compassion to those experiencing pain, physical or emotional distress and/or grief; (6) relate to others in a manner which creates a sense of teamwork and cooperation; (7) communicate effectively with people from every socioeconomic, cultural and educational background; (8) exhibit flexibility and cope effectively in an ever-changing, fast-paced healthcare environment; (9) perform effectively when confronted with emergency, critical, unusual or dangerous situations; (10) demonstrate the quality work ethic of doing the right thing the right way; and (11) maintain a customer focus and strives to satisfy the customer's perceived needs.

UA Health Services Foundation (UAHSF) is proud to be an AA/EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled employer.

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