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Histotechnician

Employer
CentraCare Health
Location
Willmar, Minnesota
Salary
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Industry
Hospitality and Tourism
Role
Other
Job Type
Long-Term
Hours
Part Time

Job Details

The Histology Technician logs incoming tissue specimens; arranges them for gross examination by the pathologist or pathologist assistant and assists during gross exam; process, embed, cut, stain and coverslip slides for microscopic examination; assist pathologist or pathologist assistant with frozen section exam and prepares frozen section slides; process, cut and stain bone marrows and autopsy cases; performs special stains; process and stain certain cytology specimens in the absence of cytotechnologist; operates tissue processors, embedding station, microtomes, cryostat, solvent recycler; performs required maintenance; files slides, paraffin blocks, gross tissues and reports; maintains a safe and clean work area and follows all hospital and laboratory safety procedures and policies; transfers and disposes of tissues; clerical work is also done by Histo-technician; slide sendouts, special testing sendouts to reference laboratories, and monthly outside hospital conference requests.


JOB RELATIONSHIPS: A. REPORTS TO: Laboratory Operations Manager B. SUPERVISES: None C. INTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH: Director of Laboratory Services, Laboratory Technical Manager, Histology

Specialist, pathologists, coordinate as necessary with cytotechnologist, other laboratory staff, Surgery Staff, ER staff, hospital staff, outside clinic and hospital staff and physicians. Rice Memorial Hospital's surgery Department, ER, and Radiology Department would not be able to do the highly complicated and technical cases without a Histology Department.


HOURS OF WORK: Weekdays - 5:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m, rotating shifts. The late person is required to stay until the work is completed for the day regardless of the hour. Weekends as necessary, generally every 5-6.


DRESS CODE: Casual dress clothing or scrubs (dependent on duties for the day). A lab coat shall be worn while working in the laboratory. Dress should always be consistent with maintaining a professional appearance. Cover-up gowns and gloves worn to protect the individual. Safety glasses and masks are to be worn when working with toxic chemicals and bio-hazardous material.


ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK (Minimum qualifications necessary to function at full productivity).

A. EDUCATION AND TRAINING: 1. Certification as HT (ASCP) preferred. 2. Successful completion of a CAHEA accredited Histotechnology program, or

a. Associate degree or at least 6 semester hours (op quarter hours) of academic credit from a regionally accredited college/university including 6 semester hours (o quarter hours) in chemistry and 6 semester hours (9 quarter hours) in biology, and one year full time acceptable experience in histopathology within the last ten years under the supervision of a pathologist (certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology, or eligible), or an appropriately certified medical scientist, or

b. High school graduation (or equivalent) AND two years full time acceptable experience in histopathology, within the last ten years, under the supervision of a pathology (certified by the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology, or eligible), or an appropriately certified medical scientist.

B. EXPERIENCE: Completion of the above requirements for education and training is sufficient for entry level. Additional work experience as a histology technician is desirable.

C. JOB KNOWLEDGE (Specific): Knowledgeable in anatomy, principles of tissue fixation, embedding, routine tissue staining and special stain, tissue cutting, frozen section microtoming technique, preparation of stains and solutions required for specimen preparation. Specimens for preparation include surgical

Histology Technician - 4195 Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar, MN



Page 2 of 4

tissue, cytology material, autopsy tissue, and bone marrows. Also understand importance of accurate specimen accession, identification, logging, and storage of slides, blocks, gross specimens and records. Understands operation of the various types of equipment and instruments and the necessary preventive maintenance procedures and documentation. Knowledgeable about laboratory safety and infection control. Knowledgeable in billing procedures and specimen referral. Understands principles of quality control.


BUDGET: NA


CLIENTELE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY JOB: Patients, pathologists, physicians, laboratory staff, nursing staff, Radiation Oncology, Surgery, ER, Radiology, outreach clients and staff.


PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB: Manual dexterity, good eyesight capable of color differentiation as well as depth perception, lifting up to 40 pounds, individuals must be able to stand 75% of the work day.


PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE JOB: Work with potentially biologically hazardous specimens, solvents (alcohol and Americlear), and various other hazardous chemicals including formaldehyde. The work area is well ventilated and well lighted but noisy due to ventilation.


EQUIPMENT OR MACHINES USED ON THE JOB: Microscope, embedding station, oven, refrigerator, microtomes, cryostats, solvent recycler, tissue processors, flotation baths, balance, heat sealer, hot plate mixer, automated instrumentation as required.


MENTAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB: A. JUDGEMENT AND INITIATIVE: Proper positioning of tissues in molds for paraffin blocks, ability to

ascertain that the total surface of the tissue in the paraffin block has been exposed to the cutting knife whether it be 1mm biopsy or larger section of tissue; checking prepared slides for proper staining characteristics and adjusting staining technique if required. Must be able to work in an efficient and effective manner while assisting the Pathologist with immediate fresh/frozen biopsy cases. Maintenance of equipment and preparation of staining solutions.

B. INDEPENDENT ACTION: Each tech is responsible to the daily work needed to do the job efficiently.

C. EFFECT OF ERROR: Specimen or report mixup could lead to severe adverse effect on patients, including wrong diagnosis. Loss of specimen due to mishandling could prevent making important diagnosis; many times re-biopsying cannot be done depending on the size of the tissue. Necessity to repeat biopsy would be traumatic and an additional risk to the patient as well as considerable extra expense.

D. CONTACT WITH OTHERS: Works closely with pathologists, cytotechnologist, laboratory aides and other personnel as needed. Also has contact with business office, surgery, nursing floors, ESD, physicians and staff from the area clinics and hospitals. Occasional patient contact.


PRINCIPAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES, TASKS, AND AUTHORITIES:

A. RESPONSIBILITY: Gross Counter Processing PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: A TASKS:

1. Check specimens to make sure jars and slips correspond 2. Verify that accessioned samples are accurate and match the sample as written on

sample 3. Verify printed cassettes match accession number 4. Weigh appropriate specimens 5. Set up work area and assist pathologist or pathologist assistant 6. Document tissue count 7. Bag and seal specimens for storage 8. Disinfect counter 9. Put tissues on processor.

AUTHORITIES: Has the authority to complete all the above tasks.

Histology Technician - 4195 Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar, MN



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B. RESPONSIBILITY: Processing of tissues for microscopic examination PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 45% DISCRETION: A TASKS:

1. Routine processing 2. Set up tissue processor, load, run, unload, block tissues 3. Process to remove paraffin 4. Cut tissues and place on slides per protocols 5. Stain and coverslip slides as necessary 6. Maintain accurate identification throughout processing. 7. Assist with frozen sections by freezing cutting and staining tissues STAT 8. Disinfect cryostat when necessary

AUTHORITIES: Has authority to process tissues.

C. RESPONSIBILITY: Maintenance and Cleaning PRIORITY: B % OF TIME: 15% DISCRETION: B TASKS:

1. Perform, document and record preventive maintenance on tissue processors, cryostats, stainers, solvent recycler, microscopes, microtome, embedding station, oven, water baths, refrigerators, heating plate and scale.

2. Operation and maintenance of solvent recycler: 3. Knowledge of machine and computers 4. Set up and take down procedures. 5. Wash glassware and other containers as required 6. Properly clean embedding molds or other equipment as needed 7. Monitor supply inventory 8. Evaluate and troubleshoot instruments, equipment, and supplies for intended results 9. Perform other general maintenance and cleaning duties as needed.

AUTHORITIES: Request Bio-Med services or vendor services as needed when problems with equipment arise.

D. RESPONSIBILITY: Clerical - Maintenance of files and specimen storage PRIORITY: B % OF TIME: 15% DISCRETION: B TASKS:

1. Manual Charging notification to billing, when required 2. File slides 3. Monthly counts 4. Taking slides, blocks, and tissues to proper storage areas 5. Disposing of tissues after storage time limit is met 6. Coordinate send outs referrals, and consultations of slides and paperwork. 7. Maintaining daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly records 8. Get signed disposal permits. 9. Perform clerical work as needed.

AUTHORITIES: Has authority to carry out the above listed tasks.

E. RESPONSIBILITY: Quality Control PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 5% DISCRETION: B TASKS:

1. Running Controls - positive and negative - when doing special stains or studies in problem areas.

2. AUTHORITIES: Has the authority to above tasks pertaining to Controls.

Histology Technician - 4195 Rice Memorial Hospital, Willmar, MN



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F. RESPONSIBILITY: Stains and making reagents PRIORITY: A % OF TIME: 20% DISCRETION: A TASKS:

1. Set up of the special stainer, IHC stainer, H&E stainer, or ISH stainer. 2. Performing stains per protocols 3. Checking under the microscope to make sure the stain worked 4. Assist with the testing new stains 5. Making reagents or stain solutions 6. Reordering of chemicals or other supplies needed.

AUTHORITIES: Has the authority to do stains per request of pathologist.

G. RESPONSIBILITY: Follow laboratory safety guidelines PRIORITY: B % OF TIME: Continual DISCRETION: B TASKS:

1. Follow safety procedures 2. Use safety goggles, mask, and other PPE when appropriate 3. Label the specimen, bags or containers with proper labels 4. Know the hazards of the chemicals we work with and location of MSDS 5. Know emergency plans - fire, disaster, spills, etc.

AUTHORITIES: Has the authority to do tasks necessary to comply with safety policies and procedures.

H. RESPONSIBILITY: Continuous Quality Improvement 1. Demonstrates understanding of the CQI philosophy. 2. Participates in CQI training activities or CQI teams if appropriate. 3. Demonstrates sensitivity to customers and their needs. 4. Interacts appropriately with internal customers, i.e. coworkers within department,

staff across departments. 5. Interacts appropriately with external customers, i.e. patients, families, medical staff,

vendors. 6. Role models positive behaviors.

Originated: 4/97 Reviewed/Revised: 6/99, 10/00, 1/2010 (JMM), 9/2010 (KKS); 8/2012 (KKS), 11/2013 (JMM)

Company

Carris Health has 16 convenient locations in West Central and Southwest Minnesota where you can access the specialized care you need, from surgery and rehabilitation to basic wellness check-ups. Whatever you need, we've got you covered.

Company info
Website
Location
301 Becker Ave. SW.
Willmar
MN
56201
United States

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