Lab Histotechnician - Methodist

Overview

Using technical skills and knowledge, the Associate Histology Technician prepares slides of body tissues to be read by the pathologist for analysis and diagnostic purposes. This includes, but is not limited to:
Accessioning, assisting with gross dissection, processing tissue, embedding, microtomy, routine, special and immunohistochemical staining, cover slipping, and performance of frozen sections.

Certifications:

Passing the ASCP HT (technician) or HTL (technologist) exam

Education:

Associate degree or at least 60 semester hours (including 12+ hours in biology/chemistry) from an accredited college.

Training:
Completion of a NAACLS-accredited histotechnician program or one year of clinical laboratory experience.

Work Experience:

Pathology technician

• Demonstrates technical skills required to embed, section, stain and label tissue specimens.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in embedding.
• Adjusts embedding technique to meet the request of the pathologist.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in sectioning paraffin embedded tissues at appropriate thicknesses.
• Follows established protocols for number of slides, thickness, deepness between levels.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in sectioning frozen tissue specimens and assisting during interoperative consultations. Responds quickly and efficiently to these requests and understands the importance to the patient.
• Understands and has the ability to troubleshoot routine H&E stains. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in performing this manually if needed due to instrumentation issues.
• Understands and has the ability to troubleshoot Special Stains. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in performing these manually if needed due to instrumentation issues.
• Demonstrates knowledge and skill in performing immunohistochemical (IHC) stains.
• Displays a willingness to adapt to change as the department grows and evolves.
• Utilizes proper technique as defined by each individual procedure.
• Checks controls for quality of work and repeats testing as required.
• Consults with pathologist about problem specimens. Involves others when necessary.
• Observes safety guidelines.
• Organizes work priorities to provide exceptional service and turnaround time.
• Demonstrates technical skills required to accession Histology specimens and assist with Gross Dissection.
• Utilizes the Anatomic Pathology Lab Information System (LIS) to log and accession specimens.
• Works closely with the Pathologist’s Assistant (PA) and/or Pathologists to ensure coding and specimen types are correct.
• Communicates delays or concerns with coworkers and the PAs, utilizes the Communication Board as appropriate to ensure handoff between shifts.
• Consistently demonstrates Service Always behaviors in all interactions.
• Retrieves Anatomical Pathology specimens from surgery, endoscopy, reference laboratory and Histology refrigerator.
• Matches all specimens with requisitions, checking two patient identifiers at each step.
• Ensures specimens and requisitions are labeled with two patient identifiers and specimen source; follows up on any unlabeled or incorrectly labeled specimens/requisitions and logs these on the appropriate form for monthly review.
• Accurately enters pertinent data including physicians and specimens submitted in AP LIS System.
• Ensures all appropriate submitting physicians and Hospitals are included as to avoid later amendments and dissatisfied clients.
• Prints cassettes accordingly.
• Accurately records assigned Anatomic Pathology specimen accession number on specimen container and requisition.
• Accurately orders expected stains based on the requisition or established protocols.
• Ensures grossed cassettes are placed in 10% NBF.
• Removes any unused cassettes from LIS.
• Ensures processors are loaded properly and started at scheduled times.
• Uses critical thinking to ensure specimen integrity at all times.
• Contributes ideas and assists in implementing changes to ensure efficient operation of the department.
• Supports co-workers by assisting in department support activities: takes temperatures, labels and dates all reagents, checks reagents for outdating and discards as needed, restocks reagents and supplies, notifies appropriate person when inventory is low, changes tissue processors, changes staining reagents, discards tissues, sends slides and blocks which are 5-10 years old to off-site storage facility, recycles xylene and alcohol, files blocks and slides.
• Disposes of chemical wastes appropriately.
• Cleans and maintains instruments, refrigerators, freezers and work and storage areas.
• Displays a willingness and interest in learning new instruments or procedures or in cross training into other areas.
• Generates and reads email daily.
• Provides support for other laboratory sections by assisting when staffing shortages or heavy workload events occur and helping to maintain lounge areas used in all sections. Demonstrates a teamwork mentality.
• Information from written documents/communications are reviewed, retained and appropriately applied. Manuals and…