Job Summary:
Category B – Employees with patient care impact
FLSA: Exempt
Job Purpose:
o Prepares histology specimens for microscopic examination and analysis by Pathologists
o Distributes test requests to requesting patient care unit, facility or physician
Supports the mission, vision, and strategic goals of Methodist Health System.
Age Specific Care Considerations:
Adult: 18+ years – 35 years
Adult: 35+ years – 65 years
Adult: 65+ years
Children A: 18+ months – 3 years
Children B: 3+ years – 5 years
Children C: 5+ years – 12 years
Children D: 12+ years – 18 years
Infants: 0 – 18 months
Education:
High school diploma
Licenses and/or Certifications (Required and Preferred):
None
Related Work Experience and Other Skills:
One year of laboratory experience
Must be able to prioritize workflow
High level of energy and motivation
Department Specific Competencies (Clinical Only):
Content listed in this section will NOT appear as a job duty on the performance evaluation.
Identified competencies based on the section of the laboratory
Physical Demands and Work Environment:
Physical Factors (% of Time):
•20 - Standing Stationary
•60 - Standing/Moving About
•15 – Sitting
•2 – Climbing
•20 - Bending (stooping/crouching)
•2 – Kneeling
•1 – Crawling
•30 – Reaching
•90 – Handling
•90 – Talking
•0 - Driving
•15 – Smelling
Hearing (% of Time):
•100 - Normal Noise Level
•0 - Occasional Loud Noise
•0 - Constant/Very Loud Noise
•0 - Constant Low Level Noise
Hazardous Conditions (% of Time):
•5 - Respiratory Irritants
•50 - Skin Irritants
•50 - Allergic Irritants
•50 - Wet Work – Hands
•1 - Wet Work – Feed
•0 - Operation of Heavy Equipment
•0 - Climbing of Ladders
•0 - Working in High Places
•50-75 - Use of Electrical Equipment
•25-50 - Use of Sharp Utensils
•80 - Exposure to Blood and Body Fluids
Carrying (% of Time):
•50 - Up to 10 Lbs
•30 - 10-20 Lbs
•10-30 - 20-50 Lbs
•10 - 50-100 Lbs
•0 - 100+ Lbs
Lifting (% of Time):
•45 - Up to 10 Lbs
•30 - 10-20 Lbs
•10-30 - 20-50 Lbs
•10 - 50-100 Lbs
•0 - 100+ Lbs
Push/Pull (% of Time):
•10 - Up to 10 Lbs.
•10 - 10-20 Lbs
•30 - 20-50 Lbs
•10 - 50-100 Lbs
•10 - 100+ Lbs
Visual Demands (Yes or No):
•Yes/No - Vision Essential
•Yes/No - Vision Not Essential
Environmental Demands (% of Time):
•100 – Indoor
•0 – Outdoor
•0 - Hot Environment
•0 - Cold Environment
Other (% of Time):
•10 - Visual Strain
Job Roles:
Essential Duties
1. Adheres to the general hospital standards to promote a cooperative work environment by utilizing communication skills, interpersonal relationships and team building.
• Following hospital policies and procedures (attendance, dress code, etc.)
• Following departmental policies, guidelines and procedures
• Contributing to the overall quality of services, standards of performance and department reputation
• Assumes responsibility for keeping informed about changes in policies and procedures
• Follows scope of practice and legal consequences
15%
2. Creates and maintains a safe environment for self, co-workers and facility.
• Demonstrating through practice, principles of Infection Control and Universal Precautions, adherence to OSHA standards, Hazardous Material Guidelines, Red Rules Compliance, JCAHO National Patient Safety Goals and CAP patient safety goals
• Safeguarding the rights of patients and hospital personnel to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential manner
• Demonstrating proper technique and use of equipment
• Responding appropriately to emergency situations
• Promoting customer satisfaction by being responsive to clinical needs
• Demonstrates ability to perform skill specific to clinical area
15%
3. Ensures complete, accurate, and timely slide processing
• Follows interlaboratory standards for slide production
• Assesses stain quality on a daily basis prior to submitting slides to Pathologist for diagnosis
• Ensures that all tissues are triaged and assessioned
• Can produce a stained frozen section within time frame required
• Familiar with categories and theories of special stains and can reliably produce stains
• Adherence to all quality protocols in the laboratory environment
• Ensuring critical patient information and data are communicated effectively with the multidisciplinary team across the continuum of care and documented properly within the patient record
15%
4. Communicates with the healthcare team and co-workers
• Promoting a cooperative working environment by utilizing positive, constructive communication skills to facilitate proper handling of patient testing
• Communicating and addressing conflicts with appropriate personnel, utilizing listening skills, showing sensitivity, and following chain of command
• Communicating with co-workers using tact and in clear, concise, and thorough manner
10%
5. Takes personal responsibility for performance
• Attends department hospital/staff meetings
• Performing MHS requirements in a timely manner: Blackboard, vaccinations, surveys, benefits, Team Share, performance goals
• Reviews departmental routings, newsletters, minutes, emails etc.
• Demonstrating the ability to accept responsibility and be accountable for patient specimen handling/testing Demonstrating the ability to collaborate with other healthcare team members and the ability to work well with co-workers
• Demonstrating the ability to accept constructive criticism from peers and management
• Assuming responsibility for orientation and mentorship of new staff/students
• Participating and supporting system and department goals
• Demonstrating ability to utilize time effectively and efficiently
10%
6. Professional growth and development initiatives
• Maintaining professional competency by self direction (Certification renewal, annual competencies, continuing education and professional development plan)
• Initiating and facilitating change to improve quality of care, keeping abreast of new developments, and contributing to productive changes in the department
• Developing new programs and/or protocols to enhance patient care delivery
• Recommending capital equipment or other resources to enhance patient care delivery and/or department operations
• Participating in the identification, data collection and appropriate resolution of problems that may involve patients and/or department through quality process improvement activities and hospital pillars (Service, Quality, Growth, Work Place)
10%