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Department

Job Summary

Under minimal supervision, the incumbent performs moderately and complex Anatomic and Surgical Pathology laboratory
procedures. The Pathologists' Assistant is a technical resource to other laboratory personnel, physicians, and nursing staff in the
absence of a section supervisor. Incumbent has contact with ancillary employees to provide assistance in trouble shooting patient
care issues regarding testing and laboratory processes. Identifies and resolves problems with test analysis and consults with the
supervisors, Director of Laboratory Administration, or the Director of Services when appropriate and according to established
protocol. Handles day to day bench related problems with little supervision, provides training and mentoring, and is the liaison
for the department when the Anatomic Pathology Manager or Pathologist is not available.
Pathologist Assistant rotates with other members of the team, variable start time.

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for the organization of and efficiency of workflow processes in the frozen section and gross examination.
• Triages specimen received from surgery.
• Dissects and grossly describes tissue specimens.
• Dictates gross findings on selected specimen using appropriate terminology.
• Refers tissue sections for microscopic review by Pathologist.
• Performs specialized procedures such as frozen sections and decalcification.
• Determines proper fixative solutions in which tissue will be maintained.
• Submits tissue requested for special histological procedures, special stains, and ancillary testing when appropriate.
• Labels, stores and retains surgical specimen.
• Photographs specimen as appropriate for use for documentation or education.
• Provides assistance to the pathologist in a timely and quality manner. (0%)
• Provides coverage for the Office of Decedent affairs as needed to include but not limited to; coordinates the directives of the next of kin in the disposition of the decedent with funeral directors , obtains autopsy consent, performs post-mortem examination and prosection, assists pathologist in completing the preliminary anatomic diagnosis.
• Provides troubleshooting assistance and support to technical staff and with the vendors to ensure uptime and testing turnaround times with equipment and for testing procedures.
• Advises and consults with the appropriate supervisor regarding troubleshooting, investigations, and quality control issues.
• Assists in teaching, training, staff development, and competencies as needed.
• Involved in QC reviews, proficiency testing, preventative maintenance, and environmental controls.
• Trains for new technology or new testing as new technology or testing is released.
• Assists with writing policies and procedures as delegated.
• Participates in huddles or meetings and communicates quality activities inside and outside of the laboratory when needed.
• Assists in compliance with regulatory and accrediting agencies.
• Follows and ensures safety, life safety, and infection control procedures for self, patients, and others.
• Assists supervisor in developing departmental cohesion and collegiality using praise and appreciation of staff.
• Provides education and strengthens teaching as part of the DH mission, assists with teaching gross anatomy and pathology.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree Successful completion of a National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLs) accredited Pathologist' Assistant training program, required. Required

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years Professional experience at an accredited hospital, preferred.

Licenses:

• Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of human anatomy, surgical, grossing and prosecting techniques.
• Knowledge of cancer staging.
• Knowledge of surgical pathology coding.
• Compliance of safety and infection control requirements, including the use of all medical and surgical instruments and equipment.
• Demonstrates safe use of the grossing instruments, blades, saws, and cryostat.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to update and use Voice Recognition templates.
• Familiar with regulatory compliance in Quality Control (QC) and competency requirements.
• Ability to mentor technical staff to train, educates for decision making, and ensure competency.
• Good communication and customer relation skills to ensure patient safety and quality processes in the laboratory.
• Ability to perpetuate teamwork.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work within the department.
• Ability to troubleshoot testing, equipment, and quality issues relative to testing in the area of oversight.
• Ability to work with the public in a time of emotional trauma.
• Excellent organizational skills and detail oriented work relative to completing decedent paperwork, in identifying, accessioning, handling specimens for processing and testing.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to troubleshoot testing, equipment, and quality issues.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

• Competitive pay

• Outstanding benefits

• Education opportunities

• Shared leadership and advancement opportunity

• State-of-the-art facilities

• Immediate retirement plan matching

• Professional clinical advancement program

• Participation in evidence-based projects

• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer

• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

Our Values

• Respect

• Belonging

• Accountability

• Transparency

All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made.

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic health care system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver's 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, a Public Health Institute, an HMO and The Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado's primary, and essential, safety-net institution, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided billions in uncompensated care for the uninsured. Denver Health is viewed as an Anchor Institution for the community, focusing on hiring and purchasing locally as applicable, serving as a pillar for community needs, and caring for more than 185,000 individuals and 67,000 children a year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

We strongly support diversity in the workforce and Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).

Denver Health values the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. For read more about our commitment to diversity visit: https://www.denverhealth.org/for-professionals/careers/diversity-and-inclusion

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About Denver Health

Take your career to the next level at Denver Health, where we offer a robust benefits package and endless opportunities for growth. Denver Health is a nationally-ranked, locally-trusted, premier healthcare institution located in the heart of Denver, Colorado.Twenty-five percent of all Denver residents, or approximately 150,000 individuals, receive their health care here. We are known as an integrated health care system that encompasses multidisciplinary academic specialties, a community health system, a level I adult trauma center, pediatric emergency and urgent care center home to Denver Public Health and many of the nation's leaders in medicine.Denver Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer At Denver Health we pride ourselves on our commitment to diversity. Equal opportunity is a fundamental principle of Denver Health. As an equal opportunity employer, Denver Health is committed to recruit, hire, promote and administer all human resource actions in a non-discriminatory manner. Denver Health is committed to providing equal opportunities in all business practices and to all persons regardless of age, race, color, national origin, genetic information, religion, sex, pregnancy, disab...ility, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status or veteran status (collectively “protected status”). Denver Health strives to maintain a work environment that is free from unlawful harassment and discrimination and will not tolerate any such conduct by employees or directed at employees within the scope of their employment. Read the full Human Resources Employee Principles and Practices policy.

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