Job Description
Casual position to not exceed more than 19 hours per week.
The Department of Dermatology is seeking a Histotechnologist who requires significant technical expertise and a high level of responsibility in handling delicate specimens. Must demonstrate competency in all job-related tasks, including technical expertise in tissue processing, an organization in the storage of slides, and efficiency in ordering and restocking supplies or reagents. Providing support for ongoing expansion and quality improvement process is a must.
Position: Histotechnologist (Casual)
Specific Duties & Responsibilities:
- Process tissue in the Mohs Dermatologic Surgery/Dermatopathology units.
- May involve occasional travel to other Dermatology clinic sites to provide histotechnician coverage and support for Mohs surgeons.
- Prepare equipment for use in frozen and fixed specimens (setting up the water bath, stainer, Cover slipper, and other instruments).
- Embed tissue and cut frozen/paraffin blocks.
- Gross fresh tissue specimens.
- Prepare slides (staining slides, reviewing stain for adequacy, labeling, and distributing slides).
- Recut blocks as requested by the Mohs surgeon/Dermpath attending.
- Clean embedding center and stainer in compliance with credentialing policies.
- Pull slides/blocks from storage, as requested; change frozen section stains (preparing reagent, preparing special stains).
- Train and orientate new staff in the laboratory.
- Monitor Divisional staff's mandatory health and safety training and ensure their attendance at training sessions and ensure continuing staff compliance.
- Ensure all lab staff understands the yearly National Patient Safety Goals, especially the Laboratory Services National Patient Safety Goals.
- Participate in quality assurance activities.
- Maintain documentation for QA and report QA problems to supervise physician.
- Participate in facility-wide continuous quality improvement activities, safety, and disaster activities, and other QA activities.
- Attend continuing education and mandatory training sessions.
- Perform miscellaneous-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications (Mandatory):
- Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Chemistry, Histology, or related field. 1-year laboratory experience in histology.
- An associate’s degree from an accredited Histotechnology certification program may be acceptable with 3 years of histology laboratory experience.
- Additional related experience can substitute for education. HT (ASCP) eligible and CLIA High Complexity.
- Will accept - Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Clinical Laboratory Science, Biology, Chemistry, etc). with lab experience that is eligible to sit for HT certification and CLIA High Complexity.
- Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in a Mohs surgical unit.
- HT (ASCP) certification.
- Experience with laboratory tools and equipment.
Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
- Work produced is subject to a precise measure of quantity and quality.
- Attention to detail is critical to the successful performance of this job as it directly affects patient diagnoses or research outcomes.
- Knowledge of normal human tissue morphology is essential.
- Able to perform paraffin as well as frozen sectioning, and H&E staining, and to recognize discrepancies and take corrective action.
Equipment, Machine, or Tool Requirements:
- Computer, Copier, Fax, Telephone. Laboratory tools and equipment include but are not limited to scales, balances, ph meters, microtomes, cryostats, various tissue processors, automated strainers, and cover slippers.