Autopsy Assistant - Per Diem

About the role

The TH Instructional Support Assistant/Autopsy Assistant plays a crucial role in the Autopsy Service and Decedents Affairs Office. They work closely with the Director of the Autopsy Service and the Decedents Affairs Office Coordinator to ensure smooth operations of all aspects of the autopsy service. Responsibilities include coordinating with Pathology Attending/residents, setting up and assisting during autopsies, cleaning up, and interacting with various medical center staff.

Responsibilities

• Autopsy: Coordinate with Pathology Attending/residents, set up for the autopsy, assist during the dissection, sew up the body post mortem, clean up the autopsy room, and return the body to the morgue.
• Neuropathologist: Set up autopsy room for Neuropathologist to examine/gross the brains and clean up afterwards.
• Sterilization: Sanitize the autopsy room/body using Stera Mist.
• Coordination: Work with Decedents Affairs Office Coordinator, Patient Access staff, and community funeral directors for coordination of autopsies and release of bodies according to hospital policies and external regulations.
• Equipment Maintenance: Check morgue daily for cleanliness and availability, free up gurneys, notify Patient Transport supervisor if gurneys require cleaning/repair, perform equipment preventative maintenance, and address out of limit Rees monitoring alarms.
• Clerical: Place supply & equipment orders, generate and review monthly Rees reports, and provide backup for registrations/entering orders in SMS/PowerChart.
• Placentas: Check labeling of containers with requisitions, work with Labor & Delivery on any issues, accession placentas, print tissue cassettes, set up grossing table, assist with grossing, clean up, and manage storage, report release, and disposal of placentas.
• Medical Waste: Organize and store autopsy / placenta / wet tissue specimens until ready for disposal, handle medical waste disposal, and coordinate with Housekeeping and Environmental Health & Safety for appropriate disposal.
• Miscellaneous: Provide backup for microscope slide/tissue block filing and retrieval, arrange for viewing in the bereavement room, prepare the body for viewing, bring it to the viewing room, and return the body to the morgue after the family leaves.

Qualifications

• Required: Associates Degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, Biological Science, or Mortuary Science, or 2 years of experience as a Diener/Autopsy Aide in a Hospital setting and/or Medical Examiner's Office.
• Preferred: Bachelor's Degree in Clinical Laboratory Science, Biological Science, or Mortuary Science (Funeral Director), 2 years of clinical experience (Diener, Autopsy Aide, or Funeral Director).
• Skills: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, ability to shift bodies/objects, prolonged standing, use of respirators, basic computer knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel, excellent interpersonal and communication skills.