Pathologist Assistant

New to OU Health

OU Health offers a competitive total rewards package, including a sign-on bonus and possible relocation assistance for candidates over 100 miles away.

About the role

These positions are available in levels 1-3 based on education, experience, and licenses/certifications. Preferred candidates will have direct experience as a certified PA.

Responsibilities

• Follows authorized technical procedures when performing patient testing.
• Mets turn-around-times established for testing and reporting patient results.
• Receives specimens into laboratory using appropriate patient identifier and labeling requirements and receives them into the electronic medical record including registration of specimens from outpatients.
• Follows instrument and equipment calibration and routine maintenance procedures.
• Labselling tissue cassettes using block control sheets.
• Assists in the preparation of frozen tissue sections (label, cutting and stain slides).
• Performs gross descriptions of simple and limited pathology specimens as authorized.
• Prepares patients for evisceration for post-anatomical diagnosis during autopsy.
• Photographs specimens for documentation and conference preparation.
• Complies with all hospital and laboratory safety policies and procedures including the appropriate use of PPE.
• Assumes responsibility of own professional development.
• Completes annual competency assessment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum Qualifications (Level 1): Associate’s degree or higher required. Degree in Biological Sciences or related field preferred. 1-3 years laboratory technical experience required.
• Minimum Qualifications (Level 2): Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university. Masters in PA preferred. 3-5 years of relevant experience including 1 year of grossing experience required. Must be certified by the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) as a Pathologists’ Assistant (PA) or must be Board eligible for certification by ASCP as a PA, Must obtain licensure within one year of hire.
• Minimum Qualifications (Level 3): Bachelor’s Degree and completion of CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, formerly NCCLS, National Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standards) accredited program required. "Grandfather" PA(ASCP) is also acceptable with bachelor's degree and 8 years of experience. 5+ years of relevant experience required. ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) as a Pathologists' Assistant (PA) required.

Skills and Abilities

• Must have the skills to perform required laboratory testing.
• Must be able to work as part of a team and follow instructions.
• Must be able to consistently and dependably report to work as scheduled.
• Must be able to maintain legible, accurate and organized records.
• Able to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and exercise sound judgment.
• Must be able to multi-task and remain calm in stressful situations.
• Must possess ability to understand various operations, policies and procedures.
• Able to work and communicate with co-workers and other caregivers, and meet their needs in a professional, polite, courteous, compassionate and cooperative manner.
• Demonstrates a high level of initiative, effort and commitment towards establishing priorities and completing assignments.
• Able to assist in the pre-analytical phase for specimen procurement, identification and proper specimen handling.
• Able to perform troubleshooting and technical problem solving.
• Able to assess and verify the validity of patient test results, including identifying problems that may adversely affect test performance or reporting of test results.
• Core knowledge and understanding of normal laboratory processes.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and medical terminology.