Grossing Tech

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the general supervision of a Pathologist or the Managing Pathologist Assistant, accessions, prepares and performs human specimen (and animal if research) dissection and postmortem (necropsy) examination. Provides technical support to pathology department pathologist and pathology residents (specimen dissection, provision of paperwork, supplies etc.). Provides technical and logistical support to the laboratories as needed, specifically, grossing small biopsies, accessioning surgical specimens and assisting pathologists in performing frozen section.

Maintains cleanliness and infection control in surgical pathology dissection suites, mortuary and autopsy facility. Provides support services to the Decedent Affairs Office as required. Assists physicians with autopsies, preparation of death certificates and related paperwork (autopsy permission, reporting to New England Organ Bank).

Position:
Grossing Tech

Department:
Lab Support

Schedule:
Part Time

• Essential responsibilities / duties:
  Surgical Pathology Services/ Frozen Section Service Support

• Prepare and gross small surgical, biopsies and autopsy specimens, including dissecting and sectioning tissues according to standard operating procedures.
• Performs some duties of a Histotechnologist to include, organizing, processing, cutting frozen sections, staining, and otherwise preparing tissue for microscopic evaluation by the Pathologist.
• Obtains patient's clinical history and tissue type for specimens missing this information.
• Administers the daily operation of the surgical pathology dissection suite. Cleans and disinfects work area, inventories and stocks supplies. Monitors and cleans instruments and equipment (fume hoods, cryostats, etc.).
• Assists with materials management within the department. Collects and coordinates delivery of consumable supplies and equipment to laboratories and satellite offices. Monitors inventory of store room under the direction of the laboratory supervisor and/or department manager.
• Participates in removal of hazardous waste from laboratories to storage facility within the department. Communicates with safety department as necessary.
• Exhibits an understanding and knowledge of: histologic tissue preparation, opening and embedding cassettes, slide labeling and cover slipping.
• Prepares chemicals and dyes for use in routine and special staining techniques of diagnostic specimens.
• Exhibits an understanding and knowledge of: routine histologic staining and set-up of frozen-section staining area; use of automated tissue staining equipment and operation and maintenance of automated cover slipper.
• Performs accurate labeling and filing of slides and blocks. Records statistical data (e.g., number of cases, blocks, slides, stains) and tests results on a daily basis.
• Cleans and maintains tissue processors
• Calibrates and maintains laboratory equipment. Reports malfunctioning equipment to supervisor and maintains daily log of equipment performance. Assists with equipment delivery. Performs preventative maintenance and QC documentation of laboratory equipment.
• Implements and understands the concepts of Universal Precautions, chemical hygiene, infection control and laboratory safety.
• Quality Control checks and temperature monitoring and documentation for laboratory equipment.

• Participates as a team member of the Decedent Affairs Office.
• Receives deceased patients from hospital transport.
• Escorts deceased patients to hospital morgue for storage and places deceased patients into mortuary refrigerators.
• Accessions deceased patients. Summarizes statistics of deceased patients on a monthly basis for department manager.
• Communicates on behalf of the Decedent Affairs Office with regard to death certificates and body release authorization forms.
• Communicates with funeral directors, hospital house staff, pathology staff, and Medical Examiners' office with regard to autopsies or body release.
• Ensures that documents regarding release of deceased patients (death certificates, release authorization forms) are accurate and complete.
• Ensures that the identity of the deceased patient has been confirmed, prior to release, by correlating the death certificate with patient name tag, wrist band, toe tag etc.
• Communicates with families of deceased patients. Assists and guides with issues pertaining to the mortuary service.
• Organizes and assists with deceased patient viewing. Prepares deceased for viewing by family. Operates video monitoring equipment. Confers with psychiatric nurses, social workers and administrators as necessary.
• Schedules and performs release of bodies to funeral directors, Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and/or livery services. Keeps appropriate records of these transactions.
• Cares for and distributes personal effects of deceased patients to appropriate departments (valuables, clothes etc.)
• Cleans and disinfects morgue, morgue refrigerators,…