Histology Technician

NMC is recruiting a Histology Tech in the Pathology Department. The position is full-time (80 hours bi-weekly), primarily 6:30a-3:00p. Northwestern Medical Center’s mission is to provide exceptional health care to our community. We care about our employees, their families, and their overall health & well-being. We offer a generous benefits package to help employees stay healthy and balance work & life responsibilities.

Histology Technician

Job Summary

• The Histology Technician supports the efficient operation of the Histology section with guidance from the Histology Technician II and Pathologists. Performs quality control, preventative maintenance, and tissue processing that includes macroscopic and microscopic examination, preparation of stained slides, and documentation of data, and collaboration among staff to achieve maximum efficiencies in the laboratory setting.

• Education:
  
  An earned associate degree in a laboratory science or medical laboratory technology, obtained from an accredited institution

OR

• Education/training equivalent to the above that includes at least 60 semester hours or equivalent from an accredited institution. This education must include 24 semester hours of medical laboratory technology courses, OR 24 semester hours of science courses that includes 6 semester hours of chemistry, 6 semester hours of biology, and 12 semester hours of chemistry, biology or medical laboratory technology in any combination.
  
  In addition, the individual must have laboratory training including either completion of a clinical laboratory training program approved or accredited by the ABHES, NAACLA, or other organization approved by HHS (note that this training may be included in the 60 semester hours listed above).

• Experience:
  
  1-2 years Histology experience preferred.
• Training:
  Orientation to hospital, skills and laboratory.
• Other:
  The Histology Technician must possess strong mental and visual concentration. Good hand/eye coordination. Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

• Reports To:
  
  Lab Director with clinical guidance from Pathologist
• Supervises: n/a
• Other Contacts:
  Assistant Lab Manager, Histology Section Specialist, providers and their office staff, public and other employees & volunteers

• Machinery or Equipment Used:
  General Histology equipment including tongs, tissue processors, plastic tissue cassettes, molten wax, heater, microtomy and staining machines, cover slipper machine, slide tray, dictation equipment, tweezers, filter bag, ruler, wheeled cart, Cryostat machine, picks and scrapers, and general office equipment
• Physical Demands:
  Manual dexterity in use of equipment, good and/or corrected vision, light to moderate physical effort (lift/carry up to 50 lbs.). Mostly sedentary work with occasional standing, walking, lifting, squatting, crouching, bending, pushing, pulling, and pinching. Requires minimal color discrimination with occasional need for discrimination of both red-green and blue-violet. Infrequent use of box cutter. Constant manual dexterity
• Working Conditions:
  
  Exposure to odorous chemicals, specimens and/or toxic conditions. Exposure to microtome knives and moving parts of equipment with occasional exposure to wet/slippery floors and rare exposure to ionizing radiation
• Required Protective Equipment:
  Lab coat, routine PPE as indicated by protocol, chemical resistant gloves, safety glasses and apron

• Performs high quality macroscopic tissue examinations within job scope (skin, ellipses, small biopsies, curettings, etc.) under the supervision of a qualified pathologist. Processing limited to description, inking, and cutting of specimen
• Sets up and provides assistance with frozen sections
• Performs procedures requiring specialized skill or advanced knowledge (special stains, bone marrow collections and processing, etc.)
• Prioritizes tasks and efficiently manages workload
• Operates Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) according to established guidelines
• Supports efforts to evaluate and validate new tests and/or methods

• Processes specimens following written procedures
• Produces high quality slides free of defects with appropriate staining
• Uses judgment to evaluate the quality of tissue and slide, taking action to resolve any deficiencies
• Reports values accurately
• Testing activities performed in a manner that is consistent with the Quality Management Plan
• Consults with Pathologist regarding unusual or abnormal findings

• Prepares, controls, re-agents, solutions, etc. according to protocols
• Recognizes and corrects issues that have the potential to affect the performance of tests, including anything with the potential to create pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical error
• Conducts/evaluates performance checks
• Performs and documents quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) activities
• Evaluates QC/QA/PM, implements appropriate corrective action, and documents action taken
• Effectively communicates issues to the…