Pathologists' Assistant; PA

Overview

Ansible Government Solutions, LLC is recruiting Pathologists' Assistants to support the VA San Diego Healthcare System at 3350 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92161. Services will be delivered on a Per Diem basis, scheduled in advance (normally in 4‑hour blocks). The role focuses on the performance of autopsies, with grossing duties required on occasion. An exceptional Per Diem hourly pay rate is available.

• Assists in all aspects of anatomic pathology
• Performs specialized tests including histochemical and immunohistochemical stains and cytometric analyses, and interprets the results. Researches, evaluates, orders, and implements new equipment and procures related supplies. Photographs for teaching purposes.
• Investigates and resolves problems related to anatomic pathology. Performs SNOMED and other required anatomic pathology workload coding. Adjusts work procedures and routines to accommodate resource allocation decisions made at the executive level.
• Reviews regulatory criteria, ensuring all procedures and protocols are maintained up to date with regulatory criteria, prepares work areas for inspection, and participates in the inspection process.
• Plays a leading role in the education and training of residents in pathology, other medical specialties, and medical students, regarding the practice of anatomic pathology and autopsy. Provides instruction at the bench and through discussion or relevant topics. Evaluates, selects, organizes, and adapts educational, training and resource materials for teaching programs. Creates special study rotations to introduce new technologies and processes.
• Teaches other health‑care workers including technicians, technologists, nurses, students and administrative personnel about anatomic pathology.
• Participates in the development of anatomic pathology protocols under the supervision of a pathologist.
• Assists in the collection, reporting and interpretation of data for anatomic pathology QA programs, participates in the PALMS QA committee, makes recommendations as needed, and directs and implements quality improvement initiatives approved by the committee.
• Participates in the orientation and training of new employees, residents and students.
• Performs all elements of gross examination and sectioning of every type of surgical pathology specimen.
• Provides a description of tissue received from surgery, noting size, color, consistency and anatomic orientation.
• Cuts specimens to present optimal specimen detection for microscopic examination, pathologic diagnosis and cancer staging.
• Removes and dissects visceral organs, brain and spinal cord in order to demonstrate the presence or absence of disease and/ or anatomical variation.
• Performs autopsies, with or without an autopsy assistant, by correlating the gross pathology with the patient’s clinical presentation and preparing external and internal descriptions.
• Prepares the body for pickup by a funeral home; orders special studies (e.g., cultures, histochemical and immunohistochemical stains, electron microscopy) and provides interpretation.
• Prepares frozen tissue sections and other tissue sections within or outside of the histology department.
• Operates complex instruments such as cryostat, cameras and automatic tissue processor, IHC, identifying technical and mechanical indicators of malfunction and correcting errors.
• Maintains regulatory compliance, reviews regulatory criteria and ensures all procedures and protocols are up to date.
• Oversees the morgue for adherence to facility and regulator safety, quality control and privacy regulations.
• Acts as a key contact person for pathologists, grossing and histology staff to identify problem areas and recommend changes to workflow.
• Provides an interpretation of the patient cases to the anatomic pathology supervisor and pathologists.
• Performs and documents quality control, quality assurance and corrective actions related to test performance using sound statistical principles and theories of performance improvement.
• Enters and verifies laboratory results in the computer system, recognizes deviations from expected results, analyzes and corrects problems using scientific…