Position: Pathologist’s Assistant (PA)
Department: Grossing
Schedule: Full-time
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
The Pathologist’s Assistant (PA) is an extensively trained allied health professional who provides anatomic pathology services under the direction and supervision of a Board Certified, licensed medical doctor (pathologist). PA’s interact with pathologists in same manner that physicians’ assistants carry out their duties under the direction of physicians in surgical and medical practices. The Pathologists’ Assistant serves as the eyes of the pathologist and is often the initial (and sometimes only) individual to look at the specimen when it arrives from the operating room, clinic and/or physician’s office. A fully trained PA is allowed to perform post mortem examinations (autopsies) through to the preliminary anatomic diagnoses (PAD) without a pathologist present. Pathologist’s Assistants contribute to the overall efficiency of the laboratory or pathology practice in a cost effective manner by performing a variety of tasks, consisting primarily of gross examination of surgical pathology specimens.
Major Responsibilities
Preparation, gross description, dictation and dissection of human tissue
- Ensuring appropriate specimen accessioning
- Obtaining pertinent clinical history including x-rays and other laboratory data
- Obtaining tissue such as blood and toxicological material for studies such as flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry
- Photographing all pertinent gross specimens
- Assists with frozen section tissue preparation
- Ascertaining proper legal authorization for autopsy
- Retrieving the patient’s medical chart and other pertinent data for review with the attending pathologist
- Conferring with the attending pathologist to identify any special techniques or procedures to be utilized
- Perform postmortem examination to include external exam, internal exam, evisceration, dissection and submission of appropriate tissue for microscopy
- Dictation of the postmortem examination
- Completion of the postmortem preliminary anatomic diagnosis (PAD)
- Notify the pathologist in charge and the funeral home upon completion
- Ensuring the completion of specimen coding
- Assist in the organization of anatomic pathology conferences
- Ensuring the proper maintenance of equipment
- Provision of adequate supplies
- Cleaning of grossing stations
- Disposal of biological and administrative waste
- Solve any discrepancies or other issues that may arise
Minimum Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree in medical/biological sciences field
- Graduation from an approved Pathologists’ Assistant training program
- Experience that demonstrates strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to establish rapport with persons of diverse backgrounds which also includes experience working with students, staff, and faculty, with a higher or lower education level
- Ability to interpret complex rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines
- Demonstrate ability to organize workload
- Must possess a professional demeanor and have experience that demonstrates problem solving skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and work independently with minimal supervision
- Must be detail oriented, self-motivated, a fast learner and possess excellent time management, organizational, written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to take direction and use independent judgment to coordinate and meet multiple deadlines
- Familiarity with HIPAA and security compliance requirements
SEPA Labs is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions on the basis of qualifications and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, use of lawful products during non-work hours and any other legally protected status.