GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT
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Working under the very general supervision, and reporting to the Director of Operations, Anatomic Pathology and the Medical Director of Frozen Section, is responsible for managing the daily operations in the OR Frozen Section Room. Ensures that the necessary tissues for research protocols are obtained, without compromising the patient's diagnosis, according to approved IRB research protocols and in conjunction with the Tissue and Blood Biospecimen Repository. Develops and implements a formal orientation and training program for residents, Pathologists' Assistants, and Pathology Specialists in surgical pathology and frozen section technique. Under the direction of the Technical Director, performs other technical and administrative tasks.



PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Leadership



1. Provides direct supervision of Frozen Section Room staff's daily activities. Serves as direct line of communication on performance matters with Technical Director. Provides immediate direction to staff to ensure the highest level of service is consistently provided.


2. Participates in PA/Frozen Section technician hiring decision process.


3. Performs competency assessment and contributes to90 day and annual performance appraisals for Frozen Section technician, rotating PA staff, and the CAMD Pathologists' Assistant.


4. Ensures that the necessary tissues for research protocols are obtained, without compromising the patient's diagnosis, according to approved IRB research protocols and in conjunction with the Tissue and Blood Biospecimen Repository.


5. Ensures that other PAs and residents acquire tissue for departmental or interdepartmental purposes for studies that do not utilize the Tissue and Blood Biospecimen Repository according to approved IRB research protocols.


6. Coordinates and implements real time response to immediate Frozen Section room needs.


7. Provides an on-site resource for coordination of equipment, supply, personnel or service issue


8. Serves as liaison for residents and pathologists with PAs and technical staff providing a clear channel for communication in the frozen section room.


9. Meets with Departmental superiors and administration staff to facilitate smooth operation of surgical pathology by recommending/implementing policies and procedures necessary to maintain lab quality, efficiency and safety.


10. Develops and implements technical staff coverage schedules and implements PA staff coverage for the frozen section room to ensure adequate weekday coverage.


11. Assists specimen transport Pathology Specialist with direct communications with operating room staff on problem specimens.


12. Provides immediate and direct response for safety concerns and incidents in the Frozen Section room. Ensures that appropriate Occupational Health measures are taken when necessary.


13. Provides coverage for Technical Director when required.


14. Develops and implements daily formal instruction for pathology residents in surgical pathology technique. Orient and train medical residents, medical students, and less advanced technicians in Pathology Frozen Section Room procedures.


15. Recommends, writes and implements effective policies and protocols for Frozen Section Room procedures.


16. Prepares and delivers surgical pathology training and inservice sessions for residents and fellows. Delivers annual orientation sessions for new residents and fellows.


17.



Tissue Banking



1) Provides oversight and coverage for the CCPM/CAMD Pathologists' Assistant and Pathology Residents to ensure that research tissue is appropriately procured, without compromising patient's diagnosis in a timely fashion. Will allocate/bank tissue per the standards laid out in specific Tissue Bank and CCPM/CAMD SOPs. When covering evening cases for the CCPM/CAMD PA, the selected tissue will be appropriately prepared to optimize nucleic acid yield and reviewed with a pathologist to document the percent of tumor cells in the selected tissue by frozen section or other methods.


2) Provides oversight and coverage for BWH Tissue and Blood Biospecimen Repository. Accurately logs in cases to Tissue Bank Database, with necessary clinical information, to get an anonymous linked identifier that is assigned to research tissue. This information can be used by the principle investigators of the banking protocols to link back to patient identifiers, once consent is provided to the BWH Tissue and Blood Biospecimen Repository. Contact appropriate staff of research protocols to pick up fresh research tissue in as timely as possible from the frozen section room.



Quality Assurance



1. Oversees and reviews functional verification of equipment in Frozen Section Room. Resolves equipment failures by contacting appropriate service personnel. Ensures all necessary documentation is completed.


2. Provides surgical specimen quality assurance for unresolved discrepancies that have escalated beyond the Specimen Transport Pathology Technician.


3. Develops and implements a quality assurance program to retrospectively evaluate that specimens are grossed in according to protocol by residents and PAs. Follows up with appropriate education and documentation to prevent recurrence.


4. Annually reviews protocols and QC data for Frozen Section Room to prepare for inspections by The Joint Commission or other regulatory agencies. Recommends and writes policy or procedure changes to improve compliance.


5. Maintains established department policies, procedures and objectives, including quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.


6. Follows all Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals and related BWH Laboratory and Hospital Policies.


7. Perform all other duties and responsibilities as directed.



General Pathologists' Assistant Duties



Performs all duties of Pathologists' Assistant including but not limited to:


1. Gross description and dissection of a full range of surgical pathology specimens.


2. Demonstrates astute clinical judgment when handling patient material and reports.


3. Assist senior staff by assuring consistent and proper acquisition of tissue from specimens for departmental or inter-departmental purposes such as clinical studies, teaching, and research.


4. Troubleshoot problems that arise including dealing with mislabeled specimens or specimens missing in processing, by working with senior staff, other departmental personnel, or other clinical staff in the hospital.


5. As necessary, provides coverage for rotating Frozen Section Room Pathologists' Assistant.


6. Active development of and participation in resident teaching conferences and activities.


As necessary in the Frozen Section Room, select tissue from surgical specimens, section in a cryostat and stain these sections for review and stat intraoperative diagnosis by the pathologist



Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:



Master's Degree from NAACLS accredited and AAPA approved Pathologists' Assistant Training Program required.


PA(ASCP) certification required. .


Five years of experience as a Pathologists' Assistant required. Experience an preferred.


Desire to lead other Pathologists' Assistants.



EEO Statement

BWH is an Affirmative Action Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.