Histology Technician

Methodist Hospital

Full-time; Benefited

2nd shift, Monday - Friday, 1:30pm-10pm, No weekends, No Holidays

Using technical skills and knowledge, the Histology Technician prepares slides of body tissues to be used by the pathologist for analysis and diagnostic purposes.

Why UnityPoint Health?

• Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what’s right for the people we serve.
• Benefits – Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options like 401K match, paid time off and education assistance that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Development – We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.
• Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

Visit us at UnityPoint.org/careers to hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work. https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org/

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccination Requirement: It is required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and Influenza. Exemption requests based on medical or religious reasons may be submitted, but must be approved for active employment. 

Demonstrates technical skills required to log and accession Histology specimens.

• Utilizes the Anatomical Pathology LIS module to log and accession specimens.
• Organizes work priorities to provide exceptional service and turnaround time.
• Retrieves Anatomical Pathology specimens from surgery , reference laboratory and Histology refrigerator.
• Matches all specimens with requisitions.
• Ensures specimens and requisitions are labeled with two patient identifiers and specimen source; follows up on any unlabeled, incorrectly labeled specimens/requisitions.
• Accurately enters pertinant data including physicians and specimens submitted in AP LIS System. Prints cassettes accordingly.
• Accurately records assigned Anatomical Pathology specimen accession number on specimen container and requisition.

Demonstrates technical skills required to assist the pathologist or pathologist assistant with gross dissection.

• Records number of tissue pieces in AP LIS module for each specimen. Appropriately adds special instructions.
• Places closed completed cassettes in 10% formalin.
• Properly loads tissue processor and initiates processing run.
• Uses critical thinking to ensure specimen integrity at all times.

Demonstrates technical skills required to embed, section, stain and label tissue specimens.

• Knowledgeable and skilled in embedding.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in sectioning of paraffin embedded tissues.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in sectioning frozen tissue specimens and assisting during interoperative consultations.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in routine H & E staining.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in performing special stains.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in performing immunohistochemistry.
• Knowledgeable and skilled in performing histology portions of special procedures including: FNAB, send-outs
• Utilizes proper technique as defined by each individual procedure.
• Checks controls for quality of work and repeats testing as required.
• Consults with pathologist about problem specimens. Involves others when necessary.
• Observes safety guidelines.
• Organizes work priorities to provide exceptional service and turnaround time.

Participates in support activities necessary to ensure a smooth and efficiently run operation

• Contributes ideas and assists in implementing changes to ensure efficient operation of the department.
• Supports co-workers by assisting in department support activities: takes temperatures, labels and dates all reagents, checks reagents for outdating and discards as needed, restocks reagents and supplies, notifies appropriate person when inventory is low, changes tissue processors, changes staining reagents, discards tissues, sends slides and blocks which are 5-10 years old to off-site storage facility, recycles xylene and alcohol, files blocks and slides.
• Disposes of chemical wastes appropriately
• Cleans and maintains instruments, refrigerators, freezers and work and storage areas.
• Displays a willingness and interest in learning new instruments or procedures or in cross training into other areas.
• Generates and reads electronic messages using e-mail system.
• Provides support for other laboratory sections by assisting when staffing shortages or heavy workload events occur and helping to maintain lounge areas used in all sections. Demonstrates a teamwork mentality.

Education

High School Diploma /GED Preferred

Work Experience

1-3 years of experience in/with full-time histology and background in biology, chemistry, mathematics, the metric system Required.

License and Certification

Additional Information: ASCP certified (HT or HTL). Effective 6/16/08, a candidate may be considered when eligible for certification by one of the following routes: 1) Successful completion of a NAACLS accredited histotechnician program within the last five years AND one year full-time experience in histology within the last ten years under the supervision of a pathologist; 2) Associate degree (or at least 60 semester hours) with a combination of 12 semester hours of biology and chemistry AND one year full time acceptable experience in histology within the last ten years under the supervision of a pathologist.

Required English Skills

Basic reading skills

Basic writing skills

Basic oral skills

Communication Skills

Ability to respond appropriately to customer/co-worker

Interaction with a wide variety of people

Maintain confidential information

Ability to communicate only the facts to recipients or to decline to reveal information

Ability to project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor

Computer Skills

Basic computer knowledge: Uses word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail application, and web browser. Comfortable within a Windows OS and learning new applications.