Histology Assistant

Overview

UnityPoint-St Luke's Hospital

PRN (as needed)

Evening and Weekend Shifts

The Histology Assistant processes and prepares tissue and cytology specimens in a timely and accurate manner for gross and microscopic examination.  The Assistant performs Secretarial duties for the Histolgy Department also.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Key Accountability

• Demonstrates technical and operational expertise
• Interprets quality control results and instrument function
• Completes scheduled preventive maintenance duties
• Provides assistance and guidance involving repairs, validations, and function checks
• Organizes, prioritizes, executes and interprets workload. Actively assists coworkers with interpretations and troubleshooting and possible follow-up corrective actionsParticipates in quality assurance (QA). Attends and participates in QA laboratory meetings as requested.
• Resource management: Assists and monitors necessary supplies and kit availability for patient testing.  Responsible for following manufacturer’s recommended instructions for utilizing testing material and kits.  Assists with reagent orders from vendors.
• Technical and teaching assistance: Provides operational training for coworkers involving manual, automated, and organizational skills for patient testing. Provides knowledge acquired thru experience and training to assist new hires and current coworkers
• Accessions pathology cases (patient demographics); assesses and documents the adequacy of pathology specimens when received; prepares cytology specimens; assists pathologists in preparation of tissue specimens for gross examination;
• Assists with frozen sections; embeds tissues and operates a microtome to prepare microscopic slides; performs special stains.

• Assists in department quality control activities and scheduled preventative maintenance on equipment including daily temperatures

• Performs clerical activities including but not limited to, filing and retrieving pathology slides and blocks; assists in supply inventory; performs solvent recycling; assists in disposal of tissues and morgue maintenance.

Qualifications

• Education:  High School Diploma required.  Completion of a CEHEA accredited histology program or associated degree in related science field plus 1 year of internship preferred.
• License(s)/Certification(s): ASCP Certification in Histology preferred.
• Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:  Accountability.  Adaptability.  Interpersonal skills.  Planning and organizational skills.  Decision making.
• Other:  Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.