Histotech Team Lead

The Lead acts in assigned area(s) as an extended resource to the manager, as well as, to the department employees and providers. This person possesses specific department knowledge for his/her responsible service unit(s) and must be able to execute the day-to-day workflows as communicated by the manager. It is expected that the Lead's daily work will encompass both lead and patient care/ bench responsibilities. The objective is to assist the department in achieving efficient workflow processes, high quality clinical outcomes, and exemplary patient/provider experiences.

Qualifications:
Minimum Education
Bachelor's Degree preferably in a related biological science. (Required)

Minimum Work Experience
5 years Histology Technologist related experience. (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Knowledge of computer applications related to the lab information systems, Cerner/Pathnet.
Knowledge of requirements of accrediting/regulatory agencies such as CAP, CLIA/CLIP, JCAHO and OSHA assuring the incumbent meets requirements.
Knowledge of quality assurance/quality control, workload recording, equipment maintenance documentation records.
Knowledge of safety procedures and policies pertaining to the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory.
Superior communication skills and interpersonal skills.
Ability to communicate with all levels of clinical staff and providers regarding use of EMR, department specific skills, orders, referrals, and documentation.
Ability to communicate with EMR technical support to make recommendations on improvements or streamline processes in regard to EMR use related to Pathology.
Problem solving skills with the ability to listen, understand, and solve or de-escalate employee and provider issues before they become more serious.
Basic understanding of employment related regulations & laws and Clinic policies
Ability to always demonstrate the highest level of performance and behavior standards.
Ability to be honest and straightforward, dealing with issues fairly and consistently.Ability to be supportive and acknowledge individuality.
Ability to be a team player. Support and assist team members. Be available to help, and learn from the team. Keep an open mind to feedback, and earn trust of staff and providers.
Possess a positive winning attitude. Able to welcome challenges and view problems as opportunities. View mistakes as learning experiences, while believing that your efforts will make a positive difference.
Must have reliable and predictable attendance.
Ability to successfully become a core-trainer of histology and pathology practices.

Required Licenses and Certifications
Histotechnician (HT) Minimum of HT(ASCP) Upon Hire
HTL(ASCP) Upon Hire (Preferred)

Functional Accountabilities
Team Lead

• Oversee daily operations and responsibilities of "patient flow" within each assigned area. Delegate tasks as appropriate.

• Reassign staff to meet the needs of the day and coordinate operational needs, as necessary.

• Monitor work volume and works with lab manager to meet the needs of the day, as necessary.

• Assist manager with staffing schedules. coordinating vacation requests and sick calls to ensure appropriate clinical coverage

• Provide first level support as a patient services liaison to research issues surrounding complaints, specimen tracking errors, etc. Communicate findings and potential solutions to manager.

Immuno-Histochemistry (IHC) and Enzyme Histochemistry

• Perform IHC assays. Include IF, validations, QA/QC, surveys, equipment PM, R&D and duties as assigned and trained.

• Perform enzyme histochemistry as trained.

Technical Performance

• Accession, fix, embed, cut, stain and mount tissue sections from surgical/diagnostic cases and autopsies

• Prepare reagent, verify correct instrument operation, standardize, perform and check results for variety of complex tests.

• Perform histology procedures to include preparing tissue specimens for gross examination and prosection by the pathologist or appropriate resident physician. Responsible for prosecting certain tissue specimens specified within departmental guidelines under the indirect supervision of a pathologist, maintaining identity of specimen throughout the entire process.

• Prepare and maintain stains and solutions as required and to process tissue through the steps of fixation, dehydration, cutting of paraffin blocks and staining, cover slipping and labeling of slides.

• Assist residents/pathologists in fresh/frozen section area, including cryostat tissue cutting and quick staining of slide preparation.

Equipment Maintenance and Troubleshooting

• Operate instruments and equipment as required. Conducts performance checks, calibrations, preventive maintenance and basic troubleshooting of problems or malfunctions. Make adjustments or minor repairs with aid of instrument manuals or technical assistance by telephone.

• Able to perform the operation, calibration, cleaning, and preventive maintenance of instrumentation and equipment within the branch where assigned.

Quality Control

• Prepare special staining solutions. Maintain control sections. Identify, investigate, and resolve discrepancies and problems. Document action taken, maintain various logs as assigned.

• Identify unusual outcomes or discrepancies/conditions which cause erroneous reports (instrument malfunctions, inappropriate specimens, etc.) Take appropriate action to make corrections and solve problems. Notify the supervisor when no guidelines are available for specific occurrences.

• Responsible for admission and discharges to the morgue, maintain accurate census and insure identify of patient throughout the entire process.

• Responsible for preparing and maintaining reagents utilized in immunoperoxidase and special stains. Prepare representative tissue sections used for quality control monitoring the effectiveness of the special stains.

• Determine reactivity and variability of individual tissue sections, how each is expected to react to stains being performed, discern discrepant results and report to the Supervisor to discuss possible modification in procedure.

• Perform slide and block filing and retrieval procedures as required.

Quality Improvement:

• Initiate quality improvements and apply new methods of working to help the Clinic achieve goals.

• Help administer a histology quality program and effectiveness program by working with the department manager, quality managers and specialists as applicable.

• Promote a high quality of care delivery through policy development, protocols, evidenced based guidelines related to pathology services and regulatory CAP guidelines.

• Oversee histology laboratory workflow to maintain CAP, OSHA, DOH, CLIA, JHACO compliance, including but not limited to QA, SOP and maintenance documentation.

• Help ensure the quality and safety of health care services through active process improvement and activities.

• Assist with the review and creation of workflows to aid in process improvement and efficient service delivery.

• Actively engage in discussion and review of processes, patient flow, EMR data input, and other department activities.

• Use process improvement tools to understand root causes, analyze work steps, remove variation and determine if improvements are needed, measured and assimilated into practice.

• Support, promote and assist patient satisfaction initiatives throughout the department and Clinic as a whole.

• Assure quality checks for histology lab testing are completed in an accurate and timely manner. Ensure equipment maintenance is completed per schedule.

• Perform daily activity performance audits; must be able to deliver scoring and feedback on necessary improvements to staff in a constructive manner.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Staff)
Organizational Commitment/Identification

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

Teamwork/Communication

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior

• Partner with all team members to achieve goals

• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

Performance Improvement/Problem-solving

• Contribute to a positive work environment

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change

• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes

• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

Cost Management/Financial Responsibility

• Use resources efficiently

• Search for less costly ways of doing things

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance

• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation

• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation

• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication

• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers

• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance