My Career

Christiana Care is seeking a full-time Pathologists' Assistant to join our team of 9 pathologists and 4 PAs. You'll be working alongside a cohesive and supportive group of PAs with a longevity of 20 years with the group.

The specimens include a variety of types ranging from small GI biopsies to complicated cancer resections, including multiple specimens from outside surgical center and doctors' offices. Autopsies cases are rotated amongst PAs with the assistance of an autopsy technician.

The Pathologist Assistant will perform the gross examination of surgical specimens, autopsy prosections, and related tasks in Anatomic Pathology. Work collaboratively with Pathologists, the Lead Pathologists' Assistant, clinical lab staff and leadership, operations leadership, and colleagues. To provide clinical support for pathology specimens, billing, and management in the inpatient and outpatient settings.

Description & Details:

• 9 Pathologists

• Currently 3.75 PAs

• 27,000 annual surgical cases

• 150 autopsies annually (130 adult; 20 fetal)

• No pathology residents

• Prior experience preferred

• Exam eligible new graduates welcome to apply

• No weekend or night call or holidays

• Paid time and stipend to attend continuing education conferences each year

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responds to Pathologists' Assistant team priorities based on patient/specimen needs and acts on these accordingly.

• Performs surgical grossing work at Christiana Care Network sites based on volume requirements and at the direction of laboratory scheduling created by the Lead Pathologists' Assistant.

• Performs necessary diagnostic testing and directs appropriate request of ancillary studies, within scope of practice and credentials.

• Uses the electronic medical record (EMR) for gathering appropriate clinical information to optimize specimen handling and testing.

• Utilizes teaching/learning principles coupled with an expert clinical knowledge to promote and provide education and counseling to PAs, physicians, and laboratory staff.

• Assures appropriate specimen accessioning, set-up, triage, and verification of unique patient identifiers.

• Obtains and reviews pertinent clinical information and history, including imaging studies, laboratory results, and operative records.

• Performs macroscopic description and dissection of all surgical specimens to include current CAP guidelines and prepare tissue for histologic processing.

• Assists with autopsy procedures, assuring confirmation of decedent identification, performing organ dissection, submitting tissue blocks, communicating with the responsible pathologist, and completion of gross report.

• Obtains pertinent gross surgical and autopsy photographs.

• Obtains tissue samples for ancillary testing, including flow cytometry, culture, and cytogenetics.

• Assures that surgical pathology and autopsy specimens are grossed in a timely fashion to meet required turn-around-time for reporting.

• Assists with maintenance of equipment, provision of supplies, and cleanliness of the surgical pathology suite.

• Assists pathologists with frozen sections, including immediate communication to the pathologist of pertinent gross findings.

• Acts as a liaison for other health professionals and committees external to pathology.

• Contributes to the development and maintenance of best practice guidelines, quality and performance improvement protocols, algorithms, and research.

• Applies laboratory safety governmental regulations and standards as practical to anatomic pathology.

• Participates in safety training, avoids biological hazards, and practices proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

• Provides excellent customer service and assists in efforts to improve specimen turn-around-time and patient satisfaction scores.

• Strives for the highest quality in all aspects of work performance and assumes responsibility for improving care/services.

• Maintains privileges, mandatory education, and regulatory requirements as needed for area of specialization.

• Collaborates with Pathologists' Assistants, the Lead Pathologists' Assistant, and clinical leaders regarding system wide policies and practice initiatives.

• Participates in hospital staff education to share best practices for pathology specimen collection and submission.

• Participates in regularly scheduled team huddles and department meetings. Communicates updates, changes, and concerns effectively.

• Collaborates with clinical leadership to develop and monitor quality performance metrics.

• Participates in College of American Pathologists' Systems Inspections, if asked.

• Supports ChristianaCare goals in community outreach including facilitating shadowing opportunities for high-school and college students interested in the field.

• Integrates with the ChristianaCare Advanced Practice Clinicians and serve on a committee, if invited.

• Assists clinical leaders with other duties, as indicated.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Completion of a NAACLS accredited Pathologists' Assistant program.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Certified, or eligible for certification, by the American Society of Clinical Pathology

• Member of the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants (AAPA)

• Continuing Medical Education: 60 credits every 3 years to include 1 credit each for safety and medical ethics.