Team Leader Histology

General Summary of Position

The Lead Histologist provides technical information coordination and direction to technicians and technologists engaged in performing specialized process that aid in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Also monitors quality control quality assurance and safety programs.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributes to the achievement of established department goals and objectives and adheres to department policies procedures quality standards and safety standards. Complies with governmental and accreditation regulations.
• Assigns employees to duties and oversees performance and education in Histology. Coordinates technician work schedules.
• Instructs new employees students and residents. Orients new employees to section policies and procedures.
• Accessions surgical specimen. Evaluates and cuts surgical specimen of certain defined types for histology processing. Performs and reviews computer operations involving specimen accessioning slide preparation and quality control.
• Serves as a technical resource to evaluate and solve histology specimen and processing problems. Ensures procedures for process deviations and rejection of specimens are followed.
• Writes and updates histology procedures and participates in improving histology techniques. Evaluates new techniques instruments and procedures as required. Ensures compliance with accreditation standards regulatory and inspection requirements. Serves as an inspector for an internal CAP inspection or participates in inspection preparedness.
• Evaluates normal and abnormal tissue types. Embeds and orients tissue specimen for microscopic evaluation. Identifies and resolves problems in the automated tissue processing cycle.
• Prepares reagents. Prepares paraffin sections on routine and difficult cases and solves related problems. Assists Histotechnologists with difficult sectioning cases.
• Performs assesses and reviews the quality of routine hematoxylin and eosin staining and special stains on surgical and autopsy slides. Troubleshoots staining procedures and implements corrective action as necessary.
• Performs reviews and documents daily quality control and corrective action initiated when quality control results exceed tolerance limits.
• Provides direction in the preparation of decalcified bone tissue.
• Performs and reviews preventive and corrective maintenance of equipment and instruments. Maintains appropriate records.
• Performs send out testing to reference laboratories and shared testing to other MedStar hospitals. Monitors pending log and mails reports as needed.
• Answers questions and resolves complaints from pathologists physicians and nursing units. Takes appropriate steps to resolve customer service problems according to established department protocol.
• Provides input into employee performance appraisals and assures that staff complies with hospital and departmental policies and practices.
• Participates in meetings and on committees and represents the department and hospital in community outreach efforts.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary quality and service improvement teams.

Minimal Qualifications
Education

• Associate's degree in Chemical Physical Biological Clinical Laboratory Science or related fields required
• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Physical Biological Clinical Laboratory Science or related fields preferred

Experience

• 5-7 years minimum of progressively more responsible job-related experience preferred
• One year of relevant professional-level work experience may be substituted for one year of required education.

Licenses and Certifications

• Health Services\HT - Histotechnologist - ASCP or equivalent certification required as HT or HTL obtained within 2 years required orHealth Services\HTL - Histo Technologist obtained within 2 years required

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Considerable and current knowledge of principles methods and techniques of clinical laboratory science. Ability to apply technical knowledge with accuracy in the completion of complex tests. Problem solving capability with the ability to assess accuracy of results. Verbal and written communication skills. Basic computer skills required.