Pathology Support Coordinator

SUMMARY:

The Pathology Support Coordinator provides essential administrative and documentation support across Pathology, Cytology, Histology, and Autopsy services. Responsibilities include (but not limited to) managing departmental communications, coordinating decedent release processes, and supporting billing and consultant & send out workflows. The role also involves preparing tumor board materials, handling sample logistics, and assisting pathologists as needed.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Utilizes knowledge in use of patient demographics as provided by various applications and interfaces.
• Complies with all quality, productivity, and time management expectations in all tasks and workflows per department Standards for level of experience.
• Competently maintains all equipment provided for use by Tucson Medical Center Health (TMCH).
• Adheres to TMCH organizational and department-specific safety and confidentiality policies, as well as values and standards.
• Maintaining the morgue logbook, ensuring all documentation is accurate and complete for each decedent, and resolving discrepancies as needed. Check the Morgue Book for any changes overnight. Ensure that paperwork is complete and correct for each decedent. Contact units as needed for corrections needed. Contact family or person authorized to release decedents. Complete paperwork for release when outside transport arrives. Release decedent if Histology techs are not available. 

·         Phone calls - handles internal and external pathology inquiries.

·         Manages face sheets for billing purposes, coordinates, and completes outside consultant requests.

·         Prepare send-outs as requested by pathologists. Print pathology report, demographic sheet, pull slides/blocks as needed. Pack up and ship. Enter all send-outs in Lab Pathology System, and in the Histology Send-Out Log. File hard copies of send-out requests.

·         Process send-out returns: Enter all returns in Lab Pathology System. Put MRN on report for scanning later. Give report to the pathologist whose case it is.

·         Process send-out consults via fax. Enter the consultation as received in Lab Pathology System under Send-Out Returns.

·         Prepare for various Tumor Boards (print reports and pull slides for cases being discussed); approximately 11 tumor boards per month.

·         Assist with Legal Preservation, ongoing and backlog. Handling specimen logistics as required by TMCH Legal Department.

·         Print Final report (peer review) - distribute to pathologist- pull and file completed worklist.

·         Pull and sort incoming fax documents; if time allows, make copies of incoming send-out requisitions.

·         Performs related duties as assigned by Lab Manager or Lab Director. Provides support and assists Laboratory Leaders and pathologists as requested. Supporting pathologists with administrative tasks and documentation needs that are within scope of duties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION: High school diploma or general education degree (GED) required.  Associates degree in a related field.

EXPERIENCE: Three (3) years of related Pathology Department or Laboratory support experience in an acute care setting preferred.  Will consider new graduates with zero (0) years of experience.

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION: None required. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

·         Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, disease processes, signs and symptoms, medications, laboratory values, surgical procedures, and specialties.

·         Skill in English language usage, grammar, punctuation, style, and editing.

·         Skill in reading and listening to ensure comprehension.

·         Ability to use a wide array of professional reference materials in both printed and electronic format.

·         Knowledge and use of Microsoft applications, EHR software, and transcription applications; general computer, keyboarding, and mouse usage. 

·         Ability to effectively navigate the EHR.

·         Knowledge of, and ability to, identify patient safety and risk management issues within healthcare documentation.

·         Ability to understand and compare information entered into the medical record by numerous sources, and ability to accurately assess that information is consistent and appropriate for the patient.

·         Ability to process, assess, and/or decipher information entered into the EHR, including the ability to research to verify information that may appear incorrect, incomplete, or ambiguous.

·         Ability to multi-task (perform more than one task at a time and/or quickly switch back and forth between tasks) while working under pressure of time constraints.

·         Ability to work independently with a varying level of supervision, working toward minimal supervision.

·         Ability to concentrate and pay attention to detail.

·         Ability to understand and apply relevant medicolegal concepts such as confidentiality.