Specimen Processing Specialist 1 at Portland, OR (Marquam Hill) – Portland, Oregon

Perform accessioning/data entry for specimens received for pathology diagnosis.

• Receives samples for testing.
• Checks accuracy of specimens requisitions and labels triaging as appropriate; logging them as per policy, documenting specimens sent elsewhere.
• Contacts referring location for missing or illegible information and clarify orders; follows up to insure resolution including documentation, obtaining signature of person responsible for corrective action and submission of Patient Safety Intelligence . Follow up on specimens that appear to be missing.
• Performs computer entry as per department procedure, creating or sending the correct account and visit numbers, selecting appropriate specimen type and entering complete and accurate detail.
• Creates billing accounts in HMS for specimens received from outside OHSU.
• Accurately labels request forms, specimen containers, and slides.
• Insures that all specimens received are accessioned and triaged in a timely manner.
• Seeks approval and communicates to appropriate team members for same day and weekend/holiday RUSH processing.
• Notifies appropriate personnel when priority specimens are received including frozen sections and requests for RUSH processing.
• Recognizes unusual, questionable, or lost specimens, and seeks assistance from Pathologist’s Assistants/house staff/faculty/manager/ordering provider following to resolution.
• Communicates clearly promoting excellent customer service and teamwork.
• Communicates effectively with all customers including physicians, nurses, fellow employees, outside clients and patients.
• Maintains a professional demeanor at all times, even under stress.

Specimen, slide, block preparation and management

• Maintains orderly progression of specimens to the gross room.
• Maintains orderly specimen storage cabinets.
• Preserves samples/hardware and coordinates requests to return to patients, research coordinators and legal firms.
• Retrieves and transports cassettes from the grossing area, placing them in numerical order and loading them into the tissue processor providing photo documentation for quality control.
• Insures that tissue processors are setup, loaded and/or started at end of shift.
• Maintains communication with the gross room personnel regarding fixation, hold over specimens and provides work list updates.
• Coordinates requests for special disposition with Decedent Affairs Coordinator.
• Prepares, stains and coverslips cytology and surgical samples. · Labels slides with computer generated labels as needed.
• Reconciles slides with worklists and distributes following lab protocols.
• Retrieves blocks and coordinates with work list for tests ordered in LIS.
• Retrieves blocks for cutting of control slides to maintain supply of controls ready for use.
• Assists in the organization and filing of slides, blocks, and reports on site, in remote locations (Richard Jones Hall and Iron Mt.),and archiving preparation.
• Pull slides and reports for weekly conferences.
• Prepare materials for send out and research requests.
• Store and/or return consult slides.
• Discards tissue following standard procedure maintaining adequate free storage space to ensure new specimens can be stored; includes fixed and frozen specimens.

Other Duties as Assigned

Job Related Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Competencies):

• Knowledge of basic laboratory techniques;
• Knowledge of laboratory terminology, equipment, and materials;
• Knowledge of basic math;
• Ability to follow formulas accurately;
• Ability to handle, package, and store laboratory specimens and materials;
• Ability to operate and maintain standard laboratory equipment;
• Ability to learn routine testing methods, procedures, and techniques;
• Ability to keep accurate records in conformance with laboratory procedures; and
• Ability to follow written and verbal procedures (instructions).

• Experience in a clinical or pathology laboratory setting, including specimen handling, HIS and LIS data entry, billing, telephones, other data entry.