Pathology

Graduate Competencies and Workforce Entry Level Proficiency

Graduates of the Assistant in Pathology program will work as a Pathologists’ Assistant under the supervision and direction of a board certified pathologist. They will be able to perform the basic entry level proficiencies in surgical pathology, autopsy services, and administrative duties. These workforce entry level competencies and skills include:

A. Surgical pathology:

1. 1. Assuring appropriate specimen accessioning.
   2. Obtaining pertinent clinical information and history including imaging reports and scans, previous pathological report, laboratory data, physician notes, and post operation notes.
   3. Describing gross anatomic features of surgical specimens using appropriate terms, preparing tissue for histological processing, collection of histological samples such as blood, tissue and toxicological material for studies such as flow cytometry, image analysis, immunohistochemistry, etc., and performing special procedures including tumor triage, and submitting for image analysis.
   4. Preparing and submitting appropriate tissue sections for light microscopy as well as special procedures such as frozen section, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy.
   5. Photographing all appropriate gross specimens and microscopic slides.
   6. Performing duties relating to the administrative maintenance of surgical pathology protocols, reports and data, including the filing of reports, protocols, photographic data or slides, microscopic slides, assisting in the completion of specimen coding and billing.
   7. Assuring proper maintenance of equipment, provision of adequate supplies and cleanliness of the surgical pathology area.
   8. Assisting in the organization and coordination of anatomic pathology conferences.

B. Autopsy pathology:
Performing human postmortem examination, including:

1. 1. Ascertaining proper legal authorization for autopsy.
   2. Obtaining body’s medical record/chart and other pertinent data for review with attending pathologist.
   3. Conferring with the attending pathologist to identify any special techniques and procedures to be utilized in the completion of examination (e.g. culture smears, histochemical immunofluorescence, toxicological, viral or electron microscopic studies, etc.), and notifying all personnel directly involved.
   4. Notifying the physician in charge, the funeral home, and all other appropriate authorities prior to the beginning of the autopsy; and coordinating any requests for special specimen sampling (e.g. organ transplantation, research, etc.).
   5. Performing postmortem examinations which may include: external examination; in situ organ inspection; evisceration; dissection and dictation or recording of data such as organ weights, presence of body fluids, gross anatomic findings, etc.
   6. Selecting, preparing and submitting appropriate gross tissue sections for frozen section analysis as well as for light, electron and immunofluorescent microscopy.
   7. Obtaining biological specimens such as blood, tissue and toxicological material for studies including flow cytometry, image analysis, immunohistochemistry, etc.; and performing special procedures such as coronary artery perfusion, central nervous system perfusion, enucleation, inner ear bone dissection, spinal cord removal, etc.
   8. Photographing the body, organs, microscopic slides and other pertinent materials;
   9. Gathering and organizing clinical information and data pertinent to the preparation of the preliminary summarization of the clinical history;
   10. Preparing the body for release, (including indicating the presence of biohazards such as contagious diseases, radiation implants, etc.) and releasing the body to the appropriate mortuary or funeral home representative.
   11. Performing duties related to administrative maintenance of anatomic pathology protocols; photographic and microscopic slides; and assuring the completion of coding.
   12. Assisting in the organization and coordination of anatomic pathology conference;
   13. Assuring the proper maintenance of equipment and adequate supplies.

 C. Administrative duties:

Performing administrative duties such as monitoring material supply inventory, supervisory, teaching, and other appropriate tasks as assigned.