Anatomic Pathology Float and Morgue DPC - Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Clinics is home to the largest laboratory in NH, providing Pathology and Clinical Laboratory services to DHMC & Clinics physician practices, Dartmouth Health system member hospitals as well as to independent practices and hospitals throughout NH and VT.  The department is a leader in process improvement (LEAN/Six Sigma) which has led to a renovated space designed for efficiency of workflow.  With a slogan of ‘Investigate, innovate and validate,’ our lab is:

• A high-volume lab with cutting edge technology and automation
• A culture that encourages collaboration and teamwork to future innovation.
• A place to learn and grow, and we encourage new graduates to apply for our open positions.

Primary job duties for this position entail overseeing the daily operations of the Morgue.  The successful candidate will work to ensure the interactive team follows the approved Morgue policies and procedures.  They ensure the Morgue environment is well kept and report up issues to the Anatomic Pathology Support Supervisor.  As time allows, they provide float support to the Anatomic Pathology Office and/or Slide File Room, as assigned by the Anatomic Pathology Support Supervisor.

This is a full-time, 40-hour/week, benefitted, day-shift position working Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm.

More information about benefits can be found here: DHMC and Clinics Employee Benefits

Morgue

1.    Functions as interactive member of the team for decedent inquiries from Nursing, Admitting, Funeral Homes, Medical Examiner, New England Donor Service, Security, Chaplaincy, Social Work, Patient and Family Relations, Clinicians, and Transport

2.    Support and maintain regulatory compliance to standards associated with Morgue

3.    Support ordering and fiscal responsibilities associated with Morgue

4.    Receipt and release in the Morgue for inpatients and outpatients, as well as private autopsy requests, and contracted hospitals

5.    Support the administrative functions associated with these activities and serve as liaison with the appropriate government and health agencies

6.    Maintain adult and perinatal remains accountability within the Morgue space. In some instances, will also be responsible for the accountability of surgical specimens allocated for removal by a funeral home or the medical examiner.

7.    Maintain physical space and environmental conditions.

8.    Maintain appropriate records, logs, forms, and/or lists required for morgue. Understand and review deceased paperwork.

9.    Properly maintain patient personal property

10.    May participate in the receipt, storage, preparation, of deceased patients.

11.    Participate in training team members on the policy and procedures of the Morgue as necessary.

12.    Exercises considerable independent judgment, professional and technical skills in the continuous analysis and review of the morgue operating functions and services.

13.    Liaison for morgue emergency management and surge capacity planning

14.    Other duties as assigned

Pathology Float tasks may include providing support for the Anatomic Pathology Office:

1.    Transcribes for the pathology reports

2.    Assists with sub-specialty schedule and On-Call schedule creation

3.    Performs incoming consult workflow, registration in e-DH and Cerner Millennium assigning appropriate accession, pathologist or sub-specialty and tracking

4.    Prepares and organizes material for numerous tumor board conferences  

5.    Provides Autopsy service with documentation and communication between referring physician, family, Medical Examiner Office, residents and faculty.

6.    Accessions, provides tracking, organization and packaging materials for reference lab testing

7.    Assists with whole slide imaging and filing

8.    Disposes of surgical specimens per established departmental policy

Skills/ Abilities/ Competencies Required:

• Must be comfortable working around deceased people.
• Ability to lift, pull, and push significant amount of weight.
• Ability to work in a temperature-controlled Morgue.
• Must be comfortable communicating effectively with people who have lost a loved one.
• Must demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills to permit collaborative and effective working relationships with intra and extra departmental employees.
• Must hold self with professional decorum.  Always maintain patient/donor confidentiality.
• Possess organizational skills, time management skills, multitask, and detail oriented.
• Ability to adapt to the situation while maintaining a quality system.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Laboratory and/ or Morgue experience a plus.

• LNA or 2- 4 years of hospital/secretarial experience or equivalent required.
• Associates degree or higher preferred.
• Proven leadership and organization skills desired.

• None