The Role
Supervises histology laboratory operations, staffing, workflow, and technical production while working as a histotechnician. Leads quality assurance and quality control programs, inspections, accreditation readiness, safety training, staff development, productivity tracking, process improvement, equipment maintenance, and protocol validation. Collaborates with pathologists, physicians, laboratory leadership, and compliance teams to resolve quality issues and ensure accurate, timely diagnostic materials.
Summary Generated by Built In
GENERAL SUMMARY OF DUTIES: The histology supervisor is a working histotechnician overseeing staffing, laboratory technical operations, workflow, quality assurance, and quality control programs.
REPORTS TO: Director, Pathology Services
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Duties may include but are not limited to:
Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Overall Lab Operations/Staff Supervision
- Directs day-to-day lab operations including staffing, resources, access, throughput, reporting, and operational issues
- Ensures lab is appropriately staffed during operational hours; manages staff overtime to lab needs
- Ensures lab structure addresses changes in technology, operational processes, and lab needs
- Supervises day-to-day laboratory workflow, quality control, and quality assurance programs; coaches and directs team members on quality and technical concerns; oversees team task assignment(s) to achieve daily case sign-out goals.
- Directly supervises and evaluates full-time and PRN Histotechnicians and Grossing Technicians.
- Performs all steps necessary relative to hiring, evaluating, coaching, promoting, disciplining & discharging employees by following established HR policies
- Leads or participates in daily themed huddles focused on lab operations, efficiency, motivation, and highlighting metrics
- Leads monthly 1-on-1s with each Histotechnician and Grossing Technician
- Conducts/participates in regular staff meetings to keep staff informed of company policies and procedures.
- Applies histotechnician skills and experience to daily work, functioning as a working floor-Manager and contributing to the overall productivity and quality of the lab.
- Interact with physicians, patients, staff, visitors, and all customers via telephone conversations and in-person pleasantly and helpfully.
- Abides by and promotes HIPAA compliance; maintains strictest confidentiality with regards to patient information.
- Follows all CLIA Patient Safety Goals.
- Quality Assurance/Quality Control
- Performs daily check-ins with pathologists to discuss lab quality, workflow, and productivity
- Researches and addresses concerns raised by internal physician partners; communicates resolution back to initiating provider and safeguards against future occurrence through process improvement and training
- Facilitates positive working relationship between providers, lab leadership and team
- Demonstrates timely response and effective communication in resolving issues and concerns
- In collaboration with the Medical Director and Lab Leadership Team, develops and executes a comprehensive QA/QC Program
- Provides leadership to staff to ensure quality patient care by utilizing the performance improvement model to correct quality issues
- Implements and ensures Standard Work performed across all functional areas of the lab
- Ensures each team member is assessed and provided feedback and training (as appropriate) through Quality Review process; maintains a master log of quality review scores for lab
- Maintains established department policies, procedures, and objectives, including the areas of quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control; leads annual review and approval process for policies and procedures
- Ensures appropriate incident reporting for quality control concerns; works collaboratively with all relevant parties to resolve incidents and maintain appropriate documentation
- Ensures adherence to quality assurance procedures such as quality control testing, instrument function checks, periodic maintenance; maintains appropriate records for these procedures
- Ensures compliance standards are met as described by appropriate accrediting bodies such that accreditation is maintained without gaps
- Manages CLIA and state inspections and ensures lab readiness for these
- Develops and maintains appropriate protocols for equipment and staining to ensure high quality case materials for diagnostic purposes.
- Provides leadership and oversight when developing new staining protocols, optimizing and validating new tests, and ensures appropriate controls handling.
- Develops and revises policy and procedure manuals and maintenance logs to ensure compliance and accreditation readiness; reviews and signs off annually.
- Designs and maintains Quality Review procedure for all staff. Works in collaboration with other leadership team members to assess staff quality through this review process.
- Conducts regular quality review feedback sessions with pathologists to ensure high-quality case materials; resolves quality concerns expediently.
- Oversees, tracks, and maintains staff quality metrics and ensures all staff members achieve appropriate quality thresholds.
- Maintains established department policies, procedures, and objectives, including the areas of quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.
- Leads safety training of all laboratory personnel, including maintaining appropriate documentation and protocols in conjunction with the office of quality and compliance.
- Coordinates and participates, as needed, in proficiency testing.
- Maintain and make minor adjustments and repairs to laboratory equipment such as microtomes, embedding machines, tissue processors, and slide and block printers.
- Workflow & Operational Effectiveness
- Provides leadership to staff to ensure laboratory operations and workflows are optimized and effective; manages and assigns workload/task responsibilities.
- Oversees, tracks, and maintains staff productivity metrics and ensures appropriate production levels across all staff members.
- Reviews workflow regularly to ensure the laboratory is actively engaged in continuous improvement.
- Coordinate and/or facilitate continuous improvement activities for lab staff and leadership team.
- Provides education, training, and support to team members focused on increased visibility of workflow process and procedures between laboratory workstations.
- Performs all other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as directed.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
High School diploma or GED; American Society of Clinical Pathologists registered histologic technician HT (ASCP) or histotechnologist HTL (ASCP), 5 years of experience as a histology technician, and 2-3 years of team or project management/oversight required. Demonstrated technical acumen required. Experience with quality control and assurance programs, regulatory and accreditation bodies preferred.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Histology Supervisor must have:
Histology Supervisor must have:
- Demonstrated ability to lead teams, coach staff, and anticipate and address organizational needs, preferably across multiple shifts in a high-volume environment
- Knowledge of biology, chemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry, immunology, mathematics, and basic computer use
- Excellent organizational skills to cope with an extremely busy work schedule associated with wide variety of techniques which must be handled accurately and expeditiously
- Independence in dealing with specimens and their proper handling
- Ability to stay calm while working quickly and with a high degree of accuracy to meet the demands of the daily workload
- Ability to sit for long periods, near vision for reading pathology diagnosis and reports
- Ability to independently identify potential problems and troubleshoot problems as necessary
- Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with co-workers and department staff
- Ability to work under general supervision
PHYSICAL/MENTAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
Requires sitting and standing associated with a normal laboratory environment. Ability to work 2nd and 3rd shift hours required.
Requires sitting and standing associated with a normal laboratory environment. Ability to work 2nd and 3rd shift hours required.
DRUG FREE WORKPLACE
United Digestive is a drug free workplace. All offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug screening.
United Digestive is a drug free workplace. All offers of employment are contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug screening.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
United Digestive is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, color or national origin in its employment practices.
United Digestive is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, color or national origin in its employment practices.
Skills Required
- High school diploma or GED
- ASCP-registered Histologic Technician HT (ASCP) or Histotechnologist HTL (ASCP) certification
- Five years of experience as a histology technician
- Two to three years of team or project management or oversight experience
- Demonstrated technical acumen
- Ability to lead teams, coach staff, and address organizational needs
- Knowledge of biology, chemistry, histology, immunohistochemistry, immunology, mathematics, and basic computer use
- Experience with quality control and quality assurance programs
- Experience with regulatory and accreditation bodies
- Ability to work second- and third-shift hours
- Ability to troubleshoot problems independently
- Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills
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The Company
What We Do
United Digestive is an Atlanta-based physician practice management company focused on delivering value for GI physicians and gastroenterology practices nationwide. The company serves independent practices by leveraging advanced operational infrastructure and insights to reduce administrative burden, while supporting clinicians' objective to provide the highest-quality patient care.
