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About Duke University Health System Clinical Laboratories
Pursue your passion for caring and innovation as a team member in the state-of-the-art Duke Health laboratories. Duke Health laboratories are College of American Pathologists accredited and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified. The multidisciplinary team is committed to serving the rare and complex testing needs of Duke Health's diverse patient population by providing timely and accurate results, educating the next generation of laboratorians, scientists and physicians, and researching and developing the cutting-edge diagnostics of tomorrow.
Autopsy Technician at Duke University Hospital in Durham. Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
General Description
Autopsy technicians are trained professionals who work alongside Pathologists and Pathologists' Assistants in the performance of autopsies and preparation of tissue for histologic examination in the diagnosis of disease process. Autopsy technologists perform all aspects of autopsy including preparation of bodies for autopsy, diagnostic imaging, external examination, independent evisceration, sample collection for ancillary testing, laboratory and equipment maintenance, preparation of histologic and training of Pathologists' Assistant graduate students and Pathology residents.
Job Duties
Preparation of autopsy suite for autopsy procedures
Dissection of bodies, to include evisceration and removal of brain, separation of organ blocks, removal of spinal cord and eyes, and special dissection techniques such as inner ear removal and sectioning of hears; sterilize instruments, set up equipment and supplies, and prepare specimens as directed.
Maintain a variety of records, databases and log books pertaining to autopsy records such as deaths, disposal permits, autopsy quality assurance data and storage of organs.
Generate data and reports as requested for departmental purposes.
Perform a variety of duties in support of cardiovascular pathology laboratory to include receiving hearts, acquiring postoperative reports, preparing catheters and instruments for injection, assisting in heart cutting and drawing heart diagrams for sectioning of hearts.
Wash, prepare and vacuum pack organs for storage, classes and conferences; assist in storage and retrieval of specimens used for teaching.
Mix and prepare preservative solutions as required.
Ensure proper care, release and disposal of materials from the morgues; receive anatomical gifts; log bodies in and out of morgue.
Maintain safety and cleanliness of work area; clean, disinfect and dispose of all infectious materials; sterilize body trays. Inventory, order and stock autopsy suite materials and supplies; maintain standard laboratory equipment.
Assist in training of Pathologists' Assistant Graduate students, Pathology Residents and others as required in autopsy techniques including external examination, documentation, evisceration, and dissection.
Assist in preparation of routine histologic sectioning for microscopic examination in the diagnosis of disease.
Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.
Education
Bachelor's Degree in biological or laboratory science required
Experience
Experience in performance of autopsy procedures strongly preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
A comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, medical terminology and physiology and be able to effectively communicate with pathologists, pathologists' assistants, and other medical personnel.
Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
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Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.
As a world-class academic and health care system, Duke Health strives to transform medicine and health locally and globally through innovative scientific research, rapid translation of breakthrough discoveries, educating future clinical and scientific leaders, advocating and practicing evidence-based medicine to improve community health, and leading efforts to eliminate health inequalities.