Robert Olson

I have worked in the Pathology Department for the last five years or so. In that time I have accomplished much in my role as administrative support. I have worked closely alongside lab management and the pathologists in order to aid in the accurate diagnosis of tissue specimens sent to our lab. As administrative support for the pathologists, we maintain the storage of slides and distribution of cases. We assist with tumor boards by assembling the cases that are reviewed and the documents and reports that correspond to the cases. We maintain office supplies and order additional materials to ensure the office runs smoothly. We order tests through reference laboratories and ship specimens to these labs in order to complete testing. We bill for these services. We operate the phones and route all calls to their appropriate parties. We respond to outside facilities requests for materials and maintain logs to track these loans in order that laboratory materials are not lost. We perform quality assurance in order to ensure that cases are diagnosed accurately and that nothing is missed, thereby providing better patient care. We assist in requests from our pathologists for second opinions and consultations to outside health care facilities. Overall this role has allowed me a broader understanding of the workings of a pathology lab in a hospital setting.

As an APCSR my duties were to assist the histology laboratory as it's customer service department. We were responsible for providing our customers: physician's offices, patients, and various health care facilities with reports, trouble shooting, and response to their unique individual needs. Among our other duties we helped maintain the storage of slides and paraffin blocks. We responded to requests for additional tests or loans of materials. We contacted clinician's offices or outside hospitals where specimens were collected in the event that there were problems or questions that needed addressing before a specimen could be processed through the histology lab. We routed cases that pathologists needed sent out to colleagues or outside facilities for second opinions and consultations that could aid in making their diagnosis. In summation this job provided me with the tools that I would need to excel in the career I currently have.

As a general laboratory client service representative I handled a large volume of inbound and outbound calls, responding to various inquiries that our customers internal and external had regarding laboratory needs. Whether those needs included general questions related to our catalog of tests offered or specimen requirements or issues relating to an ongoing patient order for lab work; it was my responsibility as the first level of contact and the face of the company so to speak to assist these customers in resolving their issues. I developed an understanding of what our organization provided and honed customer service skills in this fast paced and often stressful environment.