Pathology Results Interpreter

Job responsibilities

Role Purpose

Workington GP Practice have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to join us as a Pathology Results Interpreter. This role will involve reviewing patient test results and actioning these within personal competencies, allocating results to the appropriate clinical staff, contacting patient or adding recall to notes to arrange further tests if needed.

Main duties and responsibilities

The results interpreter will:

• Be responsible for the management and processing of pathology and radiology results on behalf of the practice
• File all normal results
• Allocate results to other departments i.e. screening results and long term conditions like diabetes in a timely manner
• Ensure that any urgent abnormal results are added to the on call so that they can managed urgently by the on call team
• Discussing any abnormal results of concern with a senior member of the clinical team to discuss management of the result
• Prescribers would be expected to action microbiology results e.g. urines, wound swabs etc.
• Non prescriber - Ensure that any results where prescribing is required i.e. MSU, sputum, wound swabs etc. are highlighted to the on call team
• Review results on the ICE Reporting System
• Use the Ardens diary recall system for cases where regular monitoring is required for e.g. High Risk Drugs, TSH, PSA
• Input data into the patients healthcare records as necessary
• TSH and PSA monitoring
• Code any data on the Emis clinical system
• Contact patients where necessary with their result
• Manage queries as necessary, dealing with callers
• Making appointments for patients when required
• Manage any enquires in an effective manner
• Carry out system searches as requested
• Support all clinical staff with general administrative tasks as requested
• Take part in audits
• Support other members of the practice team as required
• To work within a multidisciplinary team

Confidentiality

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & Safety

The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
• Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually)

Equality and diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights

Personal/Professional development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet staff and patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the implementation of services

The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate

Qualifications

Essential

• RGN/RN qualification
• Current NMC registration
• GCSE qualifications or equivalent

Desirable

• Independent non-medical prescribing
• Experience and training in managing pathology results (full training will be provided if required)

Experience

Essential

• Experience with using EMIS clinical system
• Experience with ICE preferred
• IT proficient
• Experience of working in the NHS and primary care

Desirable

• Understand the basic concepts and terminology for blood tests

Personal attributes

Essential

• Ability to work and act on own initiative
• Willingness to work flexibly
• Approachable
• Polite and tactful
• Empathetic

Other requirements

Essential

• Flexible and adaptable
• Self-motivated and proactive team player with good interpersonal skills
• Open and honest
• A "can do" attitude
• Demonstrates ability to be diplomatic and sensitive
• Professional and positive
• Self-awareness and personal professional development

Desirable

• Full clean driving licence

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).