Operating Room Runner

Position

Operating Room Runner (2 positions available)

Position Type

Full-time employment for one full year, from early June to end of June

Location

Abbott Northwestern Hospital and the Allina Central Laboratory

Schedule

Typical shift hours (one worker per each shift):

  • Arrive at 7:30 am and depart at 3:30 pm
  • Arrive at 10:00 am and depart at 6:00 pm

Job Description

The Hospital Pathology Associates (HPA) Operating Room Runners serve a unique role within Allina, more specifically at Abbott Northwestern Hospital (ANW).  This position provides a rare opportunity to see what happens to surgical specimens after they leave the operating room. The Runners work directly with the OR staff and Surgeons to promptly pick-up and deliver specimens from the ORs to the Lower-Level Laboratory at ANW.  The Runners are expected to communicate directly with surgeons in the OR during specimen pick-up, especially when there are special requests for a patient’s specimen which may include an intra-operative consultation with specific questions for the Pathologist. The runners are stationed in the laboratory, giving them unique access to observe pathologists, pathologist assistants (PAs), and histology staff as they work through various cases. 

This OR Runner program has been enormously successful in supporting patient care at ANW by ensuring consistent and rapid delivery of Pathology specimens to the Laboratory. Given the variability in specimen delivery requirements, there is ample time between deliveries that provides opportunities to help with special projects for HPA, typically involving data entry and analysis to support quality assurance, process improvement, and research.

Specific duties:

  • Responsible for accurate and efficient delivery of specimens between operating rooms and Allina Laboratory
  • Communicate with surgeons and relay messages to pathology staff
  • Assists the QA and other Pathology Aides with projects as needed

Prerequisites and required skills:

  • 4-year undergraduate degree or 2-year associate’s degree with the intention of applying to graduate or medical school
  • Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented
  • General computer literate (specifically with Microsoft Office applications); preferably able to collect and analyze data efficiently in Excel
  • Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to keep an organized, detailed and up-to-date project list
  • Ability to learn processes quickly and manage time efficiently

To apply for a pathology aide position, please fill out our online pathology aide program application . If you have questions, please contact Practice Administrator Bruce Kline by email or by calling the HPA Administrative offices 612-767-8370.

Hospital Pathology Associates is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veterans status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws and will not be discriminated against.