[Histonet] Re: Too many Techs...

[Weber, Susan (VHACLE)]

Janet-
At my former job, I was by myself for 5 years. We had 1 Pathologist, 1
Secretary (who also did general lab secretarial duties) and a part time
diener for Autopsies. They finally gave in and I was able to add a part
time tech who covered for me full time if I was on vacation or off. We
had 3500 cases per year. Primarily orthopedic Frozen sections on
synovial tissue for polys and lots of decals! (I cut the knees and hips
on a Bone Band saw with a diamond blade). We also had a breast surgeon
who was very much into Microcals and Frozen sections. I occasionally
went to Radiology to assist during sectioning for specimen radiograph.
For CT Radiology specimens, we did not have to go there for FNA's but,
they did bring them down for a rapid Dif Quick type stain. We did all of
our Special stains by hand (purchased reagents) and hand coverslipping
of slides. We sent our IHC blocks out to a sister hospital in the system
for staining. I did ALL the accessioning and registration of drop off
specimens, non-gyn cytoprep, QC/QA/QI, and was also on the Code Orange
(Hazmat) team and safety officer, AND when the Pathology secretary
wasn't there I did her job as well. Not to mention the general
maintenance and cleaning of the grossing area,
processing/cutting/staining autopsy tissue also. Was I busy?!?! Volume
doesn't necessarily make for busy technologists! 
Note: I did say former job?! 

Susan M Weber HT(ASCP)
Histology Supervisor
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
10701 East Blvd
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
(216) 791-3800 X6154

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Anne van
Binsbergen
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 11:52 PM
To: Bonner, Janet
Cc: histonet-request <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Histonet; barbara carter
Subject: [Histonet] Re: Too many Techs...

no, we do way less than 10 000 a year
my point is that in my opinion, no matter how LOW the workload may be,
there
are several basic areas which need to be covered if one has to attend to
all
the listed 'peripheral' services, as well as cover the basic daily
routine
histo (and be the cyto backup!!)
i KNOW my staff are busy because i know exactly what it takes to cover
all
the areas they are involved in
but the boss is a 'number cruncher' and he see things through
'hematology'
eyes and all is compared to them
histo is very different
breaks are taken with a clock running next to a coffee cup - lunch is
eaten
on the trot
samples are collected in OR by techs and they do all the
reception/accessioning/sorting out mistakes etc
very time consuming but not really measurable, particularly if one is
running around like a headless chicken dealing with irate surgeons
looking
for results!!

so
i am trying to get a handle on all your labs out there, what you
actually
do, *apart from basic histo*, and how many of you there are to do it
do you have dedicated admin staff
do you have filing clerks and accession/data entry staff
does your AP section have a secretary to deal with clinicians demanding
path
reports
do the lab staff (techs) have to deal with phone queries for results

any/all feedback appreciated
Annie
ps when doing stats for headcounts, is IHC classified as a sub-section
apart
with its own staff and back up or is it counted with routine histo?


2008/5/7 Bonner, Janet <Janet.Bonner <@t> flhosp.org>:

>      10,000cases? 3300 cases per tech per year, 100 cases per tech per
> day? At least 300 blocks min. per day per tech.
>    CAP has guidelines for justifying positions.  I would also have the
> techs (like they need something else to do) keep track of their time
for a
> month.  It sounds as if three techs would minimally handle your lab.
Not to
> mention two months worth of vacation/sick time taken per year.
>    Also - what is the boss seeing?  Coffee breaks?  Long lunch breaks?
>     We have 22 Techs, three shifts, six days per week, 50,000 Surgical
> cases.  It takes two techs worth just to cover time off per year.  We
do not
> attend procedures and we buy our reagents.
>             Good luck.
>  ------------------------------
>  *From:* histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of Anne
van
> Binsbergen
> *Sent:* Wed 5/7/2008 12:09 PM
> *To:* barbara carter; histonet-request <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu;
Histonet
> *Subject:* Re: [Histonet] Histology Coordinator Position in Kenosha
> Wisconsin
>
>  i have a few questions for you if i may.
> you have 3 techs serving 3 paths and 10 000 a year
> apart from the basic routine histo operations, do your 3 techs
>
>    - do any grossing
>    - attend at renal biopsy collection
>    - do frozen sections
>    - take macro photos
>    - do slide and block filing
>    - source cases for sendout (consults/reviews) or do any archive
>    searches
>    - wash glassware,
>    - do specimen discards,
>    - make up formalin
>
> i am facing pressure from my (non-histo) boss who is comparing my lab
and
> staff to 'other modern facilities' and he now tells me i need to cut
my
> staff in half!!
> i need ammo and numbers from others to build my defence
> cheers
> Annie
>
> 2008/5/7 barbara carter <petunia_c <@t> hotmail.com>:
>
> >
> > I am leaving my position as Coordinator at United Hospital System
and am
> > moving out of state and trying to help them recruit a new
coordinator to
> > take my place.
> >
> > There is a position open at United Hospital System at the Kenosha
Campus
> > in Kenosha Wisconsin for a Histology Coordinator.  The hospital
receives
> > about 10,000 surgical specimen a year with 3 Pathologists and 3
> Histologist.
> >
> > Anyone interested please contact Sue Wergin Laboratory Supervisor at
> > 262-656-5603.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
> > Windows Live SkyDrive lets you share files with faraway friends.
> >
> >
>
http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refr
esh_skydrive_052008_______________________________________________
> > Histonet mailing list
> > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Anne (van Binsbergen) Hope
> Abu Dhabi
> UAE
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
> =======================================================
> The information contained in this message may be privileged and/or
confidential
> and protected from disclosure.  If the reader of this message is not
the intended
> recipient or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this
message to the
> intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution
> or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.  If you have
received this
> communication in error, please notify the sender immediately by
replying to this
> message and deleting the material from any computer.
> =======================================================
>
>


-- 
Anne (van Binsbergen) Hope
Abu Dhabi
UAE
_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet