Fwd: RE: [Histonet] Salary Scales

Mon May 19 12:49:31 CDT 2008

In Ireland, Histolgy is one equal branch of medical technology (microbiology,
hematology, Clinical chemistry and Blood transfusion). Just thought you'd all
like to hear that.I was shocked when I came to this country an saw that
histotechs were treated differently.
Kim

Quoting Shawn Leslie <LeslieS <@t> vetmed.ufl.edu>:

> Fact of the matter is...We have always been "the red headed step child
> of the lab". I think we always will be as well. There still exists an
> attitude in the main lab ,and labs in general, that anyone can be a
> Histotech.  I remember in a lab I once worked that when a new person
> would come in.....they would be walked through a gauntlet of people and
> introduced to the lab techs and of course "Mr. Leslie... he works in
> Histology". Didn't even get respected as a Lab tech just the person that
> works in Histology though I was, in fact, trained in Clinical Path
> before entering Anatomical Path.
>   And what about the Pathologist, that after complaining that a piece
> of equipment was failing, said to me " oh you Histotechs are all
> alike...You drop out of life and become a Histotech and then complain
> about it". Again illustrating the lack of respect for the Histotech. So
> as long this continues it will never change.....
>
> Just my two cents worth....
>
>
>
>
> Completely agree with Charles. That "McDonald hiring attitude" is
> similar to the one used at the start of the XXth century by pathologists
> all around when hiring to train in histology low pay hospital
> personnel.
>  Now who SHOULD promote a correct policy of hiring licensed personnel
> for histology.
>  I strongly believe that this ought to be the sole and dedicated
> lobbying task of the National Society for Histotechnology. Nothing else
> but this!
> René J.
>
> "Charles.Embrey" <Charles.Embrey <@t> carle.com> wrote:
>  Glen, I think the one loophole with supply and demand that hurts
> histotechs the most is that there is more than one source for supply.
> When demand is high and supply is low, as it is in both cases for
> histotechs right now, pay should go up. I have watched pay increase
> across the country since I entered the field many years ago, but not to
> the point it should have. The big downfall is the alternate source of
> supply. I actually heard a pathologist recently say, "It would be easier
> to just recruit someone from McDonalds and teach them to embed blocks
> and cut slides." In the vast majority of labs you do not have to be a
> certified Histotechnician to do the job. Try to get a job in the medical
> lab as a lab tech without an MT or MLT and see how quickly you can be
> hired. I know ASCP has tightened the OJT route to require more education
> but until labs are forced to hire only HTs or HTLs to do the job, the
> alternate supply channel with exist. I'm afraid that we can shake our
> fist
> at this as much as we like but the problem is just outside our sphere
> of control.
>
> Chuck
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
> Dawson, Glen
> Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 7:35 AM
> Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Salary Scales
>
> I think we are talking about side issues and not the bigger picture
> here. I believe that many histotechs return to this "salary discussion"
> because we are puzzled as to why histotechs are so lacking in both pay
> and respect. I've said it before that we are in a pickle because of 3
> basic reasons. Number one would be the fact that histotechs were bench
> trained for so many years with no degree needed. Number two is the fact
> that the vast majority of histotechs are female and sexism is alive and
> well in our world today. Lastly, pathologists have not made a point to
> strengthen a histotechs place in the lab/hospital. Don't get me wrong,
> some Pathologists go out of their way to champion our cause but most,
> especially in the past, had/have a vested interest in seeing that
> histo-pay is kept low.
>
> The puzzling thing is that basic principles that sould govern the
> status/pay of a profession like histotechnology such as supply&demand or
> complexity of the job doesn't seem to apply in our case. The result is
> that we are confused as to why things don't get better for the
> profession and we sometimes beat our chests and say things like "we
> rule" or ins
> inuate that we are more important than we are...perhaps to
> stroke egos that could use some stroking every once in a while.
>
> Just My Opinion,
>
> Glen Dawson BS, HT & QIHC
> IHC Manager
> Milwaukee, WI
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jennifer MacDonald [mailto:JMacDonald <@t> mtsac.edu]
> Sent: Sunday, May 18, 2008 8:52 PM
> To: Rene J Buesa
> Cc: Dawson, Glen; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu;
> histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Salary Scales
>
>
>
> While I agree with Renee that histotechs have to make many decisions, I
> don't necessarily agree that they make more decisions that other areas
> in the lab. I worked in the clinical lab for many years and had to make
> many decisions regarding the adequacy of a specimen and interpret the QC
> before that result could be released. Manual differentials require that
> the tech know the morphology of all cell types. Cross matching blood for
> transfusions requires interpretation before that blood can be released
> for transfusion to the patient. An error in cross-matching can kill the
> patient. I can tell you that my stress level as a Medical Technologist
> was much higher than my stress level as Histotechnician. There are many
> more examples where the knowledge and judgement of the tech will
> determine the outcome of patient result reporting and treatment. The
> pathologist does not make the final decision for the Med Tech before
> they release results to the clinician. We were also responsible
> for notifying the clinician when the patient results were critical.
> Jennifer
>
>
>
>
>
> Rene J Buesa
> Sent by: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>
>
> 05/15/2008 09:22 AM
>
>
> To
> "Dawson, Glen" , histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>
> cc
>
> Subject
> RE: [Histonet] Salary Scales
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Glen:
> And it will keep that way until histotechs star demanding what is
> deserved!
>
> Have you realized that histotechs are the only specialists in the
> medical lab that have to make decisions all along the process?
> When to reject a too thick slice of tissue to assure proper
> processing?
> What part to embed to cut?
> Up to where trim the block discarding parts of the specimen FOR EVER?!
> Which section to take or which to discard FOR EVER?!
> When to stop differentiation in a special stain?
>
> There is no other area of the ML that has to take so many decisions,
> and they are better paid. And will be until the HTs decide to take
> action and demand what is deserved.
> Just my opinion (as usual!).
> René J.
>
>
> "Dawson, Glen" wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
> Shawn Leslie  HT(ASCP)
> Scientific Research Manager
> Anatomic Pathology
> University of Florida
> School of Veterinary Medicine
> 352-392-2235 ext 4555
>