[Histonet] histotech pay/respect

[Patti Loykasek]

It is sad to think that there are so many negative experiences out there. I
feel lucky that I have never experienced this. Most places I have worked the
pathologists considered us part of a team in patient care. That's not to say
I never heard disrespectful remarks, but for the most part have always been
treated well. At the last hospital I worked in Tulsa, the med techs even
encouraged me to ask for  more money when I obtained my specialty QIHC
certification, as the med techs there received more when they obtained
specialty certification. I will say that I always try to treat all staff I
encounter - Physicians & all other lab techs,  etc- with respect & an
attitude of "how can I help you". We're all in this to provide good patient
care. I have enjoyed all the various places I have worked in my career. I
didn't realize exactly how lucky I have been.


Patti Loykasek BS, HTL, QIHC
PhenoPath Laboratories
Seattle, WA




> 
> In response to several postings regarding pay and respect- I have been feeling
> somewhat better to read that others are disheartened by the lack of respect
> for the effort and time that it can take to become a certified, experienced
> histotech. The pay doesn't really bother me as much as the attitude that I
> encounter on a daily basis that "anyone" can do histology and that it is to
> quote "no big deal" to get certified. I have to concur that in my experience,
> histology managers do not seem to value or even recognize the skills and time
> it takes to perfect this trade.I know for me, getting an HTL was quite a
> burden at times. I had extra studies for sure. And, back in that day, the ASCP
> slide practical was no picnic. At my own hospital, this attitude is epitomized
> by the fact that routinely non-certifed, non-histology people are both hired
> and promoted. I have never seen anyone with a histology background given any
> sort of professional respect like that given freely to the MT personnel that
> work there. They do not even recgonize an HTL as a certification. They only
> give you a small increase for being certified at all (HT). At particularly bad
> moments, this had made me want to leave the field as well. So, I can relate
> very easily to everyone else's sentiments. This hospital has been an
> especially bad example of the "warm body" syndrome. It is almost crippling in
> terms of the quality of the work and TAT. The inferior service and poor
> quality produced only serves to reinforce the negative concept- it is indeed a
> vicious cycle!
> At least (all of us) are not alone!
> Joelle
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