[Histonet] Unregistered HT

Wed Sep 11 08:18:29 CDT 2013

We have heard for years that NSH is working on changing the status to Laboratory Professionals and so far as I have heard nothing happening to make the change.  A large part of this is ASCP/all organizations inspecting/licensing are still looking at us as non-skilled labor that requires only OJT training or an AA/AS degree at best.  We have a few one year schools and some online however; not enough to cover the need for HTs and HTLs.  

We need ASCP/CAP/CLIA/all organizations that inspect us and tell us how to run the laboratories to actually understand we have changed in the last 25 years and no longer just cut and do H&Es.  I am not sure where to go as I have been bringing this up for years and see no movement.  Take the test to be an inspector for CAP and you will see the problem clearly.  It is 98% Clinical Laboratory and maybe 2% Anatomic Pathology.  If you don't know Clinical you will have a problem passing the test without help.

Pam Marcum

-----Original Message-----
From: Weems, Joyce K. [mailto:Joyce.Weems <@t> emoryhealthcare.org] 
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2013 8:08 AM
To: 'Jennifer MacDonald'; Marcum, Pamela A
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Unregistered HT

And the reason so many have been fighting for this for years. If a lab were looking for a Medical Technologist there would be no question.

Joyce Weems
Pathology Manager
678-843-7376 Phone
678-843-7831 Fax
joyce.weems <@t> emoryhealthcare.org

www.saintjosephsatlanta.org
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30342

This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Saint Joseph's Hospital and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s).  It may contain information that is privileged and confidential.  Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email.

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jennifer MacDonald
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 7:32 PM
To: Marcum, Pamela A
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Unregistered HT

As long as we do not need certification, licensure and minium education requirements we will not be recognized as Laboratory Professionals.

From:   "Marcum, Pamela A" <PAMarcum <@t> uams.edu>
To:     "'joelle weaver'" <joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com>, "'Emily Sours'"
<talulahgosh <@t> gmail.com>, "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Date:   09/10/2013 01:12 PM
Subject:        RE: [Histonet] Unregistered HT
Sent by:        histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu

I agree we have huge gray areas and not all histology schools are as good as they could be for what we are facing in Histology.  I keep harping on the fact that until we are recognized as Laboratory Professionals we will stay in this limbo.  The rules determining complex testing should be revisited to what is done in Histology Laboratories today and not what we did 30 or more years ago.  The Clinical Laboratory is now so automated it is hard to find anyone in most areas who can even remember doing any manual testing.  The Micro lab is the closest to being as manual as areas of Histology.

I am in a small market and finding a registered Histologist is harder for us.  I would love to have 8 to choose from and interview.

Pam Marcum

From: joelle weaver [mailto:joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 2:59 PM
To: Marcum, Pamela A; 'Emily Sours'; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Unregistered HT

 Well I am  mostly clinical...but I think that organizations can set standards outside and beyond what CAP,CLIA etc stipulate. For the position I have now, I had to submit all my transcripts from high school up through masters in addition to  proof of my ASCP certification, IHC qualification, continuing education, and professional association activity. There is a lot of gray area out there. They seem to have not had trouble getting applicants though ( and I know this varies by market), there were over 8 candidates for an HT opening, which I thought was a pretty good turn out.

Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC

> From: PAMarcum <@t> uams.edu
> To: talulahgosh <@t> gmail.com; joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com
> CC: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Unregistered HT
> Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 13:53:26 +0000
>
> Research is a different area and not controlled by CAP, CLIA and other
hospital licensing or accreditation organizations. We are bound by the rules of these organizations and while I agree with you to a point. We do need minimums for training and registration by recognized licensing bodies when patient tissue is being processed for histological examination. I am sure no one thinks of this often however; there are medical legal issues with insurance we have that do not apply for research. It is also clear that registration does not mean we don't have registered people who are not as good as they should be for excellent patient care.
>
> I have worked in research and while I would not ever say the hiring of
non-registered people is a problem for research. It is often a specialty area that requires knowing more than routine Histology. I have done plastics in research that could not ever be used in routine Histology due to the time factors and in some cases limited use with staining applications, especially IHC for some procedures. Many other areas in research require more specialized training than would be used in a routine area. I would also add some really great techs are in many phases of research. I know MT who work in Histology and are not registered as the MT BS, overrides the HT requirement for many institutions.
>
> Many factors must be considered for both research and routine 
> Histology
that cover far more than just hiring registered people in certain areas of the laboratory.
>
> Pam Marcum
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<
mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu> [ mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu]<mailto:[
mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu]> On Behalf Of Emily Sours
> Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 8:20 AM
> To: joelle weaver
> Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<
mailto:histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Unregistered HT
>
> Do employers consider lab techs to be proficient enough? I've been 
> doing
ISH and immuno for 13 years, but I'm not certified as I do research. Maybe there aren't a lot of lab techs out there? Just wondering since you might be missing someone awesome by hiring only certified people.
>
> "By bitching and bitching and bitching, they could exhaust the drama 
> of
their own horror stories. Grow bored. Only then could they accept a new story for their lives. Move forward."
>
> -Chuck Palahniuk, "Haunted"
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 6:49 PM, joelle weaver 
> <joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com<
mailto:joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com>>wrote:
>
> > All I have is a "histology assistant" description I put together. It 
> > is mostly clerical, instrument up keep and other duties. My employer 
> > does not hire uncertified techs- due to CLIA license, grossing, FISH 
> > & molecular duties ( high complexity). I hope to be a clinical site 
> > eventually, and then they will have to complete their certification 
> > within one year -if they are hired on.
> > If you think that will help, I can send it on.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
> >
> > > Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2013 15:39:12 -0500
> > > From: delsuec <@t> gmail.com<mailto:delsuec <@t> gmail.com>
> > > To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<
mailto:histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> > > Subject: [Histonet] Unregistered HT
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > I'm wondering if anyone can share a job description for an 
> > > unregistered
> > HT
> > > position. I also need to know if unregistered HT's are allowed to 
> > > cut frozen sections. I know there is a limit to what they can do, 
> > > especially where IHC and special staining are concerned, but I 
> > > really don't know
> > about
> > > frozens, since it's a lot like regular microtomy, except for the 
> > > H&E staining of the slide. I also understand that facilities might 
> > > have different descriptions, but what I'm really looking for is 
> > > what CAP
> > allows
> > > them to do.
> > >
> > > Thanks for your help,
> > >
> > > Deloris Carter, HT(ASCP)
> > > SMMC
> > > Shawnee, KS
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Histonet mailing list
> > > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<
mailto:Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> > > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Histonet mailing list
> > Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<
mailto:Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
> >
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu<
mailto:Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any 
> attachments,
is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.
_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet

________________________________

This e-mail message (including any attachments) is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited.

If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments).

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.