[Histonet] Running a histo lab without a histotech?

[Garreyf]

What I find really weird and hard to understand is:

That person who is unable (CLIA-wise) to gross the small biopsy because of inadequate science training etc, is able to embed, cut and stain that same biopsy. The histology part is so much harder and requires much more training and expertise. It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm not arguing that all histotechs need this science training, I'd argue that the clia rule for grossing smalls is too stringent. Thanks my 2 cents.
Garrey

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 23, 2015, at 1:09 PM, Ingles Claire via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> 
> Not to my knowledge. We have 3 derm/Mohs labs here in our system. There are only two of us who have our certifications. Heaven knows the world (or the lab for that matter) doesn't stop revolving when WE go on vacation. The third lab is a one person show and she isn't certified. Just so all the CLIA/JCHO/CAP stuff is being adhered to. The only thing I can think of regarding training/college must haves are for grossing as it is considered high complexity. I agree with Rene. Not your problem.
> Claire
> 
> ________________________________________
> From: Rene J Buesa via Histonet [histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
> Sent: Friday, October 23, 2015 7:35 AM
> To: Jay Lundgren; histonet
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Running a histo lab without a histotech?
> 
> About the "legality" I do not think it is of your direct concern, unless you want to "challenge" the situation with some sort of legal action, which is really not advisable.As a functioning laboratory in a hospital it has to be under the supervision of either CLIA or  ASAP and the pathologist is the Director of such laboratory so, it is the pathologist's responsibility of assuming about the "legality" of that situation and is the pathology who you should ask this question.René
> 
> 
>     On Thursday, October 22, 2015 5:02 PM, Jay Lundgren via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> 
> 
> Hello histonetters!  I am on assignment in a small hospital lab in the
> Heartland and they are staffed by only two people.  One is a registered
> (ASCP) HT with 10 years of experience, and the other is a former
> phlebotomist being trained on the job from scratch , who has yet to take
> her accreditation exam.
> 
> As a matter of fact, she has yet to take all the college courses (math,
> science) to qualify to take her exam, and is still being  trained in the
> hospital's protocols, only allowed to cut larger specimens (no bxs), etc.
> She can accession, answer the phone, embed, load the stainer, coverslipper,
> etc.,  so she can turn out most of the work.  I am here working for three
> weeks because the trainee is on medical leave.
> 
> My question is, when the registered HT goes on vacation or sick leave, is
> it legal for the lab to operate with only the trainee?
> 
> Or does a histo lab have to have at least one registered tech to operate?
> 
> 
>                                  Thanks,
> 
>                                      Jay A. Lundgren, M.S., HTL (ASCP)
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