[Histonet] Grossing wage

[Sellis4051 <@t> aol.com]

I was trained to gross prior to getting my bachelor's degree when I had an 
associates degree in Histotechnology and was a HT(ASCP). They paid me the same 
wage that I would have gotten doing routine histology. I grossed derms, gyns, 
noncancerous uteri, appendix, gall bladder, hernia sacs, breast reductions, 
digits. Unusual cases were held aside for the pathologist to gross later in the 
day. The person who took my job after me had an anatomy degree but no histology 
experience. I believe she was paid the same as me. This was in Seattle in 
1995-1998.

Some universities offer a bachelor's degree in something they are calling a 
PA - Pathologist's Assistant. There are a couple people like this now in the 
Seattle area and I believe that they getting paid better than histotechs. I 
don't find this surprising since with the loss of histology schools, people are 
being trained "off the street" and aren't expecting much pay wise. So grossing 
has become something that is seen to need a bachelors degree (and thus higher 
pay) whereas histotechs are losing their prestige. (Have I opened a can of 
worms here?)

I do not know what the cut off is for the PA to turn a case over to the 
pathologist. I have seen them gross cancerous uteri and breast.

Sandra Ellis
current grad student
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