[Histonet] Who should be doing the hiring?

[Stephen Peters M.D.]

Allison,
 
Pathologist point of view. It is the pathologists job to keep you informed of their 
histology needs and any new programs, studies, antibodies, techniques, which will require 
new or additional staffing so that you can adjust your staffing in a timely manner. You 
should keep track of your changing workload so that you can predict need for additional staff 
in a timely manner. When it comes time to interview and hire you are best suited to 
recognize the skill or lack of it in a given candidate and how that person will fill the needs 
of your department. Checking references should be your job as your knowledge 
of histology will allow you to best understand the subliminal messages that often are the 
only negatives you are given. If the pathologist has the interest to call about references I 
would welcome his help. The pathologist experience in reviewing references and 
recognizing the incongruities of the techs CV may help you to recognizing personal issues 
that may impact the performance in an otherwise well skilled worker. When it is time to 
make a decision I think your impressions and any impression the medical director has 
made should be discussed by both of you. If you have made a decision on a candidate 
that you are confident about, I would hope that your medical director would support you in
 this decision. If you have a medical director who does not care to learn about the 
candidates as much as he feels the need to control everything in his enviornment then this 
can lead to problems. Bottom line. You are responsible for the day to day workings of your 
lab, the working enviornment and quality of the work. You will have to live with the 
misery of bad hiring decision. You will be the one to feel the heat when mistakes are made
 or work is repeatedly late. You should be the one to decide who to hire. If you are 
relitively inexperienced then I would invite other input if it is a tough decision. I would foster 
a good working relationship with your medical director, keep him informed of your progress 
and when you have made your decision, discuss it with him and consider his input. If he
 has faith in you and he is doing his job as Director I hope he would respect your decision 
and allow you to do the job you were hired to do. If he feels the need to choose a 
different candidate which you have reservations about then I would discuss your reasoning in 
a collegeal manner. Explain the pros and cons of the candidates. If you feel he
 is making decision which will have a negative impact then your last resort is to discuss it
 with your lab manager or other superior, they are ultimately responible for you. 
Good luck
Stephen