[Histonet] GSH meeting reminder

[Shirley Powell]

The Georgia Society for Histotechnology invites you to the 2009 meeting to
be held at Sea Palms Resort at St. Simons Island, Georgia, March 20-22,
2009.  The program is outlined below but both the separate registration form
and the program can be downloaded from www.histosearch.com/gsh.  Complete
hotel information can be found by clicking on the announcement link.  Please
make your reservations now by calling the Sea Palms Resort at
1-800-841-6268.  Be sure to tell them you are attending the GSH meeting and
visit their web site at www.seapalms.com.  Special GSH Room Rates are $99
for two double beds and $109 for two double beds or a King bed Suites are
available as well as Villas. 

March 20, 2009 - Friday

1 to 5 p.m.:  HT/HTL Review Session for Students:  Carl Sagasser, BS,
HT(ASCP), Educational Coordinator and Taiquanda Winbush, AS, HT(ASCP)
Clinical Laboratory Coordinator, Darton College Histology Program

5 to 7 p.m.:  Meeting Registration

7 to 9 p.m.:  Vendor Reception in Vendor Area

March 21, 2009 - Saturday

7:00-8:00 a.m.:  Meeting Registration

8:30 a.m. to 12: Workshop #1 - Today's Artifacts - Tomorrow's Facts

8:30 a.m. to 12: Workshop #2 - Expense Analysis and Reduction in the IHC Lab
	(10:00 - 10:30 a.m.:  Break in Vendor Area)

12:00 - 1:00-GSH AWARDS LUNCHEON

1:00 to 4:30 p.m.:  Workshop #3 - Decalcified and Undecalcified Bone:
Histology Techniques
1:00 to 4:30 p.m.:  Workshop #4 - Basic Troubleshooting for Histology
Laboratory Equipment
 (2:30 - 3:00 p.m.:   Break in Vendor area)

4:30 p.m.:  GSH General Membership Meeting
	(GSH Board Meeting to Follow)

March 22, 2009 - Sunday

7:00-8:00 a.m.:  Meeting Registration

8:30 to 12 a.m.: Workshop #5 - Commitment in the Workplace - What Does it
Mean to the Employee and the Employer

8:30 to 12 a.m.: Workshop #6 - Contemporary Trends in Immunohistochemistry
	(10:00 - 10:30 a.m.:  Break in Vendor Area)
 
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS:  
#1:  Today's Artifacts - Tomorrow's Facts?
Lamar Jones, BS, HT(ASCP) - This workshop will teach the participant to
recognize and identify artifacts from the gross board, fixation, processing,
embedding, microtomy, staining, coverslipping and other areas of
histotechnology. 

#2:  Expense Analysis and Reduction in the IHC Lab
Joe Myers, -This presentation is intended to review the financial aspects of
performing immunohistochemistry (and related heat-retrieval) procedures,
with an emphasis on using cost analysis and comparison tools, to assist a
laboratory in calculating its existing reagent costs and determine where
expense-reduction opportunities exist.  Participants will be shown how to
gather essential data and enter it into simple spreadsheets that ensure
"apples to apples" comparisons.  Through this process, participants will
also gain an appreciation of how the mechanisms by which various
heat-retrieval and automated slide-staining instruments 'work' affect the
cost of the resulting slides.  Handout material, including comparison
tables, spreadsheets, and published papers will also be provided.  

#3:  Decalcified and Undecalcified Bone: Histology Techniques
Vicki Kalscheur - Decalcified and undecalcified bone samples are a constant
challenge for research histology laboratories.  This workshop will start
with an introduction on research protocol and collaborative methodologies.
Next, it will cover decalcified specimen collection, fixation, processing,
sectioning, routine, and special staining of bone samples that are received
in the research histology laboratory.  The second half of this lecture will
discuss the proper handling, preparation, and staining of undecalcified
plastic embedded bone samples.  Handouts include PowerPoint slides and
additional information based on presenter's research protocols and
methodology.  The presenter understands many of the attendees may not work
in research settings: however, the technical information may be helpful in
diagnostic laboratory settings.  Time is allowed at the end to look at
embedded blocks and histological microscopic slides.  

#4:  Basic Troubleshooting for Histology Laboratory Equipment 
Jason Velasquez, Technical Engineer -This course will provide a basic
preventive maintenance guide that will assist users of histology equipment
in the upkeep and troubleshooting of their instruments.  The type of
cleaning solvents that can and cannot be used will be discussed (along with
some pictures that show what happens when the wrong cleaning supplies are
used) and how and where to clean for best results.  The types of tools that
should be kept in the laboratory's tool chest and how and when to use them
will be demonstrated.  Common types of faults that can be reasonably
repaired by the average Histotech will be discussed and the ways, tools and
thoughts behind the troubleshooting process will be investigated.  Some
symptoms that precede failures will be made known so that the users can
notify their bio-medical technicians or repair group of a pending failure,
before the instrument breaks completely.

#5:  Commitment in the Workplace - What Does it Mean to the Employee and
Employer - Wanda Grace Jones, - Hospitals, Research Labs, and Private
Laboratories still struggle with continuous loss of employees and finding
new employees to fill these positions.  Past research has isolated two
variables that impact employee turnover.  1st variable is employee's
identification with and involvement in an organization (how involved are
you).  2nd variable is the employee's perception of level of commitment an
organization has to the employee.  We will discuss the attitude toward an
organization which attaches the person to an organization, the process by
which the goals of the organization and employee become integrated, building
better communication between employee and employer and cost associated when
an employee decides to leave.

#6:  Contemporary Trends in Immunohistochemistry
Mary Cheles, MPH, HTL, DLM(ASCP) - The analysis of a patient has
historically relied on morphology and the evaluation of individual
antibodies on pathological tissue.  Immunohistochemistry has been in
practice for the past 40 years.  During that time, we have seen an evolution
from individual reagents to optimized systems and from manual staining
practices to fully automated options.  Pathology and laboratory medicine is
changing faster than ever. In the future, personalized medicine will define
the effect of a therapy based on an individual's gene and protein profile.
What does this mean and where does the histology community fit in?  This
workshop will briefly review immunohistochemistry basics, opportunities for
automation, process standardization, antibody validation, regulatory product
labeling and current proficiency testing.

Shirley A. Powell, HT(ASCP)HTL, QIHC
Technical Director Histology 
Curricular Support Laboratory
Mercer University School of Medicine
1550 College Street
Macon, GA  31207
Ph:  478-301-2374
Fx:  478-301-5489