[Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology

Tue Feb 17 13:36:25 CST 2009

Hi all in histo world - well, time to get on the bandwagon! so, I agree with the other Old TEchs that came through the hard way like I did- it was much more of a challenge and the certification really meant something you worked HARD for!
How do we pass that on the our newer techs. I think it is up to us to make sure they know how to do things- how to troubleshoot- how to make things by hand should they not get in the order of pre-made stuff!
In a busy work world it is a challenge- but the only way they will learn now is if we train them. Are the schools doing this? yes, some are. The students that work with someone who has time to train them correctly OJT or otherwise are the lucky ones. Like the one working for you Pamela. Hopefully she will be able to pass on her knowledge to others.
And for the certification - yes, the histology techs need to be certified- or they are called Histology Lab Assistants- even though they can cut or embed. 
and it is Tuesday......... not even Friday
Judy

On Tue, 17 Feb 2009, Pamela Marcum wrote:

> Ah, the memories of having to find the tissue then gross, process, stain and
> wait. You are absolutely correct it was a very exciting time to open that
> envelope and find out I passed the both tests.  Doing everything manually
> from cutting, mounting and staining was nerve racking and worth every
> minute.  I knew what each stain would do and how to make it the best I could
> by hand.
>
> I don't think the automated units give the same satisfaction and don't teach
> troubleshooting the way we learned it.  I made my stains so if it did not
> work it was on me and no one else.  We still do for new stains.  I am
> training someone now.  She will know how to make the stains and what will
> break the stains so even if we get an automated stainer it will be something
> she will still be able troubleshoot.  We do buy some stains as soon as I
> know she understands why and how to make them.   I won’t even start on IHC
> as I began with IF in brain when no kits were available and we made the
> secondary after buying a primary.  It was actually fun to learn and had
> helped me over the years.
>
> Pamela A Marcum
> University of Pennsylvania
> School of Veterinary Medicine
> Comparative Orthopedic Laboratory (CORL)
> 382 W Street Rd
> Kennett Square PA 19438
> 610-925-6278
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Donna Hunter
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11:53 AM
> To: Hermina Borgerink; Histonet
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
>
> I agree!!! I remember 29 years ago, I worked full time, had to do my
> practical after hours and on the weekends was really proud of what I
> accomplished completing that practical and passing it. Also Sitting in that
> chair in the big auditorium for the longest 4 hours of my life trying to
> read and take that test looking at those faded bent paper slides of stains
> was so proud when I got that envelope stating I passed.  I think they need
> to bring back the old written test and slides that they used before all this
> computer enhancement.
> Donna
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Hermina
> Borgerink
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 11:29 AM
> To: Histonet
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
>
> It is my personal opinion that all Histology techs working within a clinical
> setting today should be certified. Period.  Histology requirements are no
> longer what they used to be as complexity of procedures used in the lab are
> increasingly becoming more demanding. I started out in 1961 straight out of
> high school, but since then, over time, have gotten my HT, BA in biology,
> HTL, and IHQ, all while continuing to work full time.
>
> I think it was a terrible mistake to abandon the practical exam for the
> HT/HTL and rely solely on the written exam to judge the expertise of the
> candidate for ASCP certification. Automation probably played a crucial part
> in making the "hands-on" experience obsolete, but I think that practical
> experience was invaluable because it reinforced and illuminated what the
> written material was teaching. And while automation undoubtedly has many
> benefits, unfortunately, it can also promote "dumbing-down" as it requires
> little or no interaction with the user of the laboratory equipment. While I
> was getting my personalized OTJ training from a pathologist in a medical
> school's experimental setting, it was always understood that although we
> were working with animal tissue, the patient's welfare ultimately was the
> bottom line. This attitude not only inspired good laboratory practice, but
> also the desire to learn and to do the best possible job I could. To this
> day I find it immensely rewarding to perform special and IHC stains by hand
> and achieve the expected results.
>
> So many other professions demand a college education followed by, or in
> conjunction with, training in a particular skill, so why should our
> profession be any different?  With an increased level of education and
> training will come a larger pay check and the well-deserved respect so
> frequently lacking now.
>
> Hermina
>
> Hermina M. Borgerink, BA, HT, HTL(ASCP)QIHC Wake Forest University Primate
> Center Department of Pathology Medical Center Blvd.
> Winston-Salem, NC 27157
> Tel. (336) 716-1538
> Fax. (336) 716-1515
> e-mail:  hborgeri <@t> wfubmc.edu
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Kim Tournear
> Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 9:53 AM
> To: Histonet
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
>
> I agree with the overseas tech issue...my experience at Ventana Medical
> allowed me to meet alot of well educated techs from across the ocean. What
> difference does it make where the education comes from, as long as the
> candidate is qualified to do the job?
>  
> I think an ASCP certification should be obtained allowing the applicant to
> use his/her credentials, and a state license (if applicable) without having
> to go back for a degree they already have.
>  
> We knew long before 2005, that the histology world was going in new
> directions and that a histotech would be required to be certified. I fear
> that at some point, hospitals will not hire any non-registered techs (of any
> kind).
>  
> Just my 2 cents worth....
>
>
> ~Kim Tournear ~HT (ASCP), QIHC (ASCP)
> Histology Supervisor
> Tucson Medical Center
> Tucson, AZ
>  
> ~Don't let your life end before it begins~
>  
> OU Rocks!!!!
>
> --- On Mon, 2/16/09, Bernice Frederick <b-frederick <@t> northwestern.edu> wrote:
>
> From: Bernice Frederick <b-frederick <@t> northwestern.edu>
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
> To: "'Larry Woody'" <slappycraw <@t> yahoo.com>,
> histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 7:28 AM
>
> Agreed. Kind of devalues one's education if there are uncertified techs. I
> also think that it's silly that techs from outside the US are sometimes
> forced to repeat their 4 years of college when they have the knowledge and
> the equivalency from wherever and can do the job better than some techs
> doing it for years.
> Bernice
>
>
> Bernice Frederick HTL (ASCP)
> Northwestern University
> Pathology Core Facility
> ECOGPCO-RL
> 710 N Fairbanks Court
> Olson 8-421
> Chicago,IL 60611
> 312-503-3723
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Larry Woody
> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 10:10 AM
> To: rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com; Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
>
> This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always
> wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a
> firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board
> certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that looks at the
> slides so wouldn't you want a certified tech doing the lab work as well?
>  
> Larry A. Woody
> Seattle, Wa.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
> To: Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley
> <sjchtascp <@t> yahoo.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:58:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
>
> A hospital that relies on uncertified techs to do histology work is
> motivated by the pursue of costs cuts (you can call it greed!) and shows
> total disregard for quality of work and patient care. They may end losing
> all those savings when settling a legal case.
> René J.
>
> --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Steven Coakley <sjchtascp <@t> yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> From: Steven Coakley <sjchtascp <@t> yahoo.com>
> Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology
> To: Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:55 AM
>
> Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP).  What the big
> advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with
> unregistered
> techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so
> many
> trained certified HT looking for work?  In my area of the country I can't
> believe how many Hospitals go this way.
>
>
>
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Judith Williams, PhD, HT(ASCP)
Research Scientist
Department of Comparative Medicine
University of Washington
Seattle, WA 98195