[Histonet] Practical Exam

Fri Feb 20 10:28:41 CST 2009

When I was working on my practical, my fellow co-workers did not help as
they had all gone through it themselves and left it to the tech to do it.
You could ask a question for direction, but do the work? NEVER!
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 O'Donnell,
Bill
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 10:01 AM
To: Histonet
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Practical Exam

If, indeed, these were the two primary reasons for eliminating the practical
exam, they are weak and lazy reasons. An increase in the fee to apply would
cover costs, and, well, was it really that much of a problem of people doing
other peoples practicals. 

I can't imagine it to be out of proportion to what might (I emphasize
"might" and add "but likely did not") have occurred sporadically in all the
years prior.

I won't pass judgement on a single source, but would love to hear from
someone who was a part of the decision process that eliminated this
practicum.

However, if it is true, my estimation of the ASCP has grossly deteriorated.

William (Bill) O'Donnell, HT (ASCP) QIHC 
Lead Histologist
Good Samaritan Hospital
10 East 31st Street
Kearney, NE 68847 

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2009 8:01 AM
To: Victor Tobias; Histonet; Rittman, Barry R
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Practical Exam

There were 2 fundamental reasons why ASCP eliminated the practical part of
the examination:
1- they got to the conclusion that there was no way to determine if the
person sending the slides was the one who really made them, and
2- it was getting too costly to send the slides to review or to gather the
reviewers to qualify the sections, so they decided to eliminate the
practical and made the changes we have now (renewal and CEU).
René J.

--- On Thu, 2/19/09, Rittman, Barry R <Barry.R.Rittman <@t> uth.tmc.edu> wrote:

From: Rittman, Barry R <Barry.R.Rittman <@t> uth.tmc.edu>
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Practical Exam
To: "Victor Tobias" <victor <@t> pathology.washington.edu>, "Histonet"
<Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009, 6:30 PM

Victor
I cannot believe that you have said this.
Although I did not think that the practical examination was the ultimate
test of skill ,  it did at least provide some uniformity.
With an extension of the logic that you use it is just as easy to allow the
pathologist to certify that the technician is qualified even without a
written examination. 
Without a somewhat standardized practical there is no guarantee that the
technician will have any practical knowledge outside their individual
laboratory.
Didactic without adequate practical knowledge is, as far as I am concerned,
useless.
What is really needed is a national standardized written and practical test
that is administered by NSH.
I am not holding my breath that this will happen.
Barry 

________________________________________
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Victor Tobias
[victor <@t> pathology.washington.edu]
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 5:03 PM
To: Histonet
Subject: [Histonet] Practical Exam

There has been discussion regarding the removal of the practical exam.
To me it has not been removed, but the responsibility has shifted to
whomever signs off on the student. In the case of OJT, the pathologist has
verified that this student can cut and stain. Of course what is acceptable
to one pathologist may not be to another. Do they get tested in the art of
troubleshooting...... As far as the schools go, they shouldn't be graduating
anyone that can't cut, stain and troubleshoot.
So I don't really see a problem with the absence of the practical. It is
Friday somewhere.

Victor

--
Victor Tobias
Clinical Applications Analyst
University of Washington Medical Center
Dept of Pathology Room BB220
1959 NE Pacific
Seattle, WA 98195
victor <@t> pathology.washington.edu
206-598-2792
206-598-7659 Fax
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