[Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability--This is starting to ReallyAnnoy me.

Mon Feb 23 15:26:12 CST 2009

 > Jeez, are clinical histopath labs just sweat-shops?

Pretty much. Having spent years doing path at a huge local hospital 
which featured a slave-driving lab director who was less qualified to 
run the lab than half the people working in it, I must say that I agree 
with this observation.

At the same time, as much as I enjoy my more laid-back research path 
position now, I'd get fired in a heartbeat if I produced only one block 
every 30 minutes. Actually, I just got finished doing closer to 40 in 
the last hour, and today was a fairly slow day (yet not at all on par 
with the old clinical stats, were 8-12 techs embedded/sectioned closer 
to 800-1000 blocks per shift).

Charles.Embrey wrote:
> Jerry, you are right that clinical work is different from research.  You are wrong to consider 20 blocks per hour to be a "sweat-shop" pace. I've know scores of histotechs that cut well over 20 blocks per hour and produce high quality slides. Sorry you feel offended by this discussion but there is a real world outside of your university walls.
> Chuck
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of JR R
> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 1:58 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability--This is starting to ReallyAnnoy me.
>
>
> All this talk of having people actually section as part of the interview process is offensive to me. 
>
> I have hired and trained lots of histotechnologists.  Mostly I train them myself, from scratch, but sometimes I hire them pre-trained.  Then of course, I re-train them anyway so they can do the work to the specs of my lab.  Any deficiencies they have will be corrected through training.  By me.
>
> At my University there is a formal 30 day (maybe it's longer, I can't recall) probationary period for new hires.   That's good enough.  Why in the world would I need to have them section as part of an interview process?
>
> I am also offended by the "blocks per hour" language.  Partly it's because in my lab we do exhaustive serial sectioning, so I consider a tech who gives me one block every half-hour to be doing a good job.
>
> Maybe it's different in clinical work, but...20 blocks per hour?  And you expect quality work?  
>
> Jeez, are clinical histopath labs just sweat-shops?
>
> It's no wonder histopathologists feel overworked and underappreciated.
>
> Jerry Ricks
> Research Scientist
> University of Washington
> Department of Pathology
>
>
>
>
>
>   
>> Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:14:06 -0500
>> From: trathborne <@t> somerset-healthcare.com
>> To: rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; tbraud <@t> holyredeemer.com
>> Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability during an interview
>> CC: 
>>
>> We also have the staff talk to the applicant during this process. It gives you a good idea if the person can talk and cut at the same time. The last thing anyone wants is a histotech that has to stop sectioning during a conversation!
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu]On Behalf Of Rene J
>> Buesa
>> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 10:05 AM
>> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Terri Braud
>> Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability during an interview
>>
>>
>> I for one always required any applicant to prepare 20 slides stained with H&E. I can assure that I selected "difficult" blocks to cut and the applicant was required to sign a disclaimer that included that s/he he knew how to section and avoid injuries.
>> The whole process was timed (to get a first idea about productivity) and I evaluated and graded the slides at the end.
>> The results were used as one of the elements to decide about offering the position (the fundamental) but I waited until all the applicants had completed the tests so sometimes the applicant had to be contacted a few days later to let him/her know about the results.
>> René J.
>>
>> --- On Mon, 2/23/09, Terri Braud <tbraud <@t> holyredeemer.com> wrote:
>>
>> From: Terri Braud <tbraud <@t> holyredeemer.com>
>> Subject: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability during an interview
>> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 8:57 AM
>>
>> >From a recent digest:
>> <If you want to know if someone you are interviewing can really section or
>> stain, set them down at a microtome during the interview process, and watch
>> them.> 
>>
>> I have a question about the following statement plucked from a recent digest.
>> What are the legal ramifications if a person cuts themselves during an
>> interview? 
>> We've had this discussion at my place of employment and came to the
>> decision that it would leave us open to a legal liability.
>> I would love to hear some discussion on this subject, as well as any
>> experiences that others have had.
>> Terri
>>
>> Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
>> Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
>> Laboratory
>> Holy Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center
>>
>>
>>
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