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

Mon Feb 23 18:16:14 CST 2009

In a previous life, I went on a two week vacation. When I came back, I had
two new techs that I never had a chance to interview. They were hired in my
absence (that's why it's a previous life). They couldn't cut, embed or do
special stains. Being a clinical training site, I proceeded to teach these
"experienced" techs just like I taught my students. I was furious at the
powers at be because of this situation. These people couldn't handle it and
both quit with in a year. When I started interviewing for those positions, I
gave each applicant a 20 question exam and gave them 5 blocks to cut. I
needed to have an objective way to choose the best candidate so I would not
have any repercussions or accusations that I hired one over the other
because one had longer hair or a prettier smile or because I had something
against some one. The lab was getting busier by the day and I just couldn't
afford to teach "experienced" techs from scratch. Just my four cents worth
(inflation is a killer). 

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Peter
Carroll
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:26 PM
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: testing cutting ability--This is starting to
ReallyAnnoy me.

 > 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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