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

Tue Feb 24 07:32:53 CST 2009

Peter,
Don't start with the research and blocks per hour- I had a case where I had
step and serial at each step with 8 sections on the slide and had to exhaust
the block, so 1 block every 20-30 minutes is not hard to come by. We also
deal with clinical trials and that means sterile sectioning so cleaning time
etc means maybe 30 blocks in a day (we cut a fair amount of slides for
correlative studies)

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 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
toReallyAnnoy 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
>>
>>
>>
>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>>
>>
>>
>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
>>
>> This E-Mail is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to
which
>> it was sent. It may contain information that is privileged and/or
confidential,
>> and the use or disclosure of such information may also be restricted
under
>> applicable
>> federal and state law. If you received this communication in error,
please do
>> not
>> distribute any part of it or retain any copies, and delete the original
E-Mail.
>> Please notify the sender of any error by E-Mail.
>>
>> Thank you for your cooperation.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Histonet mailing list
>> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>>
>>
>>
>>       
>> _______________________________________________
>> Histonet mailing list
>> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>>
>>
>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE
>> This message and any included attachments are from Somerset Medical
Center
>> and are intended only for the addressee.  The information contained in
this
>> message is confidential and may contain privileged, confidential,
>> proprietary and/or trade secret information entitled to protection and/or
>> exemption from disclosure under applicable law.  Unauthorized forwarding,
>> printing, copying, distribution, or use of such information is strictly
>> prohibited and may be unlawful.  If you are not the addressee, please
>> promptly delete this message and notify the sender of the delivery error
>> by e-mail or you may call Somerset Medical Center's computer Help Desk
>> at 908-685-2200, ext. 4050.
>>
>> Be sure to visit Somerset Medical Center's Web site - 
>> www.somersetmedicalcenter.com - for the most up-to-date news, 
>> event listings, health information and more.
>>     
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Windows Live(tm) Hotmail®...more than just e-mail. 
>
http://windowslive.com/howitworks?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_howi
tworks_022009_______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
>
>   

_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet