[Histonet] Re: Is anybody hiring techs without a certification?

Grantham, Andrea L - (algranth) algranth <@t> email.arizona.edu
Mon May 9 10:58:34 CDT 2011 

Pam,
I can tell you that NSH is totally aware of this situation and one of our goals is to try to do something about it. These things are not done quickly however but little by little we are making some progress. We have partnered with other healthcare professionals like CLSI, NAACLS, CLMA, Health Professions Network, Assoc. of Pathology Chairs just to name a few (for a better list check out the NSH web site). All this in an effort to make histotechnology and histotechs known in the healthcare community. Programs like the Career Days and the Histotechnology Professionals Day were created for this purpose as well. These things don't happen by themselves either, we all have to take the responsibility of getting the word out. I know that you are doing what you can - I am too, speaking at local schools and service clubs. For HPD I had an article in our local newspaper. We just need more techs willing to do these things.

When techs can't travel to an educational venue there are teleconferences, the online learning center ( especially for your OJT's) and CEU's from the Journal just to name some alternatives.

We do need more schools but this is difficult. We had a very successful program here at our Community College but (and because of lack of understanding and some political stuff too) they discontinued it last year. 

Andi Grantham



On May 8, 2011, at 5:31 PM, Pamela Marcum wrote:

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> Jennifer, 
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> I am not sure you understood that I know the paths to getting registration.  We can argue this forever however; the outcome is the same too little; too late for Histology to grow.  No one in a Med Tech program since the middle 60's is required to even set foot in Histology so we are the not known and will not be until we or one of these organizations goes beyond lip service and promises.  After 40 years I am still asked what kind of history I teach.  I explain what we do and generally hear of that's great, never knew you guys existed.  I go to schools when I can someone to invite me and still it is not a field anyone knows. 
> 
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>   We currently have two people training in our lab.  One has an AA and the other an AS degree.  Both are taking additional science and chemistry courses to help them understand what they are being taught.  I am the person in charge of the Histology Lab, the Gross Room and the Morgue.  So, Yes I know the paths for all three areas.  Unfortunately, the ASCP and NSH are aware and still when there is a meeting for CLMA , ASCP or other areas of the laboratory you will be lucky to find a lecture on anything to do with Histology whether local or national.  No funds are available for anyone to go to a meeting or travel.  IF NSH is not local most people can't get there.  So exactly where are we to get education CEUs if no one will pay for them and we are at the lowest end of the pay scale and can't?  Most of the Histologist here are unable to travel more than 10 to 50 miles for a meeting even in the state.   
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> We are at a University and have been told point blank no education money (time off only), no classes unless they are free and oh by the way be sure the new ones get their CEUs to keep their registries.  We have also been told anyone without a BS will be paid like a LST and the HT does not qualify them for a raise or higher pay.  I have friends at other major institutes who are being told the same thing.  We ask in the early 90's for the education levels to be raised by NSH and still took years to happen.  I have been in Histology for over 40 years and still love the field, just hate the way we are treated in comparison to the CP area.  Try hiring someone under the new guidelines for grossing without a PA license and see what you get.  It is just as hard and just a few schools for that field too.   When you get the PA license try getting the pay outside a major metropolitan area. 
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> Pam Marcum 
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> Still my opinion 
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> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jennifer MacDonald" < JMacDonald @ mtsac . edu > 
> To: "Pamela Marcum" <mucram11 <@t> comcast.net> 
> Cc: histonet @lists. utsouthwestern . edu , histonet -bounces <@t> lists. utsouthwestern . edu , "Robert Richmond" < rsrichmond @ gmail .com> 
> Sent: Sunday, May 8, 2011 6:07:34 PM 
> Subject: Re: [ Histonet ] Re: Is anybody hiring techs without a certification? 
> 
> 
> The NSH and ASCP are well aware of the lack of schools, but are powerless to do anything about it.    With cutbacks in education and healthcare schools and hospitals are cutting back on training as it takes time and money.  What type of assistance are you speaking about for the OJT people who have the AA/AS?  The ASCP recognizes these individuals through route 2 for the HT ( ASCP ) exam. 
> One of the reasons that our program and others do not take more students is that we cannot find facilities that are willing to take on the clinical experience for students.  Many of the histology labs are unwilling or unable to train students.  What type of action would you like the NSH and ASCP to take? 
> 
> Jennifer MacDonald 
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> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jennifer MacDonald" < JMacDonald @ mtsac . edu > 
> To: "Pamela Marcum" <mucram11 <@t> comcast.net> 
> Cc: histonet @lists. utsouthwestern . edu , histonet -bounces <@t> lists. utsouthwestern . edu , "Robert Richmond" < rsrichmond @ gmail .com> 
> Sent: Sunday, May 8, 2011 6:07:34 PM 
> Subject: Re: [ Histonet ] Re: Is anybody hiring techs without a certification? 
> 
> 
> The NSH and ASCP are well aware of the lack of schools, but are powerless to do anything about it.    With cutbacks in education and healthcare schools and hospitals are cutting back on training as it takes time and money.  What type of assistance are you speaking about for the OJT people who have the AA/AS?  The ASCP recognizes these individuals through route 2 for the HT ( ASCP ) exam. 
> One of the reasons that our program and others do not take more students is that we cannot find facilities that are willing to take on the clinical experience for students.  Many of the histology labs are unwilling or unable to train students.  What type of action would you like the NSH and ASCP to take? 
> 
> Jennifer MacDonald 
> 
> 
> 
> Pamela Marcum <mucram11 <@t> comcast.net> 
> Sent by: histonet -bounces <@t> lists. utsouthwestern . edu 
> 
> 05/08/2011 02:35 PM 	
> To 	Robert Richmond < rsrichmond @ gmail .com> 
> 
> cc 	histonet @lists. utsouthwestern . edu 
> 
> Subject 	Re: [ Histonet ] Re: Is anybody hiring techs without a certification? 
> 	
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> Currently we have too few schools and not enough slots in the schools we have for Histology to grow ans educate people properly.  It is hard to tell if the ASCP and NSH are just unaware of the issues or not interested as we see schools close and career days at NSH for high school students yet no real action.   They need to assist what many of us are doing now - OJT with people who have the AA or AS degree and hope they stay in the field.  The majority of people I meet and tell what I do have no idea that the field of Histology exists or how important it can be to a patient having surgery and awaiting a diagnosis.  
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> I currently have two people we are training as we can't find qualified people here and at least they are the best we could find.  The second issue is pay and the fact that any Histology area controlled by Clinical Laboratory is in an uphill battle to get salaries raised as the CP people all seem to feel if you don't have a BS you can't rate better pay.  I do realize we have many  MTs in Histology and they usually great for us.  It is the management that cannot get by the requirements to help us go forward.  They should look at the fact many of the Histologist now working will retire in the next ten years and then where will they be in finding people for this field? 
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> Pam Marcum 
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> Personal Option 
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> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Robert Richmond" < rsrichmond @ gmail .com> 
> To: histonet @lists. utsouthwestern . edu 
> Sent: Sunday, May 8, 2011 12:38:38 PM 
> Subject: [ Histonet ] Re: Is anybody hiring techs without a certification? 
> 
> Yvette asks: 
> 
>>> Is anybody hiring techs without a certification?<< 
> 
> Is anybody hiring techs WITH a certification? With a coming 
> retirement, the two labs I'm working in now will have NO certified 
> histotechs (total of four workers) - all OJT's . Some of them probably 
> have the educational qualifications to sit the exam, but management 
> isn't very sympathetic - I'll have to buy them a copy of the 3rd 
> edition of Freida Carson's book, for starters. 
> 
> Bob Richmond 
> Samurai Pathologist 
> Knoxville TN 
> 
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