[Histonet] Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech

[Rene J Buesa]

First I want you to excuse me, but I do not think that you are really qualified to supervise 2 histotechs if you need to ask for such quality guidance.
You end by bemoaning about "budget crunch" and because of that it seems to me that your 2 histotechs are not receiving a "decent" salary and, as everybody knows, you are getting what you are paying for.
With 10 years of experience you should know that the first step for quality of sections is quality of fixation and quality of processing. You have first to manage that aspect.
Quality of sections comes after wards and there is no "standard" for mistakes and for what you are describing it seems that mistakes are frequent. By the way, if the pathologists are not pleased, they will not it take on the histotechs, but on you as a supervisor unable to provide them the quality they require.
There is no such thing as "instant reward" for a good quality job; the histotech should not be treated as "dogs receiving a cookie after a trick performed" but there are 2 tools: you need to keep track of the mistakes → counsel the HT after a mistake → retrain them → keep a track of mistakes and there are verbal and written counselings and an annual evaluation, I am sure you know that.
The ideal limit of mistakes is "0" but there is some acceptable mistakes limits, as long as they are few and far between. The pathologists are the ones who can tell you what they are willing to accept as mistakes limits. Ask them.
It seems that if your 2 HTs do not improve, you should start looking for replacements, but they should be better paid, and if the mistakes continue at a high rate, you should put your 10 years experience to work and start doing some bench work
René J.    

From: Travis Troyer <ttroyer <@t> petersonlab.com>
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2012 5:34 PM
Subject: [Histonet] Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech

This is a question for all of the lab supervisors.  I am the supervisor of two histotechs.  I am not doing techwork now, but have 10 years of experience.  The pathologists are getting more and more upset at the lack of quality in the work and the mistakes that are happening.  I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on what sort of a goal to set up and how to reward/punish for variations from that goal.  For example,  if the goal is three mistakes for the month, what is the best way to reward them for making that goal and what would be best if they had more mistakes in a given time frame.  We are all feeling the budget crunch and the pathologists are trying to figure out a good solution.

Thanks,
Travis Troyer
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