[Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech

Thu Dec 20 14:30:20 CST 2012

I like that. Might be more difficult in a larger lab or facility however. I miss direct communication, and find it much more compelling than an email or reprimand after the fact.  One of the things I used to like the most about working in  histology was knowing the pathologists , having them at least know my name, and getting their direct feedback, (either good or bad), so I could adjust what I was doing appropriately. Even better if they showed me what they saw under the microscope. 

Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
 > Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2012 13:12:12 -0700
> From: billodonnell <@t> catholichealth.net
> To: LPaveli1 <@t> hurleymc.com; rsrichmond <@t> gmail.com; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech
> CC: 
> 
> I agree that the verbal approach is swiftest. I remember one lab that I
> worked in where we did daily QA sheets for overall quality. Specifics
> might be noted, but since I didn't always get the sheets back the same
> day - they weren't of much real help. Anyway, one day the pathologists
> tells me he thinks I need to look at the hematoxylin as it was staining
> "funny". Sure enough, it was. 
> 
> I inquired when he first noticed it and he said "oh, it's been several
> days". I looked at the sheets and everything was marked satisfactory. I
> got rid of the sheets, documented my own daily checks, and simply asked
> the paths how they thought things looked each day. They reviewed and
> signed off on the sheets at the end of the month, but I got first hand
> feedback which actually meant something and problems got solved in a
> more timely manner. I'm sure this experience is not unique, but since
> that event I have always insisted that the pathologist come directly to
> the lab when they have a problem with any aspect of the work. It's
> amazing what a little communication will do.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Lynette
> Pavelich
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 1:06 PM
> To: Bob Richmond; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech
> 
> Dr. Richmond,
> It's always refreshing to hear what the "other shoe" has to say! I'm
> sure seeing those required quality control sheets coming in everyday is
> tiring, and then especially frustrating when small to none results are
> seen in a timely manner. I can empathize with you as change/improvement
> can sometimes take a long time!! 
> 
> I also realize.......after being in the field 40+ years (ouch!), that
> verbal communication seems to work faster than all those required sheets
> of paper you have to fill out. Like the pathologist who comes through
> the door saying; "HEY.......what happened with this slide??" (LOL) will
> get a much faster response/correction than those papers I receive back
> everyday to collate! It's just more personal, and shows the techs more
> of the pathologist's side of the hardships of diagnosing after receiving
> less than lovely slides.
> 
> Equally refreshing, is a pathologist who remembers to thank the tech who
> does a great job! And I thank you for that! A genuine complement is
> really appreciated!
> 
> Lynette
> 
> Lynette Pavelich, HT(ASCP)
> Histology Supervisor
> Hurley Medical Center
> One Hurley Plaza
> Flint, MI 48503
> 
> ph: 810.262.9948
> mobile: 810.444.7966
> 
> ________________________________________
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> [histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] on behalf of Bob Richmond
> [rsrichmond <@t> gmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 1:42 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech
> 
> From: Kim Donadio <one_angel_secret <@t> yahoo.com>
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech
> To: "O'Donnell, Bill" <billodonnell <@t> catholichealth.net>,        Maria
> Mejia
>         <mbmphoto <@t> gmail.com>,   "Morken, Timothy"
>         <Timothy.Morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org>
> Cc: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
>         <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
> Message-ID:
>         <1355948250.57406.YahooMailNeo <@t> web112302.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> 
> Kim Donadio (where?) comments:
> >>I'd like to add my two cents to the measuring "Quality" topic. I'll 
> >>make it short. - You should have a "Quality Management" program. It's 
> >>vital to track errors, types of errors, frequency and who etc. This is
> 
> >>NOT a tool for blame as we are all adults or we should be. It is 
> >>however a tool for tracking trends, making improvements and yes if you
> 
> >>did see someone making a mistake often, you would have the data to 
> >>educate particular personnel. - There are QM tools out there from 
> >>various organizations. And yes, there are standards of deviations such
> 
> >>as the TAT for frozens. There are standards for other things as well. 
> >>Set Standards of excellence with your Pathologist. Make goals. Track 
> >>them. Follow improvement.<<
> 
> I'm going to add a sour and cynical rejoinder. As most of you know, I'm
> an elderly pathologist who's spent the last 30 years as a locum tenens,
> working maybe 60 pathology services in my "career". Sometimes in a
> pathology practice I'll be asked to fill out daily "quality whatever"
> (the patter changes with the years) reports about the slides. I always
> dread having to do this, because I know that the more of this paperwork
> I have to do, the worse the slides will be. The worst was one that
> required several square inches of scribbling a day.
> They couldn't mount a coverslip correctly.
> 
> Any meaningful system would require daily feedback from pathologist (or
> other end user) to histotechnologist. I've never encountered a pathology
> service that accomplished this.
> 
> Dang - now I'm remembering that this morning duodenal biopsy sections
> were the best I'd ever seen here, and I forgot to tell the histotech
> before she slipped out the door!
> 
> Bob Richmond
> Samurai Pathologist
> Maryville TN
> 
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