[Histonet] certification of histotechnologists

[joelle weaver]

These are interesting points. In my experience with the educational "wing" at least some ( non-histology educators) have about the same "monkey" assessment of what knowledge and skills are needed for histology as  some others. They seemed to feel that an associates was unecessary, and also feel that any med tech, ( or just about anyone) can do histology, with or without training- so why do we need to have programs at all? 
Plus it's a money issue- based on enrollment. So on campus programs fell away and continue to do so. The alternative was to have the students train in an off site lab and attend class on campus. Finding those labs willing to take students for clinicals was challenging. Then came not even classes on campus, but on line.  That seemed to provide something for some people. It is a better alternative than nothing, and some programs seem to be good,  and can provide the theory. But based on my first hand experience, I came to the conclusion that for quite a few students, it just doesn't translate well. Before I get a "flurry" of angry responses, note that some people do quite well- it just depends on the individual and where their clinical site is. I just think that more people deserve to be set up to do well, and I think the education could be more unified and consistent. I am not even "blaming" educators, they do their best with what resources they are given- I just think that those resources are often not enough. 
 I was lucky to have training in a program on campus, with good instructors, good clinicals,  and then go on to work in a great lab with people who wanted me to succeed. I never entertained that this was a substitute for actual experience, but I did feel it gave me good fundamentals to get started, and I continue to learn everyday both on my own,  and from others. Whenever I get sucked into this topic, it always gets construed that I am somehow insulting people who followed different paths- I am not! Experience is always valuable.There are good and bad examples in ALL professions, no matter the individual's education, training or experience.  Education  and experience are both valuable. They are just different ways of learning, and hopefully can work in synergy for each person.  



Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
 > From: Timothy.Morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org
> To: keeping.janet <@t> gmail.com; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Date: Fri, 25 May 2012 08:55:58 -0700
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] certification of histotechnologists
> CC: 
> 
> Janet brings up an interesting point. The rest of the world (ie, besides US) has histo as part of the med tech program and then they specialize in their final year. I have worked with techs from many other countries and in general are far more knowledgeable than the majority of even certified techs in the US.  The US med tech programs dropped histo decades ago. I'm not sure why. Pathology labs certainly benefitted financially because it allowed them to hire literally anybody to do the work. 
> 
> But even in the US the med tech schools are declining due to lack of enrollment. Probably due to automation in laboratories they just don't need as many people.
> 
> Tim Morken
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Janet Keeping
> Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 4:38 AM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] certification of histotechnologists
> 
> Just curious if  any consideration has been given to including Histotechnology in your medical laboratory programs as we do in Canada? our graduates are certified for 5 different careers and shortages in one particular laboratory does not seem to be a problem.
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