[Histonet] Pa Leeeze

Wed Nov 21 11:50:12 CST 2012

This post is Op-Ed in nature... So Be Cool.

Should probably just let this thread die a quiet death over
Thanksgiving, but I can't resist. Blame it on a short night and a very
early morning ... or blame it on me. Whatever.

My long and ranting post was also more of an Op-Ed. No person or persons
were named nor intended to be personal. Sorry if it hit a nerve - but
then that's what Op-Ed does. Is there a place for such on HistoNet?
Maybe, maybe not. If asked how to retrieve an antigen - there may or may
not be better ways of doing it but my opinions about it aren't worth
much. 

But this 88305 issue, if you are in clinical work, is one that we are
all dealing with without any particularly familiar ground to work with.
To some degree opinions, one way or the other, is what we are left with.
And, believe it or not, through all the griping, panic and befuddlement,
I was able to gain useful insight. So, I vote that this is a legitimate
forum for our concerns as well as our particular technical brilliance.

Personally, I'm not all that smart. I'm just determined and focused.
Information on the legislation is out there but it is far too laborious
and nuanced for most of us poor scientists to completely comprehend. It
wasn't written for us but for lawyers and insurance companies. I have to
rely on people smarter than me to figure all of this stuff out. I like
that HistoNet is full of smarter people.

(A personal note: I actually did become very wealthy in histology. I
just choose to drive a 2000 Mercury with a cracked windshield, broken
door handles and a peculiar smell of hickory smoke and spoiled milk. I
could air it out if the windows worked....call me eccentric - and a real
smarta$$!) 

Bottom line: I've been jobless, it suc*ks. I've been without a home for
a short duration, and it suc*ks even more. It will not happen to me
again - even in this economy. Bustin' my chops to make sure it doesn't!
My main tools are a cool head and a strong attitude and the occasional
rant. (I am my own best tool) A lot of the rest of it is out of my
sphere of control, but I am as forward thinking and as pro-active as I
am able. So far, I'm still working, living indoors and still have heat
and running water. I'm not going to let a cut in the money my company
makes determine what I do or be my motivator. In fact, when I get home
in the evening - I don't think about it one wit. 

I have a wife to love, a dog to pet, a dinner to eat and a bed to sleep
in.... 88305 be dam*ned! And that gives me reason for a great
Thanksgiving! I hope ya'll have a great one! - Shalom! Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce Gapinski [mailto:BGapinski <@t> pathgroup.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 10:12 AM
To: 'Boyd, Debbie M'; O'Donnell, Bill; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Pa Leeeze

Dear Histonians,
        I am sorry. I wish I felt as you do. "We were looking at this
for some time, and it was inevitable." "Histology has enjoyed a fairly
long period of great reimbursement."" what we had been doing overall in
healthcare could not be sustained"" The only thing that may cost a few
jobs is if   over-utilization is curbed."
        I don't get it. I don't run my lab that way. Or my Pathologists
are real fat-cats who've been pulling the wool over my eyes for almost
40 years. How is it you all can post to HistoNet if you're so flippin
lean? I don't have time to do this during work hours. I'M BUSY. Did you
get rich in Histology? I didn't.
        Loosing a job is painful, and we in mid management loathe
letting our staff go. The notion that I'm in panic mode is baiting at
best. I asked for help from my colleagues and got a plate full of Rush
Limbaugh.
        Untill HistoNet has CONSTRUCTIVE information, I will stay
unsubscribed.
Bruce Gapinski

-----Original Message-----
From: Boyd, Debbie M [mailto:DKBoyd <@t> chs.net]
Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 6:12 AM
To: O'Donnell, Bill; Bruce Gapinski; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Pa Leeeze

Thank you Bill, well stated!

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
O'Donnell, Bill
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 3:25 PM
To: Bruce Gapinski; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Pa Leeeze

Like it or not, politics played a part in the cut of 88305. So did POLs,
CAP and a host of other factors. Finger pointing in time of uncertainty
somehow makes us all feel better, but  it doesn't give us concrete ways
of addressing the problem. Histology has enjoyed a fairly long period of
great reimbursement, reasonable per-test costs, and a certain amount of
security in that what we do is unique.

That is all changing, but was likely to change at least some no matter
who was elected to do whatever. Remember the panic when DRG's first
arrived?

There is no doubt that labs are going to have to get leaner, but this
was already a trend. Find reasonable ways to cut costs. I know. We've
been doing this for years.... But it needs to go further.

Some people will lose their jobs. I may well be one of them and I don't
like it, but it is a reality. If I go down, it will not be for lack of
trying to maintain.

88305 cuts are big but there are a lot of clinical services getting cuts
as well. Hospitals need to do what they can to keep the doors open for
the benefit of the patient. Pay cuts, bonuses+/-, benefits, hiring
freezes, capital freezes are all looming on the horizon. If at all
possible, fight them, but do not exhaust yourselves. It's a new world -
and it will sometimes be ugly. Blame the Democrats or the Republicans,
Wall Street or Main Street, but figure out how to adapt.

OK. So.... What can we do to ride out the storm?

1. Find a marketing advantage. POLs and certain smaller private labs
cannot remain the "bargain" they once were. My lab is expectiing to get
back some of what we lost to them a few years back. We are the only game
in our town.... Why are we losing business to labs in other areas? It
should all be staying here.

2. Become politically active. Demand better from your elected officials
and from your professional organizations that are lobbyists(sp). If they
can't do the job, use your vote or your membership fees to fire them OR
run for office yourself. Become an activist in your professional
organization.

3. Maintain high standards. Cut-backs and performance improvement need
not automatically equate to less quality. I hate it when people assume
that shaving a couple of minutes must necessitate poor cutting. How
close to borderline is your current quality if this is your attitude.
Yes, that was snarky, but think about it.

4. Remember the mantra of the Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe: DON'T
PANIC. When you are caught up in a panic mentality, thinking and problem
solving suffer. We need our heads in the game if we are going to come
out on top.
(How's that for my best Zig Zigler impersonation)?

Above all - have a nice day and thank you for letting me vent a bit.

Bill

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Bruce
Gapinski
Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 10:37 AM
To: 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: [Histonet] Pa Leeeze

Wow,
                How disappointing. Looking for constructive ways to keep
my lab open and I get political stuff. Did you all go crazy in the 80's
with Ronald Ray-gun and the DRG's? Too young?

Bruce Gapinsk HT (ASCP)
Chief Histologist
Marin Medical Laboratories
PathGroup SF

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This electronic mail and any attached documents are intended solely for the named addressee(s) and contain confidential information. If you are not an addressee, or responsible for delivering this email to an addressee, you have received this email in error and are notified that reading, copying, or disclosing this email is prohibited. If you received this email in error, immediately reply to the sender and delete the message completely from your computer system.