[Histonet] How to ask a question on Histonet?
Epp, Carol SktnHR
Carol.Epp <@t> saskatoonhealthregion.ca
Wed Jun 4 14:47:06 CDT 2014
I would like to ask a question:Headline-MICROSCOPIC CHECKS- "What slides do you microscopically check before sending out to the pathologist?" carol.epp <@t> saskatoonhealthregion.ca
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From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of histonet-request <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 11:01 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Histonet Digest, Vol 127, Issue 5
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Today's Topics:
1. HTL program (Bilger, Andrea)
2. RE: Histonet Digest, Vol 127, Issue 3 (Nancy Schmitt)
3. Re: Should I leave histology world (Rene J Buesa)
4. Re: fluorescent scope and slide scanner (Rene J Buesa)
5. Clearium? (Abbott, Tanya)
6. Pathologists? (Gudrun Lang)
7. Re: Should I leave histology world (Emily Brown)
8. RE: Should I leave histology world (Morken, Timothy)
9. RE: fluorescent scope and slide scanner (Elizabeth Chlipala)
10. HER2 by IHC- Fixation (Adesupo, Adesuyi (Banjo))
11. RE: HER2 by IHC- Fixation (Weems, Joyce K.)
12. leaving histology question research is still an option
(koellingr <@t> comcast.net)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 14:33:24 +0000
From: "Bilger, Andrea" <abilger <@t> wellspan.org>
Subject: [Histonet] HTL program
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
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I have several techs who used Indiana University's on line course and they are all great techs! Have not been impressed with techs from Harford Community's program.
Andrea Bilger, HTL
Team Leader, Histology
York Hospital
1001 S. George St.
York, Pa. 17405
(717) 851-5040
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Message: 2
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 14:42:16 +0000
From: Nancy Schmitt <Nancy_Schmitt <@t> pa-ucl.com>
Subject: [Histonet] RE: Histonet Digest, Vol 127, Issue 3
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
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Hi Denise-
I would HIGHLY recommend the online program at IUPUI - we have had 4 people go through this program including myself.
When finished you are ready to sit for the test! It is really well done and they are so helpful along the way.
Contact info: Debra M. Wood, Director,
Histotechnology Program
Clinical Assistant Professor
Indiana University School of Medicine
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
350 W. 11th St. ROOM 6002A
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Program Office Phone: 317-491-6410
Good Luck!
Nancy Schmitt MLT, HT(ASCP)
United Clinical Laboratories
Dubuque, IA
_____________________________________________________
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Smith, Denise
Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 12:18 PM
To: 'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'
Subject: [Histonet] HTL Online Courses?
Hi all!
I have been doing massive research on this for past several days but no solid leads. I am wondering about HT/HTL Histology online courses... I live in St. Louis Missouri and they don't offer any histology courses around here - only out of states. I cannot relocate or do 1-2 years program out of state due to my full-time job and family reason.
Do anyone know any good Histology online courses that I can take without conflicting with my job?
Greatly appericated! Thanks!
Denise Smith
smith_d <@t> kids.wustl.edu<mailto:smith_d <@t> kids.wustl.edu
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Message: 3
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 07:40:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
To: Alpha Histotech <optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com>,
"histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
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You describe a common situation in histology where the pressure to finish the work on time (the TAT) reigns but that does not necessarily mean that quality has to be sacrificed, although sometimes it does.
On the other hand, not all histotechs are "created equal" and some have abilities others don't. Manual dexterity is a most and while some can section at the "normal" rate of 24 blocks/hour, other take twice the time, and it seems that you belong to the later group.
For what you wrote it seems that your embedding productivity (about 60 blocks/hour) is the "norm" and, again, others are less or more productive. You also point out that you have worked in 3 places in 6-7 years and that is a quite high turnover never conducent to improve your work and that can be hold "against you" in your Resum? when looking for another position.
A histology supervisor has to assure the slides are ready for the pathologists on a timely basis so one of the things that have to be done is to identify amongst the staff? "who does what best" meaning who can deliver quality in a timely basis.
I think that you, already in your late 20's,?should start trying to answer several questions:
1- why did you in the first place?decided to become a histotech and if that was a "wise" selection?
2- if you are experiencing the same problems in the 3 places where you worked, it seems clear to me that the issue is with you and not with the trade. It will be the same at least in these types of high volume labs where higher productivity are required.
If you really like histology and think that you need more training to achieve?sectioning speed, you have to switch to another type of lab. Try to solicit work in a research or university lab where you will have enough time to train properly and where finishing the work "yesterday"?is no usually a concern.
Also think that not all histotechs have the same ability or speed. I had supervised along my career as supervisor scores of histotechs and some just cannot?section fast, it is not?within their abilities but can excel in some other tasks. My duty was to detect the task that they could complete best and, without totally frustrating their lives, assign them to those tasks.
Also you could try to improve your speed on your own time, and demonstrate that you are also willing to try to improve.
So I think that it is time for you to do one of the following:
1- change career
2- change type of lab
3- adapt?and adquire sectioning speed or
4- find amongst the many tasks?that histology provide, the one?where you can excel and at the same find satisfaction.
What you cannot do is to keep doing the same and expect to find satisfaction or obtain a different result given your ability.
Think hard and honestly what you want to do for the rest of your life that most likely will be long.
Ren? J.?
On Tuesday, June 3, 2014 4:35 PM, Alpha Histotech <optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi everyone,
I wouldn't give too much detail information as the histology world is very small and everyone knows everyone.
I am in a dilemma. I have been a histotech (ASCP HT) for almost 6-7 yrs. I went to a NAACLS school and have a Associate in Science in Histology. In the 6-7 yrs I have changed jobs 3 times. All the jobs were graveyard shifts. The first place I worked for was Quest Diagnostics and I did a good 3 yrs. The other 2 places I won't mention and I currently still have a histology job. My problem is all the places I worked were factory style lab work and they all did derm work. In my career I really only embedded most of the time. I did occasional other stuff like special stains both by hand and using Dako Artisan and other things like cytology cytospin. But I never got to develop in cutting. My first job in quest..I maybe cutted one time for 2 or 3 weeks before they yanked me and put me back to embed. My 2nd job put me to cut the last 2 months (full 8hrs) I was working there. My current job I have been cutting since April 2014 ( but only 2-3hrs in the day and then I embed, I have been here now 1 yr, I was embedding most of the time before th cutting started). I was told by my director I need to speed up in cutting because corporate is asking why I am not increasing in speed. And if I don't speed up eventually then they will have to demote me to a lab aid and give me a pay cut. (where I work and the state I work in they have lab aids doing alot of stuff without being certified, it wasn't like that in the other state I am original from as you have to be state licensed and ascp) I sometimes laugh inside my head because before my director hired me I told him I don't have alot experience in cutting.
Now everywhere I have gone...speed is the name of the game. They say they care about quality but in the end if you can't put up then you will be put out!? So I am just thinking I should just get out of histology world all together. Every where I have worked unfortunately have management who believe quantity over quality. OR Do you guys think I need more time cutting to develop speed? Beforehand I did need a little learning curve to cut and I have gotten through that now. It's just the speed that is killing me. And I also see if anyone at my work detours me for any reason like for example data entry person from front desk ask for missing gross dictation, then that lost time is very hard to recover as I am not soooo fast to recover. I feel I may have to become very rude(not help) with everyone I work around in order to stay glued to my seat when I am cutting my blocks. One thing I want to say also...until this day I never been written up for quality issues and I never lost any tissue while embedding. Embedding I am fast as most histotech (1 block a min or most times 30-45 secs 1 block) with proper embedding techniques demonstrated (tissue on same plane, tissue embedded with proper orientation and follow any other necessary embedding instructions. ) I just feel I haven't done my time in cutting as I did in embedding to become a fast cutter. I don't know if its because of working in a derm lab that management won't wait too long for you to develop like maybe a hospital lab may do. I was also thinking to find another histo job but not mention any of my experience so expectation won't be so high and I can get more time to develop. All of this also causes alot of stress and anxiety as it gets hard to coop with.? What do you guys think and how I should go about with this. I am also not limited to histology. I have expertise in 2 other major fields that I wont mention because I don't want to be identified.? I am also in my late 20's. Thanks for reading my post and I await your opinions as some of you all are veterans in the field of histology.
Thank you
Alpha Histotech (ASCP HT)
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Message: 4
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 07:44:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: Rene J Buesa <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] fluorescent scope and slide scanner
To: "Santiago, Albert" <Albert.Santiago <@t> uphs.upenn.edu>,
"histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID:
<1401893043.69148.YahooMailNeo <@t> web120402.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>
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Contact a?Leica Microsystems?representative.
Ren? J.
On Wednesday, June 4, 2014 8:42 AM, "Santiago, Albert" <Albert.Santiago <@t> uphs.upenn.edu> wrote:
Hello my colleagues in histoland,
We are in the market for a? Slide Scanner and a Fluorescent Microscope, if anyone has any information on any of these products please share with me.
Thank you
Albert Santiago, HT(ASCP)
Lab Manager
Penncutaneous Pathology Services
Dermatopathology Lab
3020 Market ST. Ste 201
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-662-6539 - Lab
215-662-6759-office
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Message: 5
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 15:09:25 +0000
From: "Abbott, Tanya" <TanyaAbbott <@t> catholichealth.net>
Subject: [Histonet] Clearium?
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
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<852F7D2C14FB464D80E182B15DB138AF306943FD <@t> CHIEX005.CHI.catholichealth.net>
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This is a bit more of a Cytology question, but I thought I would survey my Histo friends! We are starting to have bubbles with our PAP slides, and it actually seems to occur after drying, initially after coverslipping (by hand) there appears to be no bubbles. We use Clearium, so we can go directly from alcohol. I am a new manager, and this lab is very adversed to Xylene. Any ideas?
Thanks!
Tanya G. Abbott RT (CSMLS)
Manager Technologist, Histology/Cytology St. Joseph Medical Center Reading, PA 19603-0316 ph 610-378-2635 fax 610-898-5871
email: tanyaabbott <@t> catholichealth.net
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Message: 6
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 17:35:46 +0200
From: "Gudrun Lang" <gu.lang <@t> gmx.at>
Subject: [Histonet] Pathologists?
To: <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID: <000001cf800a$a7ca8750$f75f95f0$@gmx.at>
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Dear histonetters!
Maybe you can help me. We are looking for pathologists for our clinical histolab in Linz, Austria. Anyone (German speaking), who is interested in is welcome to inform him- or herself on this website.
http://www.linz.at/akh/10374.asp
We have a well equipted, modern histolab (from routine histo till FISH and molecularpathology).
Best regards
Gudrun
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 11:44:13 -0400
From: Emily Brown <talulahgosh <@t> gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
Cc: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
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As someone who has been in research (basically being a histologist), I can say that there are NO jobs out there for you. The market is saturated with PhDs. Do not leave your job for a research position unless they can guarantee your salary for years. This will be very unlikely, as getting a grant is super hard nowadays.
I actually have to be ceritifed to work in a clinical lab, but I know that after 15 years in a lab, I definitely have the skills, just not the certification to be in a clinical lab. I am working in the office now, and in the lab one day a week after having an R01 for ten years and being the lab manager in a research lab. I'm going to get certification in case this office/lab thing doesn't work out in a few years. I wish there was more money in science but there isn't.
So the main point is, either get some skills, or go a different path.
Research is not where it's at right now.
Although, I am assuming you're in the US, this might not be the case in other countries.
Emily
"By bitching and bitching and bitching, they could exhaust the drama of their own horror stories. Grow bored. Only then could they accept a new story for their lives. Move forward."
-Chuck Palahniuk, "Haunted"
On Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 7:45 AM, joelle weaver <joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com>
wrote:
> Yes thanks for the perspective. I have a bias towards my own
> experience, and this seems to be good advice. I work in a molecular
> based lab now and they are very unaware of what it typically is like
> in a clinical histopathology lab. Good to point other environments are
> out there that are clinical, and also that research in general can be
> very different than clinical settings. Some people are just more
> suited to certain environments over the other.
>
>
>
>
> Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
>
> Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 01:32:11 +0000
> From: koellingr <@t> comcast.net
> To: joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com
> CC: timothy.morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org; optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com;
> histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
>
> Alpha Histotech-
>
> I'll put in my few words even though I'm not active anymore and
> possibly from different perspective. But also using a few assumptions
> and if my assumptions are wrong then the rest of what I say is probably meaningless.
> Not ID??ng your e-mail address but if you've worked 3 jobs nightshift
> including a large reference lab, do you live near a big city? And if
> so is it a city close to a college or university.
>
> Research histology should not be overlooked. You will find many
> molecular or other such non-histo labs that actually do some or even a
> lot of histology by non-histology personnel or lab workers. Sometimes
> it is OK, sometimes even great. Sometimes, and I witnessed it, it is
> at an embarrassing histo level. I can walk up or down university
> hallways and see a "genetics lab" or some other "molecular lab" and
> see a microtome or cryostat in there. Sometimes those PI's will send
> histo work to a core lab. Sometimes they don't want to pay per block
> so do it (and staining and IHC and FISH) themselves. Someone with
> even minimal wide-ranging histo experience might be welcomed.
>
> No timed block cutting counts. Learn some immunology, genetics,
> molecular techniques, comparative medicine, physiology, etc, etc along
> the way. Many places even pay for college level courses while employed there.
>
> Just a thought if you are near that kind of area.
>
> Ray in Seattle
>
>
>
>
>
> From: "joelle weaver" <joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com>
> To: "Timothy Morken" <timothy.morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org>, "Alpha
> Histotech" < optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com>,
> histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Sent: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 5:55:09 PM
> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
>
>
> It would be a shame to get discouraged now after all the time you have
> already put into histology. If you still want to work in histology, I
> might suggest you try to have a conversation with a manager,
> supervisor or lead tech and see if they are willing to support you.
> Tell them you want to spend more time cuting to be able to section
> with high quality at the rate that works for their productivity
> standards. If you present it as a win-win proposition, see what
> resources, people and time they are willing to "chip in" to help get
> where they would like you to be. Make some metric or rate to achieve
> in microtomy your goal for the year, and put it into writing ( good for all goals:).
> Or if that is too uncomfortable , approach someone individually whose
> microtomy skills you admire , and see if they are willing to provide
> some tips and guidance off work time.
>
> I also went through a NAACLS program. Still at my first "real"
> histology job , the realization that this was the actual training
> became apparent very quickly. I had moments of exhaustion and feeling
> overwhelmed, but I now feel I was also fortunate to work initially at a pretty high volume
> place. It was a great "breaking in" for embedding and microtomy. Luckily
> there were also some experienced techs there who saw how much I wanted
> to learn, and were willing to help me get better. The "constructive"
> criticism stung sometimes, but they did me a huge service. But believe
> me, not everyone was helpful or supportive along the way. Try to
> ignore those kind of people as much as possible. And I still get
> criticized sometimes, make mistakes, and I still have more to learn.
>
> But here are a couple of other options for you to consider before you
> decide to leave, and what I did to get more experience when in your
> situation more quickly;
>
> Take on a second histology job that targets specific skills, tissue,
> or techniques you want more experience in. Believe me I have been
> criticized and misunderstood for this choice s well many times, but
> personally I do not regret any of those experiences now.
>
> I also feel that small labs are nice to build well rounded skills
> since you are usually more of a "jack of all trades" and have less
> tendency to do one task over your whole shift from day to day.
> Sometimes you just have to identify the environment that is the right fit for you.
>
> Best of luck to you- and let us know how things turn out!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
>
> > From: Timothy.Morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org
> > To: optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com;
> > histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > Date: Tue, 3 Jun 2014 22:51:31 +0000
> > Subject: RE: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
> > CC:
> >
> > Alpha, it is clear to me, after 30+ years in the field, that some
> > are
> born with the ability to cut fast AND do well at it. The rest of us
> just have to work harder at developing that skill. But it does take
> bench time to do it. A recent cache is that it takes 10,000 hours to
> become an absolute expert at something - that's about 5 years full
> time work. And that's just one skill.
> >
> > It sounds like you need some good teachers (ie, those who like to
> > teach
> and like having their students do well). That would be the highest
> priority if you want to stay in the field as a bench tech.
> >
> > If the factory job isn't working out why not look for a smaller lab
> > in
> which you can get more extensive experience? I really value the fact
> that spent my first 11 years in a 4- person lab in which we did
> everything from grossing to histo to immunos to EM. It may pay less
> initially but may add more value to your lifetime career.
> >
> >
> > Tim Morken
> > Supervisor, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special
> Studies
> > UC San Francisco Medical Center
> > San Francisco, CA
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:
> histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Alpha
> Histotech
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 03, 2014 1:35 PM
> > To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > Subject: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > I wouldn't give too much detail information as the histology world
> > is
> very small and everyone knows everyone.
> >
> > I am in a dilemma. I have been a histotech (ASCP HT) for almost 6-7 yrs.
> I went to a NAACLS school and have a Associate in Science in
> Histology. In the 6-7 yrs I have changed jobs 3 times. All the jobs
> were graveyard shifts. The first place I worked for was Quest
> Diagnostics and I did a good
> 3 yrs. The other 2 places I won't mention and I currently still have a
> histology job. My problem is all the places I worked were factory
> style lab work and they all did derm work. In my career I really only
> embedded most of the time. I did occasional other stuff like special
> stains both by hand and using Dako Artisan and other things like
> cytology cytospin. But I never got to develop in cutting. My first job
> in quest..I maybe cutted one time for 2 or 3 weeks before they yanked
> me and put me back to embed. My 2nd job put me to cut the last 2
> months (full 8hrs) I was working there. My current job I have been
> cutting since April 2014 ( but only 2-3hrs in the day and then I
> embed, I have been here now 1 yr, I was embedding most of the time
> before th cutting started). I was told by my director I need to speed
> up in cutting because corporate is asking why I am not increasing in
> speed. And if I don't speed up eventually then they will have to
> demote me to a lab aid and give me a pay cut. (where I work and the
> state I work in they have lab aids doing alot of stuff without being
> certified, it wasn't like that in the other state I am original from
> as you have to be state licensed and
> ascp) I sometimes laugh inside my head because before my director
> hired me I told him I don't have alot experience in cutting.
> >
> > Now everywhere I have gone...speed is the name of the game. They say
> they care about quality but in the end if you can't put up then you
> will be put out! So I am just thinking I should just get out of
> histology world all together. Every where I have worked unfortunately
> have management who believe quantity over quality. OR Do you guys
> think I need more time cutting to develop speed? Beforehand I did need
> a little learning curve to cut and I have gotten through that now.
> It's just the speed that is killing me. And I also see if anyone at my
> work detours me for any reason like for example data entry person from
> front desk ask for missing gross dictation, then that lost time is
> very hard to recover as I am not soooo fast to recover. I feel I may
> have to become very rude(not help) with everyone I work around in order to stay glued to my seat when I am cutting my blocks.
> One thing I want to say also...until this day I never been written up
> for quality issues and I never lost any tissue while embedding.
> Embedding I am fast as most histotech (1 block a min or most times
> 30-45 secs 1 block) with proper embedding techniques demonstrated
> (tissue on same plane, tissue embedded with proper orientation and
> follow any other necessary embedding instructions. ) I just feel I
> haven't done my time in cutting as I did in embedding to become a fast
> cutter. I don't know if its because of working in a derm lab that
> management won't wait too long for you to develop like maybe a
> hospital lab may do. I was also thinking to find another histo job but
> not mention any of my experience so expectation won't be so high and I
> can get more time to develop. All of this also causes alot of stress
> and anxiety as it gets hard to coop with. What do you guys think and
> how I should go about with this. I am also not limited to histology. I
> have expertise in 2 other major fields that I wont mention because I
> don't want to be identified. I am also in my late 20's. Thanks for
> reading my post and I await your opinions as some of you all are veterans in the field of histology.
> >
> > Thank you
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Message: 8
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 15:46:57 +0000
From: "Morken, Timothy" <Timothy.Morken <@t> ucsfmedctr.org>
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
To: "'Rene J Buesa'" <rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com>, "Alpha Histotech"
<optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com>,
"histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID:
<761E2B5697F795489C8710BCC72141FF367860D8 <@t> ex07.net.ucsf.edu>
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Rene is right that everyone needs to find what they are good at. We had a guy who was so-so in cutting speed and always getting flack for not doing enough. And had such a hard time coordinating specials and immunos that he just slowed things down. Then we started doing Mega blocks of whole mount eyes and prostate and it turns out this guy is a savant at cutting large blocks. The pathologists were raving about how good the sections were. He had a job as long as he wanted in that lab just for that!
Tim Morken
-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rene J Buesa
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 7:41 AM
To: Alpha Histotech; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Should I leave histology world
You describe a common situation in histology where the pressure to finish the work on time (the TAT) reigns but that does not necessarily mean that quality has to be sacrificed, although sometimes it does.
On the other hand, not all histotechs are "created equal" and some have abilities others don't. Manual dexterity is a most and while some can section at the "normal" rate of 24 blocks/hour, other take twice the time, and it seems that you belong to the later group.
For what you wrote it seems that your embedding productivity (about 60 blocks/hour) is the "norm" and, again, others are less or more productive. You also point out that you have worked in 3 places in 6-7 years and that is a quite high turnover never conducent to improve your work and that can be hold "against you" in your Resum? when looking for another position.
A histology supervisor has to assure the slides are ready for the pathologists on a timely basis so one of the things that have to be done is to identify amongst the staff? "who does what best" meaning who can deliver quality in a timely basis.
I think that you, already in your late 20's,?should start trying to answer several questions:
1- why did you in the first place?decided to become a histotech and if that was a "wise" selection?
2- if you are experiencing the same problems in the 3 places where you worked, it seems clear to me that the issue is with you and not with the trade. It will be the same at least in these types of high volume labs where higher productivity are required.
If you really like histology and think that you need more training to achieve?sectioning speed, you have to switch to another type of lab. Try to solicit work in a research or university lab where you will have enough time to train properly and where finishing the work "yesterday"?is no usually a concern.
Also think that not all histotechs have the same ability or speed. I had supervised along my career as supervisor scores of histotechs and some just cannot?section fast, it is not?within their abilities but can excel in some other tasks. My duty was to detect the task that they could complete best and, without totally frustrating their lives, assign them to those tasks.
Also you could try to improve your speed on your own time, and demonstrate that you are also willing to try to improve.
So I think that it is time for you to do one of the following:
1- change career
2- change type of lab
3- adapt?and adquire sectioning speed or
4- find amongst the many tasks?that histology provide, the one?where you can excel and at the same find satisfaction.
What you cannot do is to keep doing the same and expect to find satisfaction or obtain a different result given your ability.
Think hard and honestly what you want to do for the rest of your life that most likely will be long.
Ren? J.?
On Tuesday, June 3, 2014 4:35 PM, Alpha Histotech <optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi everyone,
I wouldn't give too much detail information as the histology world is very small and everyone knows everyone.
I am in a dilemma. I have been a histotech (ASCP HT) for almost 6-7 yrs. I went to a NAACLS school and have a Associate in Science in Histology. In the 6-7 yrs I have changed jobs 3 times. All the jobs were graveyard shifts. The first place I worked for was Quest Diagnostics and I did a good 3 yrs. The other 2 places I won't mention and I currently still have a histology job. My problem is all the places I worked were factory style lab work and they all did derm work. In my career I really only embedded most of the time. I did occasional other stuff like special stains both by hand and using Dako Artisan and other things like cytology cytospin. But I never got to develop in cutting. My first job in quest..I maybe cutted one time for 2 or 3 weeks before they yanked me and put me back to embed. My 2nd job put me to cut the last 2 months (full 8hrs) I was working there. My current job I have been cutting since April 2014 ( but only 2-3hrs in the day and then I embed, I have been here now 1 yr, I was embedding most of the time before th cutting started). I was told by my director I need to speed up in cutting because corporate is asking why I am not increasing in speed. And if I don't speed up eventually then they will have to demote me to a lab aid and give me a pay cut. (where I work and the state I work in they have lab aids doing alot of stuff without being certified, it wasn't like that in the other state I am original from as you have to be state licensed and ascp) I sometimes laugh inside my head because before my director hired me I told him I don't have alot experience in cutting.
Now everywhere I have gone...speed is the name of the game. They say they care about quality but in the end if you can't put up then you will be put out!? So I am just thinking I should just get out of histology world all together. Every where I have worked unfortunately have management who believe quantity over quality. OR Do you guys think I need more time cutting to develop speed? Beforehand I did need a little learning curve to cut and I have gotten through that now. It's just the speed that is killing me. And I also see if anyone at my work detours me for any reason like for example data entry person from front desk ask for missing gross dictation, then that lost time is very hard to recover as I am not soooo fast to recover. I feel I may have to become very rude(not help) with everyone I work around in order to stay glued to my seat when I am cutting my blocks. One thing I want to say also...until this day I never been written up for quality issues and I never lost any tissue while embedding. Embedding I am fast as most histotech (1 block a min or most times 30-45 secs 1 block) with proper embedding techniques demonstrated (tissue on same plane, tissue embedded with proper orientation and follow any other necessary embedding instructions. ) I just feel I haven't done my time in cutting as I did in embedding to become a fast cutter. I don't know if its because of working in a derm lab that management won't wait too long for you to develop like maybe a hospital lab may do. I was also thinking to find another histo job but not mention any of my experience so expectation won't be so high and I can get more time to develop. All of this also causes alot of stress and anxiety as it gets hard to coop with.? What do you guys think and how I should go about with this. I am also not limited to histology. I have expertise in 2 other major fields that I wont mention because I don't want to be identified.? I am also in my late 20's. Thanks for reading my post and I await your opinions as some of you all are veterans in the field of histology.
Thank you
Alpha Histotech (ASCP HT)
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Message: 9
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 10:06:01 -0600
From: Elizabeth Chlipala <liz <@t> premierlab.com>
Subject: [Histonet] RE: fluorescent scope and slide scanner
To: "Santiago, Albert" <Albert.Santiago <@t> uphs.upenn.edu>,
"histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID:
<14E2C6176416974295479C64A11CB9AE019C79E05C9A <@t> SBS2K8.premierlab.local>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Albert
It all depends on your through put and how many slides you need to scan daily. There are so many other things you need to consider prior to purchasing a scanner.
If you go to the DPA website you can get a lot on information on digital pathology www.digitalpathologyassociation.org
The larger vendors such as Leica/Aperio, Olympus, Philips, GE, Ventana will have different solutions and packages for what you may need to include storage and database, reporting, image analysis, etc. You need to think about how you want to use the scanner prior to purchasing one. I have contact information for most of the vendors so if you want me to provide that to you I can.
Now I'm going to give a shameless plug - Jesus Elin, Bill DeSalvo and myself will be giving an all day workshop on this very topic at NSH in Austin it's on Saturday. If you can't make it to that meeting then the DPA has Pathology Visions in October you would be able to spend time with a lot of the vendors that are in this digital pathology space and in addition to that Bill DeSalvo and I will also presenting on this topic at the Region VII meeting in Phoenix in July.
Good Luck
Liz
Elizabeth A. Chlipala, BS, HTL(ASCP)QIHC Premier Laboratory, LLC PO Box 18592 Boulder, CO 80308
(303) 682-3949 office
(303) 682-9060 fax
(303) 881-0763 cell
liz <@t> premierlab.com
www.premierlab.com
March 10, 2014 is Histotechnology Professionals Day
Ship to Address:
Premier Laboratory, LLC
1567 Skyway Drive, Unit E
Longmont, CO 80504
-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Santiago, Albert
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 6:42 AM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] fluorescent scope and slide scanner
Hello my colleagues in histoland,
We are in the market for a Slide Scanner and a Fluorescent Microscope, if anyone has any information on any of these products please share with me.
Thank you
Albert Santiago, HT(ASCP)
Lab Manager
Penncutaneous Pathology Services
Dermatopathology Lab
3020 Market ST. Ste 201
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-662-6539 - Lab
215-662-6759-office
albert.santiago <@t> uphs.upenn.edu<mailto:albert.santiago <@t> uphs.upenn.edu>
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Message: 10
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 11:20:32 -0500
From: "Adesupo, Adesuyi (Banjo)" <abadesuyi <@t> nrh-ok.com>
Subject: [Histonet] HER2 by IHC- Fixation
To: "histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID:
<04EE4F75BB5FB246ADB68D69B74604438E3B82214D <@t> MAIL.nrhnt.nrh-ok.com>
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Hi Histonetters,
I hope you guys are doing great. Please I wanted to confirm whether it is true that the CAP has changed the HER2 Fixation time from 6 - 48 hours to 6 - 72 hours.
Thanks,
Banjo Adesuyi, BSMT, HT (ASCP) HTL, QIHC, QLS
Histology Supervisor
Norman Regional Health System,
Norman, OK 73071.
Tel: 405- 307- 1145
======================================
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Message: 11
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 16:22:52 +0000
From: "Weems, Joyce K." <Joyce.Weems <@t> emoryhealthcare.org>
Subject: RE: [Histonet] HER2 by IHC- Fixation
To: "'Adesupo, Adesuyi (Banjo)'" <abadesuyi <@t> nrh-ok.com>,
"histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu"
<histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Message-ID:
<E3A4EBD57A691646BCCED4AA5911A030CB5EAE01 <@t> e14mbx12n.Enterprise.emory.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
That is true.
Joyce Weems
Pathology Manager
678-843-7376 Phone
678-843-7831 Fax
joyce.weems <@t> emoryhealthcare.org
www.saintjosephsatlanta.org
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30342
This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Saint Joseph's Hospital and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email.
-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Adesupo, Adesuyi (Banjo)
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2014 12:21 PM
To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] HER2 by IHC- Fixation
Hi Histonetters,
I hope you guys are doing great. Please I wanted to confirm whether it is true that the CAP has changed the HER2 Fixation time from 6 - 48 hours to 6 - 72 hours.
Thanks,
Banjo Adesuyi, BSMT, HT (ASCP) HTL, QIHC, QLS
Histology Supervisor
Norman Regional Health System,
Norman, OK 73071.
Tel: 405- 307- 1145
======================================
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
This e-mail communication and any attachments may contain confidential and privileged information for the use of the designated recipients named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination, distribution, or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy all copies of this communication and any attachments.
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Message: 12
Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2014 16:50:05 +0000 (UTC)
From: koellingr <@t> comcast.net
Subject: [Histonet] leaving histology question research is still an
option
To: optimusprimehistotech <@t> hotmail.com
Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Message-ID:
<1831821306.3228072.1401900605181.JavaMail.root <@t> comcast.net>
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Alpha Histotech,
??
wanted to be sure that I did??NOT tell you to drop everything in life to look to research exclusively.?? So I cut and pasted this from my original message "Research histology should not be overlooked
I stand by that statement.
??
I agree with Emily that funding in research is (stupidly for this nation) difficult.?? But it is not zero.?? PhD's do NOT saturate histotech jobs in research labs.?? There might be a few, maybe some, maybe a lot in some places but not all.?? No one, even a clinical lab, will guarantee that job for years and years.?? I know many histotech/non-histotech "techs" who have been through 5-6 different more molecular labs in the same building for??over 30 years.?? So have 30 years seniority in the system.?? Grant runs out and you move to a different lab (and is way easier having had made connections in first lab).?? I made 3x in research industry then I could ever have made in clinical histo lab.?? Is not for everyone but also not something to dismiss as hopeless.?? If you ever do research, you will find that "N of 1" is not reliable to base everything and every decision on.?? Best of luck.?? Search for those options several others have given but don't dismiss my suggestion outright.
??
Ray in Seattle (histotech from 1960's who could only retire now because of Research histology)
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