[Histonet] Block Counts

Tue Jan 13 07:16:48 CST 2015

I feel the same way. I've been an Histo tech, AP manager, now a PA for the last 13 years and I can't get these people to understand.  However I'm in a hospital system (4 hospitals) a lab director ( no pathology background) that is assigning works units to blocks as bill able units. We have 2 PA's, 7 Histo techs, 8 pathologist, 2 cyto techs. The director ( a pathologist) is trying to implement 200 blocks per PA. The problem is that 80% of our cases are complex, we average 2 whipples every other day, a truck load of mastectomies etc.,

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> On Jan 13, 2015, at 5:07 AM, "Podawiltz, Thomas" <tpodawiltz <@t> lrgh.org> wrote:
> 
> I have never really cared how fast or how many blocks can be embedded or cut per hour. I have always focused on the quality. In a hospital setting there is too much variety to have set numbers. 
> 
> 
> 
> Tom Podawiltz HT (ASCP)
> Histology Section Head 
> LRGHealthcare
> Laconia, NH 03246
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of WILLIAM DESALVO
> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 6:18 PM
> To: Morken, Timothy
> Cc: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Goins, Tresa; Diana McCaig; Ellen
> Subject: Re: [Histonet] Block Counts 
> 
> This discussion is exactly why we do not count blocks at microtomy, only slides. Counting slides is the equalizer for multiple levels and slides per block. Count the most appropriate unit at a task (i. e. slides at microtomy, blocks at embedding, specimens at grossing, specimens at accession inc) that allows you to set work pace and creates a corresponding quality measure.
> 
> William DeSalvo
> william.desalvo <@t> sonoraquest.com
> 602-768-3692
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
>> On Jan 12, 2015, at 4:05 PM, Morken, Timothy <Timothy.Morken <@t> ucsf.edu> wrote:
>> 
>> I agree with Diana, I found we had over a dozen different task mixes in a given day for various techs. That includes mix of block types (bx, extensive lists of stain requests per block, single H&E, recuts, mega block, research cases), other tasks (Staining, speicals, ihc, tissue processor . Grossing would be even more complicated. Instead of a per-day count, use per hour or per two hours - Some period when the person is concentrating on a single task without interruption. 
>> 
>> Tim Morken
>> Supervisor, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special 
>> Studies UC San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco, CA
>> 
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>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
>> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Diana 
>> McCaig
>> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 2:46 PM
>> To: 'Goins, Tresa'; Ellen; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Block Counts
>> 
>> I have always found there are so many variables that having an expectation of setting a set number is not always possible.  I feel they should be compared to their own standards and not of their co-workers.  If they can cut or embed a set number on a particular than they should maintain or gradually increase (for newer techs) over time.  .
>> I have seen where in one day they cut so many blocks when the work load mandates it but on a slower day it takes them just as much time to cut half as many blocks.  The work pace should be at their comfort level but should be a standard rate.
>> 
>> Diana
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
>> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Goins, 
>> Tresa
>> Sent: January-12-15 4:58 PM
>> To: Ellen; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Subject: RE: [Histonet] Block Counts
>> 
>> Depends on the type of tissue.
>> Depends on the length of time your "day" is for a repetitive task.
>> Assigning an arbitrary number is counterproductive.
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
>> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Ellen
>> Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 1:57 PM
>> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>> Subject: [Histonet] Block Counts
>> 
>> I'm looking for raw data on time studies that directly deal with the number of blocks a PA can produce in a day and how many a histo tech can cut a day. 
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks
>> 
>> Sent from my iPhone
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