[Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

[Pam Marcum]

I understand and agree with everything being said and feel we do need more education in getting your registry, as Histology is changing and growing.  We need to be prepared to grow with it, much as we did when IHC first came into Histology and many thought it would go to the MTs.   
  
The one thing that has not changed in the 50 years I have done Histology is the fact that no one outside of AP knows what a Histologist is or what we do.  (I'm tried of being asked "Oh what kind of history is that?")  Until we change that and get more information about the field and advantages we will still be in the straights we are in now.  No one joining because so few people even know what we do or that there is an opportunity here.  If you don't know what Histology is why would you even look at the field.  I know about and have done school visits, career days etc; and those are not enough.  
  
We need a spokesperson or celebrity who has needed our services and not even known we, Histology, were the ones who did the slides their wonderful doctors used to save their lives.  This person or persons needs to speak loud and strong the way Robin Roberts has done on TV for her doctors and help. However; Histology was neven mentioned in those gratis moments. I have only known one person in NSH who suggested this and no one listened.  If they can't see you or know you - you don't exist.  Can we all take off the blinders and look at what we need in publicity and stop waiting for NSH and ASCP to do it.   Then we can offer these possible future HTs and HTLs something, like being recognized as full laboratory professionals and a higher level of lab aide. 
  
Just my thoughts (for many years and spoken often) 
  
Pam Marcum 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Lisa Roy" <Royl1 at LabCorp.com> 
To: "Michael Dessoye" <mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net>, "Histonet" <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> 
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 7:55:19 AM 
Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training 

I currently have 3 open tech positions and don't have any qualified applicants applying for the job.  I have recently taken a lab aide that showed interest and aptitude and began OJT.  With less than 30 schools in the country actually teaching histology, this is one day going to be the way.  Already having a bachelors in biology, my aide qualifies to sit for the ASCP exam once he has completed one full year of tech work and has a pathologist willing to review his work and sign off on the ASCP paperwork.  Without going through a traditional program, one must have an associates or bachelor's degree with a  certain amount of Chemistry and Science credits.  As far as the training, I started with embedding and moved on from there to cutting and then special staining.  All along way, working on troubleshooting and documenting EVERYTHING.  Some places will hire someone with only a high school diploma as long as they have previous HT experience.  I think the specifics of what each institution would deem a qualified trainee will vary from place to place.  Smaller hospitals or labs may be okay training someone with aptitude that doesn't necessarily fit the ASCP exam qualifications, but large corporations might really insist that the trainee be certifiable at some point. 

Frankly, I think taking someone that shows an interest and has the knowledge to be a great tech is better than hiring someone that you may not know what you are getting.  Doing OJT ensures that you are teaching the candidate exactly how you want things done and not having to accept the bad habits of someone that has been doing it a long time and set in their own ways. 

Good luck 
Lisa     

-----Original Message----- 
From: Dessoye, Michael [mailto:mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net] 
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 7:44 AM 
To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Subject: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training 

Hello Histonet, 

I'm curious how people are dealing with on-the-job-trained histotechs.  Many people are seeing a shortage in techs, and in my opinion OJT will become more common than it already is.  Does anyone have an 'official' training program?  Requirements to pass the exam?  Qualifications to be able to be trained on-the-job?  I'd like to consider having some kind of plan in place when I don't have an HT/HTL applicant but have folks who, if they get the experience, are otherwise qualified to sit for the exam.  If anyone has a similar situation or experience to share I would appreciate it! 

Thanks, 
Mike 

Michael J. Dessoye, M.S. | Histology/Toxicology/RIA Supervisor | Wilkes-Barre General Hospital | An Affiliate of Commonwealth Health | mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net<mailto:mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net> | 575 N. River Street | Wilkes Barre, PA 18764 | Tel: 570-552-1432 | Fax: 570-552-1486 



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