[Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

Thu May 14 15:31:10 CDT 2015

I agree and would also like to "like" Pams response.
On May 14, 2015 1:26 PM, "Joelle Weaver" <joelleweaver at hotmail.com> wrote:

> I know it is hard Hazel.  I have a hard time finding well qualified people
> myself. OJT only works now if you already have a degree. If we can't raise
> the pay and the recognition we will  have some difficulty recruiting those
> people too. I know the situation well, as I used to be the sole educator
> person in an HT program. It closed due to lack of enrollment and funding. I
> have trained people the best way that I knew how both formally and
> informally. I have driven in my car to multiple states,written articles,
> gone to conferences, schools, colleges and trade shows,  and did my
> personal best to present topics and "sell' our profession. Admittedly,
> sometimes it feels like it doesn't matter or change anything. But we have
> to keep trying and pushing for our group, its best interests, its public
> recognition, its compensation. There will be no budging from anyone else
> I'm afraid. Change often moves like a glacier, but it does move!
>
>
> Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
>
>
>
>
>
> > From: HornHV at archildrens.org
> > To: joelleweaver at hotmail.com; timothy.morken at ucsf.edu;
> histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > Date: Thu, 14 May 2015 14:46:40 -0500
> > Subject: RE: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training
> >
> > Joelle I agree with you.  But the problem is, no one knows we exist.
> OJT is the only route for some/if not most positions to be filled.  We
> would all love to have a choice of educated ASCP registered techs to choose
> from.   I have an open position and no applicants.
> >
> > Hazel Horn, HTL/HT (ASCP)
> > Supervisor of Histology/Autopsy/Transcription
> > Anatomic Pathology
> > Arkansas Children's Hospital
> > 1 Children's Way | Slot 820| Little Rock, AR 72202
> > 501.364.4240 direct | 501.364.1241 fax
> > hornhv at archildrens.org
> > archildrens.org
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Joelle Weaver [mailto:joelleweaver at hotmail.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 2:35 PM
> > To: Morken, Timothy; histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training
> >
> > We have discussed this on the histonet many times...
> >
> > Most professions, and most if not all healthcare professions, require
> degrees and/or certification for entry. This is how the public, other
> medical professions ,and even HR-who do not know the technical- assess for
> our capacity to provide care and judge the skill level needed of the
> profession as they are "looking in". We all know that this isn't always
> perhaps the best method to assess or measure some aspects of this
> profession, but this is what they work from. There are good and bad
> examples of both OJT and educated, formally trained histology
> professionals. However, "education" is more than learning facts, it helps
> develop many other facets of the person that are viewed as valuable to
> organizations. That is why it is used as a screening tool.  Please try to
> value the broader perspective.  Technical proficiency itself is probably
> not going to be enough as the future unfolds. Though it may seem unfair if
> you have worked for a very long time and learned a great deal through
> experience, the bottom line is that for some employers, some environments
> and outside groups- education, credentials and professionalism are the
> primary criteria they use to evaluate, and they pay and recognize
> accordingly.
> >
> > Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > From: Timothy.Morken at ucsf.edu
> > > To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> > > Date: Thu, 14 May 2015 17:28:15 +0000
> > > Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training
> > >
> > > Mike, yes, the vast majority of histotechs have been,  are, and will
> be OJT (me included). The people who take on training these people have a
> responsibility to do the best they can. Most techs end up learning whatever
> their lab does and so have limited knowledge. I studied a full year for the
> HT and passed fine, and later the HTL. In our small lab at the time we had
> a broad array of testing in histology (specials, muscle histochem,
> immunochem, electron microscopy), but I found out my true lack of knowledge
> when I went to Saudi Arabia and worked with techs from other countries
> where they had comprehensive bachelors-level programs required for ALL lab
> techs. Those from the US, all certificated, where vastly under-educated
> compared to techs from other countries. It was a bit embarrassing!
> > >
> > > Luckily we have online courses and degrees available now - not
> available in the 1980's when I started. That is a tremendous advantage to
> those who are willing to take advantage of it. Other than that it will be
> up to the lab management to be sure the OJT tech gets the basic instruction
> according to the requirements of the ASCP exam. That is the bare bones
> knowledge necessary to function. Even then the experience in the lab is key
> to whether the knowledge is just regurgitated or practiced. Lab management
> has a responsibility to be sure good lab practices are ingrained during
> training. It is a big job.
> > >
> > > As an aside, there are some people out there trying to break into
> histology  but do not work in a histo lab, or work in a lab that does not
> support their desire to get certificated (which is practically criminal in
> my view). I talked to a person recently who is working in a histo lab but
> is trying to find a lab to do special stains they do not do in the lab they
> are working in. Their lab will not buy them the reagents necessary and
> actually told this person that they will not help them get certificated
> because they feel the person will move on to get better pay elsewhere.
> > >
> > > I agree with another thought expressed that finding a person excited
> about getting into histology can lead to a good tech. I had a person just
> show up cold one day saying he really wanted to work in the histo lab - he
> had learned some histology in a research lab and did not realize it could
> be a full time profession until he stumbled on our lab one day. He had a
> good background but we had no histo jobs open, but we happened to have a
> new grossing lab aid job opening and he managed to get that job. The
> expectation is that he will eventually work his way into histology. He's
> happy to have his foot in the door, and we are happy to have an
> enthusiastic person with a plan for advancement.
> > >
> > > Tim Morken
> > > Pathology Site Manager, Parnassus
> > > Supervisor, Electron Microscopy/Neuromuscular Special Studies
> > > Department of Pathology UC San Francisco Medical Center
> > >
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Dessoye, Michael [mailto:mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net]
> > > Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 4:44 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.n
> > > et> | 575 N. River Street | Wilkes Barre, PA 18764 | Tel: 570-552-1432
> > > | Fax: 570-552-1486
> > >
> > >
> > >
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