[Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

Thu May 14 15:53:13 CDT 2015



    Hazel and I are both supervisors Little Rock. She has one opening I have two and I know of three other labs looking right now. We have a histlogy school here and they had three students so you can see the issue. I hired one and the other two were not looking in LR for jobs. We have a med tech school and they don't rotate through histology and in talking to a student from the program the other day she had no idea there was a shortage or that she could qualify to become one. So let's all realize this more than a local issue. Larger cities have more options and still have the same problem. I am attempting to get a rotation and it is not going to be easy.  
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------ Original message------From: Heather MarlattDate: Thu, May 14, 2015 3:31 PMTo: joelle weaver;Cc: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu;Horn, Hazel V;Subject:Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training
I agree and would also like to "like" Pams response.On May 14, 2015 1:26 PM, "Joelle Weaver"  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 > > et> | 575 N. River Street | Wilkes Barre, PA 18764 | Tel: 570-552-1432> > > | Fax: 570-552-1486> > >> > >> > >> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> > > ----> > > Disclaimer: This electronic message may contain information that is> Proprietary, Confidential, or legally privileged or protected. It is> intended only for the use of the individual(s) and entity named in the> message. 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