[Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

[Joelle Weaver]

Research is a different world than "clinical". That's not fun. Can you pursue your degree if you haven't already and then do a 1 year under a clinical pathologist? It took me awhile to my clinical hours since I working full time in pharmacy and in histology school fulltime, but it was worth it. 


Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC

        
  

 
Date: Mon, 18 May 2015 11:59:59 -0700
Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training
From: lldewe at gmail.com
To: joelleweaver at hotmail.com
CC: jmacdonald at mtsac.edu; tnmayer at mdanderson.org; histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu

I have a different perspective on this issue. I have been in histology for over 20 years. I worked at UC Davis in Vet. Histopath for several years. I was a histology Core facility manager and started up the facility from scratch at UC Davis Health system while running a Core Confocal microscope facility there. BUT I was in research, I wasn't in a "Pathology lab" and I don't qualify for the HT or HTL so I can't get work in the industry. Talk about a conundrum!
Loralei
On Sun, May 17, 2015 at 3:38 AM, Joelle Weaver <joelleweaver at hotmail.com> wrote:
I will speak to my laboratory director about this. I know the situation first hand from my previous experience!





Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC











> To: TNMayer at mdanderson.org

> From: JMacDonald at mtsac.edu

> Date: Sat, 16 May 2015 20:02:34 -0700

> Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

> CC: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu

>

> This is an issue with our program as well.  We have a difficult time

> finding clinical sites for our students.  Many people want to hire trained

> individuals, but don't want to invest any time in the training.  Our

> students receive a great deal of hands-on time in the student laboratory,

> but need "real life" experience.

> Jennifer MacDonald

> Mt. San Antonio College

>

>

>

> From:   "Mayer,Toysha N" <TNMayer at mdanderson.org>

> To:     "'histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu'"

> <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>

> Date:   05/14/2015 01:48 PM

> Subject:        Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

>

>

>

> One good way to find techs is to offer to become a clinical affiliate for

> a program.  Most programs struggle with attracting students and providing

> them with clinical affiliates to fine tune their skills.

> It may not matter that the school is not located near you, the student may

> have family nearby to stay with.

> We are always looking for long distance affiliates, that way we can

> attract an out-of-state student and not saturate the local area.  I have

> students who want to relocate to different areas and just for a change and

> this helps them do so.  We also get calls from applicants who don't mind

> moving to us for 9-10 months, as long as they can go home when they

> finish.

> If the program is agreeable to this, the specifics can be worked out, such

> as what skills are entry level and the length of the time the student is

> at your facility.

> Ours is called an Internship and the student is at the facility for 12

> weeks.  They come in knowing basic embedding, cutting, routine staining,

> specials, and have performed a minimum of three IHC stains.  Two are

> manual and one automated.

> Some programs keep the students in house for some time before they leave

> for internship, while others leave the technical training to the clinics.

> It all depends on what is available.

> This would be a low cost way to see if you like a person, can train them

> and are willing to teach.

> Some students are looking to relocate just before graduation, so a move

> for an internship is a consideration.

> Many times it is the expectations of the trainer that are not aligned with

> the skill level of entry-level techs and that can cause problems.  This

> way the person can come in with an assessment of the skill level and the

> OJT phase can begin.  If the affiliate chooses to hire the student, great.

>  If not, then no harm.  At least you get to say that you tried and did not

> have to waste money doing so.  It is not a source of free labor, but a way

> of accurately assessing a person's fit for your needs.

> Many allied health programs (not just histo) are doing this and it helps

> to showcase different labs and programs.

>

> Just my two cents.

>

> Sincerely,

>

> Toysha N. Mayer, D.H.Sc., MBA, HT (ASCP)

> Instructor/Education Coordinator

> Program in Histotechnology

> School of Health Professions

> UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

> 713.563-3481

>

>

>

>

>

> Message: 1

> Date: Thu, 14 May 2015 17:07:06 +0000

> From: "Morken, Timothy" <Timothy.Morken at ucsf.edu>

> To: Pam Marcum <mucram11 at comcast.net>, Lisa Roy <Royl1 at LabCorp.com>

> Cc: Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu>, Michael Dessoye

>                  <mjdessoye at commonwealthhealth.net>

> Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

> Message-ID:

>  <761E2B5697F795489C8710BCC72141FF36831E99 at ex07.net.ucsf.edu>

> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

>

> I think there is some actor from the CSI series that has done some of this

> work promoting lab techs...

>

> Tim Morken

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Pam Marcum [mailto:mucram11 at comcast.net]

> Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 9:18 AM

> To: Lisa Roy

> Cc: Histonet; Michael Dessoye

> Subject: Re: [Histonet] OJT Histotechs/Training

>

> 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 in

>  stitution 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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