[Histonet] Histology Workload

[Michael Ann Jones]

We log all ³unbillable² work.
It is by hand and I must tally that by hand each month, but it helps log
what is really being done in our lab.
I tally things like, Histogels, QC control work (slides, blocks,
validations), QIP studies, PT work, send-outs (those do take time), and of
course all of the deepers, stains, IHC, etc.
We charge some clients a ³handling² fee when sending blocks out for
further testing if our pathologists are not involved.
You do need help!

Michael Ann
Michael Ann Jones, HT (ASCP)
Histology Manager
Metropath
7444 W. Alaska Dr. #250
Lakewood, CO 80226
303.634.2511
Mjones at metropath.com






On 8/31/15, 3:26 PM, "Cartun, Richard via Histonet"
<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:

>Dear Amy:
>
>Some of the companies doing molecular testing will pay you a fee for
>"specimen procurement/handling" since they realize the burden that these
>requests put on us.  I suggest calling the company(s) that you deal with
>and see if you can work something out with them.  And, you're absolutely
>correct; we are being asked to do more work on specimens today, yet
>reimbursements are going down.  Not a good combination.  Based on your
>description of the work that you and your colleagues are doing, you have
>a good case for additional staffing.  It looks like you would benefit
>from a lab assistant that could help with accessioning, billing, and
>send-outs.
>
>Richard
>
>Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD
>Director, Histology & The Martin M. Berman, MD Immunopathology &
>Morphologic Proteomics Laboratory
>Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs
>Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology
>Hartford Hospital
>80 Seymour Street
>Hartford, CT  06102
>(860) 972-1596
>(860) 545-2204 Fax
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Amy Self via Histonet [mailto:histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu]
>Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 4:41 PM
>To: histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>Subject: [Histonet] Histology Workload
>
>Happy Monday to Everyone,
>
>I have been trying[ to figure out how to justify additional help in
>histology - and it's been hard.  My facility staffs according to
>billables.  This by no means feels fair to anyone in this department.
>You could have a specimen that will provide one billable CPT code but can
>produce as many as 20 paraffin blocks.  And now it seems like we are
>getting many request for molecular test that require us to mail the
>patients material out but we have no way of showing that we did this work
>- we call this free work. We get no credit for time spent preparing and
>packaging pathology material to send out to reference labs. Am I missing
>any CPT codes that can be used to show that we in fact did something in
>addition to routine pathology to this case.
>
>We have 1 histotech - 1 histotech/histology supervisor and one histology
>assistant.
>Our block load averages from 125 to 170 daily.
>We also prep non-gyn cytologies.
>Accession all specimens that come in that lab.
>All mail-outs
>The histotech/histology supervisor is responsible for all of the billing
>as well as keeping up with new and old policies/ requirements for CAP/
>auditing billing and the list could go on.
>
>We are drowning in our own workload but don't know how to prove that the
>help is needed.  Any help - advice - suggestions anything will be
>appreciated. How can I prove to upper management that we need more help
>although the billables/productivity numbers say different?
>
>Thanks in advance,
>Amy Self
>Histology Lab Senior Tech
>Lab
>Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital
>606 Black River Road
>Georgetown, SC 29440
>843-520-8711
>ASelf at tidelandshealth.org
>
>NOTE:
> The information contained in this message may be privileged,
>confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message
>is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for
>delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby
>notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
>communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
>communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to this
>message and deleting it from your computer.
>Thank you.
>_______________________________________________
>Histonet mailing list
>Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
>
>This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
>the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged
>information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is
>prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or
>agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient,
>please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the
>original message, including any attachments.
>
>_______________________________________________
>Histonet mailing list
>Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
>http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet