[Histonet] Logging everything you do.

[Paula Sicurello]

I'm glad to hear that the staff suggested the tracking of tasks.  If I had to guess the items causing the most trouble are:
Poorly grossed specimens if someone other than a Histotech grosses - all of which cause poor processing:  too big filling the entire cassette; too thick squishing out the top and bottom causing waffling; not decalled long enough needing extra long surface decal to cut.
Microtomes:  messed up knife holders with all sorts of dings and dents so the blade doesn't clamp right causing thick & thin sections or chatter;  block clamping head getting out of alignment or full of wax resulting in poor sections.  Cruddy blades - just because it costs less doesn't make it a better blade; knife marks from hitting staples that the grosser swore they took out.  
Waterbath: too cold and getting wrinkles; too hot and sections poof into non-existance.  Floaters from not cleaning the surface between blocks; floaters from someone's skin cells because they don't like wearing gloves when sectioning.
Supplies:  or lack of, it seems like there may still be supply chain issues.  
Everyone's favorite:  clinicians calling asking why it's taking so long to get results.  This week I had one tell me she got her flow results in a day and Histo has had the specimens for two days - so what's the hold up?
Please share what items are troubling after the lists are compiled. It will be interesting to see what they have to say. 

Sincerely,

Paula Sicurello  
 
  On Sat, Jul 22, 2023 at 1:39 PM, Samantha Golden via Histonet<histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:   Thanks for taking the time to respond.

It was actually staff who suggested we see what tasks are being performed, when, and how long. No punitive action is being taken. As I indicated, we, as in the team, want to find the pain points. I do continually ask for ideas and feedback; staff repeatedly tell me they cannot see any other way to do things. 

I am on the bench daily and I know what the problems are. But like you said, I want staff to feel involved in the discussion, and this was their idea. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 22, 2023, at 4:15 PM, Terri Braud via Histonet <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> 
> As someone who has been a supervisor in 3 institutions for 35 years, this is not that way to improve productivity.  To log in every minute of activity feels very punitive and I can't imagine that it would be well received by staff.  The best way to improve productivity is to start by asking each tech on a daily basis what problems do they feel impacts productivity.  Some items already have general standard established such as embedding, cutting, staining.  Ask your techs for their ideas.  I'm sure they will have some valid ones.  Don't let the talks dissolve into complaining.  Ask for concrete ideas for improvement that can be tried. Look for duplicity in work, records, and labeling.  Make sure they have the right tools to do their job. Get on the bench and see it for yourself.  There is nothing like first had experience to find the weak spots. 
> They worst way to improve productivity is to require such an onerous demand such as a task log.  All you are doing is slowing productivity, not improving. 
> Respectfully, Terri 
> 
> Terri L. Braud, HT(ASCP)
> HNL Laboratories for 
> Holy Redeemer Hospital
> 1648 Huntingdon Pike
> Meadowbrook, PA 19046
> Ph: 215-938-3689
> Fax: 215-938-2021
>          Honesty
> AccouNtability
>    AgiLity
>    CoLlaboration
>  CoMpassion
> 
> 
> Message: 5
> Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2023 21:42:20 -0400
> From: Samantha Golden <samantha.golden at ymail.com>
> Subject: [Histonet] Productivity log
> I have asked staff to start logging all the tasks they perform and the amount of time it is taking them to complete. We would like to identify pain points and waste in an effort to improve our overall productivity. Rather than reinventing the wheel, does someone have a form they?ve used in the past that they would be willing to share? 
> Thank you for sharing your experience. 
> Samantha
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Histonet mailing list
> Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet


_______________________________________________
Histonet mailing list
Histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu
http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet