I am a cytotechnologist with approx. the same amount of workload. My workload has turned around to be mostly Non gyn FNA of thyroid primarily. Management expects me to manage a flow department and keep it compliant to CAP, also to keep cytology compliant with CAP and do all the prepping and screening. It will not work, that 0.5FTE preps I assume and frees up the technologist to do all the work that is required, screening cases within so many hours, and doing all the QC/QC which is alot of back work required by CAP. So your tech is correct, they will fall behind. Even though the volume of cases appear low there are numerous slides associated with each case especially FNA's. I can screen approx. 75 slds, if I have someone prepping but without anyone I would only probably do 35-40 per day. Do not forget the cytotechnologist also needs time for their proficiency work and continuing education in whatever form it may have. I have been a tech for 24 years and have worked in both a private lab setting and also community hospital settings, so yes there has been a change but the work still takes time for quality work to be accomplished.
We have one full time Cytology Tech Specialist and 0.5 lab assistant for cyto prep. We are a low volume non-gyn lab (2500 cases YTD) - totally ThinPrep except for thyroid aspirates that come from one practice with up to 5 extra smeared slides. Andrea J Weiss BST CT (ASCP) Cytotechnologist 609 653 3577 Ext 4907 [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet