Tom: All you have written is understandable EXCEPT that "it doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology", that reflects the old assumption that "if you know how to cook or to knit you can do histology". That is an unacceptable position now when patient care should be a major concern. I agree that a lab assistant does not need to be certified as long as the work is limited to "assist" or do things other than working with patient samples. Perhaps the "lure" you used was not "tasteful" enough (not enough money or benefits). HTs occupy the worst paid echelon in the medical lab and will never get of that stratum unless all are certified and those who hire them show the proper respect for their work. René J.
--- On Wed, 2/11/09, Tom McNemar <tmcne...@lmhealth.org> wrote: From: Tom McNemar <tmcne...@lmhealth.org> Subject: RE: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: "Larry Woody" <slappyc...@yahoo.com>, rjbu...@yahoo.com, Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu, "Steven Coakley" <sjchta...@yahoo.com> Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 11:36 AM Perhaps in a perfect world.... My world is less than perfect. For our last opening, we spent 10 months trying to find and lure a certified tech to our facility and then gave up and took an MLT. We have four techs and two of us are certified HTs. We recently hired a person off the street and trained them to be a histology assistant. It has been very beneficial for us. She files slides, covers the late grossing (assists the pathologist), coverslips, etc. It doesn't take an advanced degree to do histology. You gotta do what you gotta do to get the work out. Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.org -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Larry Woody Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:10 AM To: rjbu...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology This has been an ongoing issue for so many years in histology, I've always wanted to see a mandatory license in the field but that always starts a firestorm of controversy. If you have surgery, you certainly want a board certified surgeon to do it and same with the Pathologist that looks at the slides so wouldn't you want a certified tech doing the lab work as well? Larry A. Woody Seattle, Wa. ________________________________ From: Rene J Buesa <rjbu...@yahoo.com> To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Steven Coakley <sjchta...@yahoo.com> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:58:26 AM Subject: Re: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology A hospital that relies on uncertified techs to do histology work is motivated by the pursue of costs cuts (you can call it greed!) and shows total disregard for quality of work and patient care. They may end losing all those savings when settling a legal case. René J. --- On Wed, 2/11/09, Steven Coakley <sjchta...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Steven Coakley <sjchta...@yahoo.com> Subject: [Histonet] uncertified techs in Histology To: Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wednesday, February 11, 2009, 9:55 AM Any thoughts or experiences with my fellow HT/HTL's(ASCP). What the big advantage do all these facilities think there gaining by going with unregistered techs, especially when theres always ongoing quality issues when theres so many trained certified HT looking for work? In my area of the country I can't believe how many Hospitals go this way. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet