Thank you Jennifer, well stated. Tom J. Thomas Jasper HT (ASCP) BAS Histology Supervisor Central Oregon Regional Pathology Services Bend, OR 97701 541/693-2677 tjas...@copc.net
-----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jennifer MacDonald Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:16 AM To: christopher.conl...@kp.org Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] re: Certified Histotechs I would like too clarify the role of NAACLS in training histotechs for certification. There are a number of different NAACLS accredited programs in the US. All of these programs meet the standards set by NAACLS or they do not remain accredited. Providing on the job training (OJT) is NOT one of the requirements. All of the programs have a practical component to them. The hospital-based programs will provide the practical instruction as well as the didactic portion. College based programs will provide the didactic portion and some also provide some practical portions and the student will be placed in a clinical affiliate work site for further practical training. Other college based programs will place the students into internships for the practical training after they complete the didactic portion, or a variation of this. One of the challenges that NAACLS accredited programs have is to get clinical affiliate sites to place their students. There are affiliation agreements, forms, and certain standards that these sites must meet. Another challenge is to get comparable training between sites. Not everyone out there is willing to be a part of the training of these students. There are some employees that refuse to help train the students or even let them observe them working. The ASCP does not "frown" upon OJT people. Route 2 (AS or equivalent {with sciences} plus 1 year of histology work experience ) allows for the work experience component for certification eligibility. The ASCP, upon much research and feedback from the "professional world" has established a minimum education requirement., Applicants that applied for certification under the old route 3 (high school and 2 years of histology work experience) had an HTexam pass success rate around 30% on the computer portion. Many of those applicants did pass the practical portion. It was determined that in many cases a high school education does not provide the foundation for the theory portion of the exam. The quality of OJT techs is not being called into question. The histology community has for many years demanded respect and higher wages to rival nursing and medical technologists. We are the only clinical profession that does not require some form of certification or license. In order to command the respect that the profession deserves we have to set standards. Certification is a way to set the minimum standard. Is it perfect, no. There will always be people that can test well and perform badly, and visa versa. That folks is life. For those that are working in the lab now and are not certified there are a couple of NAACLS accredited on-line programs to qualify for route 1. You can take college credit courses to work toward your degree to qualify for route 2. Encouraging high school students into our profession is great, but encouraging them to forgo college to do it is a disservice. The world of histology has changed a great deal over the years. There is more of a demand for higher complexity testing that did not exist when I first trained. Someone mentioned that automation is taking over. You still need people to trouble shoot and QC. What happens when there are problems? Jennifer MacDonald Director, Histotechnician Training Program Mt. San Antonio College 1100 N. Grand Ave. Walnut, CA 91789 (909) 594-5611 ext. 4884 jmacdon...@mtsac.edu christopher.conl...@kp.org Sent by: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu 02/12/2009 06:44 AM To histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu cc Subject [Histonet] re: Certified Histotechs I find it smartly ironic that all these "Lab Managers", MBA's," Med Techs", are so offended and defensive in regards to BOR(ASCP), for histology? Why? There are journeymen electricians. Many technical fields have registration/certification. I worked for 10 years as a Phlebotomist, a Deiner, a lab assistant, and I didn't get paid squat until I went to I.U.P.U.I., graduated on the Deans list and then sat for the exam (clinical and practical), passed the exam etc. Part of the reason pathologists and clinical lab scientists and MBA managers are so condescending about histology, is because, they want it to always be an easy access career, and the medical field is like the animal kingdom or a caste system, it has its own little system of who is who and how dare you ask me that I am a (you fill in the blank). Also, they can pay less. There are great techs who had OJT, and went to school, as a matter of complete fact, all NAACLS approved schools are supposed to have a program in place for OJT as part of the Histotechs education. This argument is ridiculous. I have to go, I am going over to radiology to ask them if I can just be hired off the street to be an x-ray tech, I am an artist and I am great with wheelchairs, plus I have worked around x-ray for 22 years, and I have gotten so many x-rays playing sports, so I could do it!!! I will just get OJT!! Christopher S Conlisk HT(ASCP), PBT(ASCP) NOTICE TO RECIPIENT: If you are not the intended recipient of this e-mail, you are prohibited from sharing, copying, or otherwise using or disclosing its contents. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and permanently delete this e-mail and any attachments without reading, forwarding or saving them. 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