Re: [Histonet] Friday Trivia Question: Most specimen on a single case
I did ask about specimen/container, but knowing block count is interesting as well. Guys, I'm just the LIS vendor and I'm just happy that our LIS can handle this. Since it's been asked, I have asked what 'kind' of specimen these are. Oh, and as far as billing is concerned, since this is hospital based, I believe the billing will based upon admitting icd code... Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Young, Henry O III CIV USN NAVHOSP CLNC (US) [mailto:henry.o.young@mail.mil] Sent: Friday, May 08, 2015 10:19 AM To: Marcum, Pamela A; 'Michael Mihalik'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Friday Trivia Question: Most specimen on a single case Read the question, it is a 100 containers on one case. Not block count. HY -Original Message- From: Marcum, Pamela A [mailto:pamar...@uams.edu] Sent: Friday, May 08, 2015 12:50 PM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Friday Trivia Question: Most specimen on a single case 157 blocks on one breast case - resident grossed it. -Original Message- From: Michael Mihalik [mailto:m...@pathview.com] Sent: Friday, May 08, 2015 11:41 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Friday Trivia Question: Most specimen on a single case Please excuse the trivia query, but we've got a client who somewhat regularly creates cases with 100+ specimen. I think the most I have ever seen is 127. I'm curious how common this is. What's the most specimen on a single case you've ever seen? Thanks for your patience and experience. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet -- Confidentiality Notice: 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, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ___ 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] Friday Trivia Question: Most specimen on a single case
Please excuse the trivia query, but we've got a client who somewhat regularly creates cases with 100+ specimen. I think the most I have ever seen is 127. I'm curious how common this is. What's the most specimen on a single case you've ever seen? Thanks for your patience and experience. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] IHC billing question
Am I misunderstanding, or should it be per specimen and not per case? Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Horn, Hazel V [mailto:hor...@archildrens.org] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 8:50 AM To: 'Weems, Joyce K.'; 'Cartun, Richard'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] IHC billing question We have 2 billing codes for IHC. One for the first IHC and another for all additional IHC's on the same case. Hazel Horn Supervisor of Histology/Autopsy/Transcription Anatomic Pathology Arkansas Children's Hospital 1 Children's Way | Slot 820| Little Rock, AR 72202 501.364.4240 direct | 501.364.1241 fax hor...@archildrens.org archildrens.org -Original Message- From: Weems, Joyce K. [mailto:joyce.we...@emoryhealthcare.org] Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 8:13 AM To: 'Cartun, Richard'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] IHC billing question I do it every day - change every first to 88342. Joyce Weems Pathology Manager 678-843-7376 Phone 678-843-7831 Fax joyce.we...@emoryhealthcare.org www.saintjosephsatlanta.org 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30342 This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Saint Joseph's Hospital and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Cartun, Richard Sent: Thursday, April 30, 2015 5:33 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] IHC billing question Effective January 1, 2015, our LIS team removed all of the CPT 88342 codes for IHC from our CoPath stain dictionary since you couldn't tell whether a Cytokeratin-7 was being performed as an 88341 or as an 88342. Now, as you might have expected, none of the inpatient IHC testing has been accounted for (the outpatient IHC has been billed manually from the pathology report), and they want someone to go back and enter all the CPT codes into the system (hopefully, not me!). Has anyone else encountered this problem? Thanks (I think). Richard Richard W. Cartun, MS, PhD Director, Histology Immunopathology Director, Biospecimen Collection Programs Assistant Director, Anatomic Pathology Hartford Hospital 80 Seymour Street Hartford, CT 06102 (860) 972-1596 (860) 545-2204 Fax 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@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. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this message (including any attachments) is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender by reply e-mail message and destroy all copies of the original message (including attachments). ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ** The information contained in this message may be privileged and 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
RE: [Histonet] Receipt of specimens
Tanya, you can probably put either date/time into the receive date/time prompt of your LIS. It just depends on how you want to use that information. For instance, perhaps you want to look at turn around times. From the lab's perspective, the 'clock' starts when the sample is received in the lab. On the other hand, from the physician's perspective, it starts at sample collection and from the organization's perspective the clock might start when the sample was put in the fridge. If it was 'me', I'd probably put the date/time the sample was received in the lab and I'd make sure the other information was either scanned into the case via paper or somehow noted somewhere else. The reason for my thinking is that those cases received off shift are going to skew your turnaround times if that's something you measure. Bottom line, it just depends on what you're using that information for. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Abbott, Tanya Sent: Monday, February 09, 2015 9:50 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Receipt of specimens I am curious as to how everyone handles the receipt of their surgical, and Cytology specimens in to the lab? Especially on the off shift hours? Other clinical lab specimens are received directly in the computer in Specimen Processing when they come in the door from remote locations or via the tube system, then delivered to departments. During the day, specimens get dropped off directly to Pathology by the various departments collecting (ie. OR, Radiology, etc). On our off shifts, specimens get received by Specimen Processing(date/time stamped and initialed) and put in the fridge for Histo/Cyto the next day. When Histo and Cyto put the specimens in the computer, for the receive date, they go by the date the specimens are received (or unpacked) in Histo/Cyto. I am thinking we should go by the date/time Specimen Processing received them in to the actually laboratory where the specimens are then controlled. Any input is appreciated! Thanks! Tanya Tanya G. Abbott Manager Technologist Histology/Cytology St Joseph Medical Center (phone) 610-378-2635 This email and attachments contain information that may be confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, notify the sender at once and delete this message completely from your information system. Further use, disclosure, or copying of information contained in this email is not authorized, and any such action should not be construed as a waiver of privilege or other confidentiality protections. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] RE: Cassette Labeler
I think this post along with all the others illustrate a few points... 1. There are many more alternatives available for slide and cassette printers than there were even just a few years ago. I'd be curious if costs have come down. Cassette labelers used to be 25,000 and slide printers (not labelers) were 5,000. 2. Almost everyone likes what they currently have. It's difficult to have real world experience with more than 1 version of these products. 3. Just because one vendor's products work well in one environment, does not mean the product will work well in yours. Look at not only laboratory volumes, but timeframes in which those volumes were produced. 4. As in the clinical laboratory, 'reagent cost' can be a factor. Do you have to use certain slides or cassettes? What are the costs? 5. Also, 'as usual', every vendor can produce the isolated lemon. How well does that company handle the issue? What's their general level of customer support to begin with? It's just interesting to note how far these items have come in the last few years. I still wish they were cheaper though. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Krempley, Amanda L Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 10:40 AM To: Blazek, Linda; Tony Auge; Helen Fedor Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Debbie Granato Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Cassette Labeler We have 2 Primera slide printers and have had nothing but problems since the day we started using them. We usually need to print 20-40 slides at a time and almost always have a jam up while printing. We have also had a problem with the ribbon breaking. We had so many problems Primera replaced our printers with new ones and we still had the same problems. Another note you can't use any slide you want with Primera, the printing surface needs to have a certain texture for the ink to stick. For example it does not print on Leica slides but will print on IMEB slides. We demonstrated the Thermo printers and really liked them but the cassette printer didn't have a large enough output for us. We can print anywhere from 200-1000 cassettes at a time. Currently we use Leica's printers and love them. They are great work horses, we have very few problems with them and when we do have problems they are very easy to troubleshoot. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Blazek, Linda Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 12:23 PM To: Tony Auge; Helen Fedor Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Debbie Granato Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Cassette Labeler I've had mine longer than that and don't have a problem. I have a feeling that you may need a bit of service on it. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tony Auge Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2015 1:11 PM To: Helen Fedor Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Debbie Granato Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: Cassette Labeler I also have a Primera slide printer. It worked well at first but now it is 2 years old and prints very slowly. I can hand write up slides faster than they print. I will be in the market for a new slide printer soon and will not be going back to Primera. -- Tony Auge HTL (ASCP) QIHC Histology Supervisor - Chandler Pathology Services Cell: (651) 373-4768 Email: tony.a...@gmail.com ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Cassette lableler and slide labeler
James, I think I can respond to this as I am an LIS vendor. The short answer is that it should NOT be an issue, ASSUMING your LIS vendor can communicate/interface with the two instruments. Once the barcode is on the cassette or the slide, it becomes a standalone entity. The barcode on the cassette or slide then gets read by a barcode scanner. Every scanner I've run across can read multiple symbologies (bar code types, if you will). Some scanners read better than others, though. I am assuming that you're generating cassettes and slides through your LIS. If you're using the cassette/slide printer vendor's software to do this, then that changes things. If you'd like further clarification or discussion, feel free to email me. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Vickroy, James Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 7:44 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Cassette lableler and slide labeler I didn't plan on this however wondered if anyone had a General Data system for making cassettes but a different setup for making slides, such as a Thermo Slidemate. I suspect there are issues with the LIS system, barcoding, etc.Am I wrong? Jim Jim Vickroy Histology Manager Springfield Clinic, Main Campus, East Building 1025 South 6th Street Springfield, Illinois 62703 Office: 217-528-7541, Ext. 15121 Email: jvick...@springfieldclinic.commailto:jvick...@springfieldclinic.com This electronic message contains information from Springfield Clinic, LLP that may be confidential, privileged, and/or sensitive. This information is intended for the use of the individual(s) or entity(ies) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this electronic message in error, please notify the sender immediately, by electronic mail, so that arrangements may be made for the retrieval of this electronic message. Thank you. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room
Amber, at the risk of exposing my ignorance, doesnt ABT and Vantage offer very similar functionality? I'm just curious why you would have both? As to your question, if you have some validation process occurring at grossing that requires information from your Copath system, then perhaps you might want to use Copath at grossing. For instance, if you scan requisitions or manual drawings or anything of that nature and you require those scanned images or other information to be verified at grossing, you might want to use Copath for grossing IF that information is not being sent across the interface from Copath to Vantage. I hope Im making sense, but if not, please feel free to ask for clarification. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Amber McKenzie Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 9:49 AM To: Tom McNemar; 'Morken, Timothy'; Histonet Subject: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room For those of you who have Vantage, in your grossing room do you have Vantage set up or your LIS system? I was thinking it should be vantage, but our Co-path person said we should have ABT set up in the grossing room and let vantage start at embedding, microtomy and case assembly. What are your thoughts? Do you have a full computer, keyboard, and scanner in grossing? Thanks! ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room
So ABT is the actual interface, not their barcode and tracking system? I understand about the ordering of blocks and stains, etc. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Morken, Timothy [mailto:timothy.mor...@ucsfmedctr.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 11:06 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Amber McKenzie'; 'Tom McNemar'; 'Histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room Cerner Copath ABT will not interact in a bi-directional way with a third party tracking system (except to get status updates, ie when a block is scanned at embedding Vantage will send a message to Copath to update the block status). That is, you cannot enter a block or stain order in the third party system and have the data be written back to the Copath database. You must enter all in Copath and then the third party system picks it up from there. That is why Copath was telling Anita that they would need to use Copath alone at grossing (and accessioning, and all stain ordering). Also, You must buy and install ABT to use any third party tracking system (ABT is the HL7 interface). Tim Morken Supervisor, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special Studies UC San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco, CA CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential, proprietary, and/or privileged information protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, or distribute this email message or its attachments. If you believe you have received this email message in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 7:12 AM To: 'Amber McKenzie'; 'Tom McNemar'; Morken, Timothy; 'Histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room Amber, at the risk of exposing my ignorance, doesnt ABT and Vantage offer very similar functionality? I'm just curious why you would have both? As to your question, if you have some validation process occurring at grossing that requires information from your Copath system, then perhaps you might want to use Copath at grossing. For instance, if you scan requisitions or manual drawings or anything of that nature and you require those scanned images or other information to be verified at grossing, you might want to use Copath for grossing IF that information is not being sent across the interface from Copath to Vantage. I hope I'm making sense, but if not, please feel free to ask for clarification. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Amber McKenzie Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 9:49 AM To: Tom McNemar; 'Morken, Timothy'; Histonet Subject: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room For those of you who have Vantage, in your grossing room do you have Vantage set up or your LIS system? I was thinking it should be vantage, but our Co-path person said we should have ABT set up in the grossing room and let vantage start at embedding, microtomy and case assembly. What are your thoughts? Do you have a full computer, keyboard, and scanner in grossing? Thanks! ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room
I think I got it. Thank you for your explanation and most importantly, your time. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Morken, Timothy [mailto:timothy.mor...@ucsfmedctr.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 1:32 PM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room ABT is the Copath tracking system but when a third party tracking system is used ABT is used as the interface to the third party system. Tim Morken Supervisor, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special Studies UC San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco, CA CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential, proprietary, and/or privileged information protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, or distribute this email message or its attachments. If you believe you have received this email message in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 9:09 AM To: Morken, Timothy; 'Amber McKenzie'; 'Tom McNemar'; 'Histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room So ABT is the actual interface, not their barcode and tracking system? I understand about the ordering of blocks and stains, etc. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Morken, Timothy [mailto:timothy.mor...@ucsfmedctr.org] Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 11:06 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Amber McKenzie'; 'Tom McNemar'; 'Histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room Cerner Copath ABT will not interact in a bi-directional way with a third party tracking system (except to get status updates, ie when a block is scanned at embedding Vantage will send a message to Copath to update the block status). That is, you cannot enter a block or stain order in the third party system and have the data be written back to the Copath database. You must enter all in Copath and then the third party system picks it up from there. That is why Copath was telling Anita that they would need to use Copath alone at grossing (and accessioning, and all stain ordering). Also, You must buy and install ABT to use any third party tracking system (ABT is the HL7 interface). Tim Morken Supervisor, Histology, Electron Microscopy and Neuromuscular Special Studies UC San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco, CA CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential, proprietary, and/or privileged information protected by law. If you are not the intended recipient, you may not use, copy, or distribute this email message or its attachments. If you believe you have received this email message in error, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2014 7:12 AM To: 'Amber McKenzie'; 'Tom McNemar'; Morken, Timothy; 'Histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room Amber, at the risk of exposing my ignorance, doesnt ABT and Vantage offer very similar functionality? I'm just curious why you would have both? As to your question, if you have some validation process occurring at grossing that requires information from your Copath system, then perhaps you might want to use Copath at grossing. For instance, if you scan requisitions or manual drawings or anything of that nature and you require those scanned images or other information to be verified at grossing, you might want to use Copath for grossing IF that information is not being sent across the interface from Copath to Vantage. I hope I'm making sense, but if not, please feel free to ask for clarification. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Amber McKenzie Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 9:49 AM To: Tom McNemar; 'Morken, Timothy'; Histonet Subject: [Histonet] Vantage in Grossing Room For those of you who have Vantage, in your grossing room do you have Vantage set up or your LIS system? I was thinking it should be vantage, but our Co-path person said we should have ABT set up in the grossing room and let vantage start at embedding, microtomy and case assembly. What are your thoughts? Do you have a full computer, keyboard, and scanner
RE: [Histonet] Retirement
Walt we wish you the best. It was great working with you. We'll miss you. You were one of the few who really knew their 'stuff' and who was honest and a pleasure to be around. ..hard qualities to find. Good luck Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of VanTilburg, Walt Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2014 2:18 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Retirement I know it is frowned upon for vendors to write to Histonet, but I hope you will indulge me as I have no easy way to say good bye to some great people. I am retiring next Tuesday the 22nd and for the past 11 year I have met many of you in histo land and have enjoyed the help you all have given me. Without fail every time I entered a lab you unselfishly answered my questions and helped me understand the work flow in the AP labs. For the first couple of years I had to write down and Google almost every third word you said, but I started to catch on and you input and our discussions helped to shape the products that we developed. For that I am grateful. I met a lot of people and made a lot a good friends and saying good bye is hard but the truth is you wore me out and I need to take a break. I would list all of the folk who were especially helpful but the list would be really long so this is just a blanket thank you and good bye. Walt Walter Van Tilburg Vice President of Business Development General Data Healthcare, Inc. 26500 Bruce Road Bay Village, Ohio 44140 440-823-5495 - Mobile 440-808-8983 - Office 440-808-8995 - Fax wvantilb...@general-data.com Visit our web site http://www.general-data.com/healthcare/ Great news! Triangle Biomedical Sciences (TBS) is now a division of General Data Healthcare! Visit us online at www.general-data.com/hc and www.trianglebiomedical.com. http://www.general-data.com/news/general-data-acquires-triangle-biomedical-s ciences This email may contain confidential General Data Company, Inc. information: any unauthorized or improper disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this email and attached document(s) is prohibited and may be a criminal offense. The information contained in this email and attached document(s) is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If you received this email in error, please reply immediately to the sender delete this message and the attached document(s) without disclosure. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Pathology Protocols
Karen, it all depends on your LIS's functionality and whether you have a separate tracking system or not. I'm an LIS vendor, but I'll describe how a 5 hospital client works: 1. Electronic and paper orders are accessioned. 2. All paperwork is barcoded as it is accessioned. 3. Paperwork is scanned and attached to the case 'automatically'. 4. At grossing, the barcoded specimen is scanned and barcoded cassettes print. Simultaneously, the patient history and requisition appears on the screen for confirmation. 5. At transcription, this same history, current case and requisition appears and the transcriptionist does a double check of information as well as type. 6. This client does not use tracking at the processor or embedding by choice, but they do at 'cutting' so blocks are scanned and the associated slides are printed. 7. skipping some steps for brevity. 8. At pathologist workcenter, the pathologist scans the barcoded slides and the case with history displays. Any previous quality alerts are highlighted. The pathologist can enter additional alerts, enter their diagnosis, etc. So, yes, they are completely 'paperless', use Dragon for dictation of diagnoses, not gross at the moment, and do this for cytology as well as surgical cases. In your situation, you have a middleware tracking system so it brings up some questions. Do you want grossing to see the paperwork? Sometimes there are diagrams that are relevant. If you do, then your tracking system is where you'll want to scan the documents into. On the other hand if you want the documents to be available to the transcriptionist or the pathologist, you may want to scan into your LIS. It's all about the workflow of your laboratory, right. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Bauer, Karen L. Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 8:25 AM To: 'histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu' Subject: [Histonet] Pathology Protocols Importance: Low Hi all, Are there any AP labs that are totally paper free during slide diagnosis? We have the Vantage system with Sunquest CoPath. We still keep the paper specimen requisition with the specimen container during grossing. After digital gross dictation, the req slips are given to the transcriptionists. Transcriptionists type up the gross, print out patient histories, and place dictation and histories in a plastic sleeve. These case protocols are then brought back to Histology to be matched up with the slides. Slides are place in cardboard trays and matched up with the protocols. These are then placed in the pathologist slide area for the docs to pick up. We would really like to get rid of the paper protocols. Having Vantage, docs are able to scan the slides at their desks to bring up the patient information. Unfortunately, we are not doing this at this time. If there are any labs who are doing this, could you please tell me how your computer systems are set up? Are the specimen reqs scanned at accessioning? Do the docs have two monitors at their desks so they can view gross dictation and patient history at the same time? What did you do to essentially get rid of all the paper information? Any information that anyone can share with me is greatly appreciated. :) Thank you, Karen Karen Bauer, MHA, HTL/HT (ASCP) | Histology Supervisor | Pathology | MOHS Lab Supervisor | Dermatology | Phone: 715-838-3205 | bauer.ka...@mayo.edumailto:bauer.ka...@mayo.edu | Mayo Clinic Health System | 1221 Whipple Street | Eau Claire, WI 54702 | mayoclinichealthsystem.orghttp://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/ ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems
I pretty much agree with everything that has been already stated, but I thought I would add the perspective of an LIS vendor to the conversation. If anyone wishes to further discuss any of statements, publicly or privately, I'm more than willing to do so. 1. Tracking systems can work with minimal to no interfaces, but though effective, they can be less than optimal and limited in scope. It's all about the workflow (how easy it is to do something because if it's difficult, it won't happen) and it all depends on your objective. For instance, if all you want to do is gather statistics on personnel and turnaround times for points tracked within your tracking system, then interfaces, especially 'data back to the LIS' are not as necessary. On the other hand, if that is your sole objective, I would counter that there are many more benefits to be gained from a tracking system. Think of this scenario: A tech has found a problem or suspects a problem with a block or slide. She/he documents it in the tracking system, but how does that information get to the pathologist when she/he is looking at the slide? The tracking system has the quality comment and can therefore report out statistics, but that doesn't help the pathologist during the analysis of the slide. 2. Why is it so hard to communicate this data from the LIS to a middleware tracking system and vice versa? In a lot of ways, we've already read the answer. There is no technical reason for this. It's just more software. On the other hand, look at the complexity involved. It's not just a matter of sending information to and from the tracking system, it's a matter of where and how the LIS displays and interacts with the data. By the time, a vendor has truly worked this out in their own system, they have essentially written a tracking system themselves. Furthermore, to truly write a tightly coupled interface means that the LIS vendor is constantly expending effort to match the changes of the tracking system vendor. With this much effort involved, why not build a tracking system within the LIS? 3. To answer my last question, to truly a build a good tracking system, you have to rewrite your LIS from the ground up because tracking and quality can and should permeate all aspects of the workflow process. If a vendor has a certain amount of money to spend on either marketing /sales or on development, what will they do? I would propose that most vendors are now trying to reach some compromise. The vendor won't rewrite extensive parts of their system because that's too expensive, but they will patch some 'piece of software' on to the existing LIS and then use the remaining monies to market/sell their solution.Remember, this is just my opinion. I don't really know what other vendors do. ...but back to the original email. The 30 second bit of advice is this: Define your objectives and then pursue a solution that will help you meet your objectives. If I were in your shoes, I'd prepare my list of objectives by a. looking at the problems in my lab that I'm trying to solve, b. looking at the problems and benefits other people have dealt with (like you're doing now via histonet (thank you again histonet)), and c. looking at the 'features/benefits' that various vendors talk about. Distill a list and go from there, but and this is a big but, try to find some way to factor in the support and relationship you will have with the vendor. Purchasing a computer solution today is truly like being married. Divorces are expensive and an unbalanced or incompatible relationship is painful on a day in, day out basis. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Jesus Ellin Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 8:36 AM To: 'WILLIAM DESALVO'; 'Morken, Timothy'; Matthew D. Roark; histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems Amen to Both Bill and Tim,, I have fought this battle for years and as to put it in Tim's words The Ship has left the DOCK but now we MUST demand this,, to stay a float and to move forward this is no longer an option, but rather a integral part of the ship From: WILLIAM DESALVO [mailto:wdesalvo@outlook.com] Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 8:18 AM To: Jesus Ellin; 'Morken, Timothy'; Matthew D. Roark; histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems I completely agree w/ Jesus and Tim. It is way to difficult to connect our data and move Anatomic Pathology to a level plane w/ the rest of Healthcare. We need to demand from our vendors systems that will to allow us seamless integration and communication of our data. Too often, the solutions for AP are piecemealed together, proprietary and just not up to standard. We need tracking and quality systems that will work with all our equipment and we need equipment
RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems
Just a quick thought If you scan your requisition into the LIS after accessioning, it might not be a bad idea to have your grossing personnel review the requisition at grossing to confirm that the patient name/specimen on the paperwork matches what's in the LIS. Yes, with barcodes this shouldn't happen, but it's a nice double check. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Morken, Timothy Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 9:23 AM To: 'Bauer, Karen L.'; 'Jesus Ellin'; 'WILLIAM DESALVO'; 'Matthew D. Roark'; 'histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems Karen, we are going to move to a system as you describe. At accessioning all paperwork will be scanned and none will follow the specimen. The critical trick is getting residents and pathologists to look at screens rather than hard copies. We spend way too much time printing and collating hard copies of reports ever day. Tim Morken Pathology UC San Francisco Medical Center San Francisco, CA -Original Message- From: Bauer, Karen L. [mailto:bauer.ka...@mayo.edu] Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 9:03 AM To: Morken, Timothy; 'Jesus Ellin'; 'WILLIAM DESALVO'; 'Matthew D. Roark'; 'histonet' Subject: RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems Importance: Low Jesus, Tim, and Bill... Wonderful communication about specimen tracking, bi-directional capabilities, and creating a histology lab that will be effective in the years to come!! I loved reading your information! We also have the Vantage system and it's helped us decrease our slide labeling error rate to 0%! It's wonderful and I'm so glad we finally had it implemented last April. Our workflow seems much more efficient, since we no longer have to perform all of those manual reconciliation steps. Yes, the bi-directionality of the systems (we have Sunquest CoPath) is a downfall of the software, but the pros of Vantage outweighed that flaw. I'm hoping that in the years to come, that will be fixed. A new question for the Histo group... We are trying to get away from printed grossing working drafts that are submitted with the slides and delivered to the pathologists. We would like the docs to scan the slide at their microscope and have the patient information show up on their computer. The pathologists still want the paper requisition from the specimen, so I suggested to have the requisition scanned and attached in the digital format. This way, when the doc scans the slide, the CoPath working draft, the patient clinical hx, and the scanned req slip can be viewed. Is anyone doing this in their lab right now? If so, I would really like to hear more about how you and your LIS made that happen. Thanks so much and Happy Friday!:) Karen Karen L. Bauer HTL/HT (ASCP) | Histology Supervisor | Pathology | MOHS Lab Supervisor | Dermatology | Phone: 715-838-3205 | bauer.ka...@mayo.edu | Mayo Clinic Health System | 1221 Whipple Street | Eau Claire, WI 54702 | mayoclinichealthsystem.org -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Morken, Timothy Sent: Friday, November 01, 2013 10:06 AM To: 'Jesus Ellin'; 'WILLIAM DESALVO'; Matthew D. Roark; histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Specimen Tracking Systems Jesus, the topic of bi-directional interfaces is fraught with both technical and political issues. Technically it is certainly possible (As a software developer colleague of mine always told us - 'don't ask if I can do it, just tell me what you want. It's just software'). The issue is who pays for it, and who wants it. As I see it, the large LIS companies got caught flat-footed by the desire of histology labs to move to barcoding. Indeed, when I worked for a company that manufactured immunostainers we approached several large LIS companies about integrating our bar-code-driven instrument with their systems (we had already prototyped it in our lab with our own mockup of an LIS). I kid you not, the response of each and every one of them was Why would you want to do that? Next, they said they could do it if we had a customer that would pay for it. Here in Silicon Valley, where products are developed on the premise that people don't know what they want until you give it to them, that's like admitting you are clueless. Most of these LIS companies are not very proactive and are largely unimaginative in their outlook. That is why Ventana, Leica and others were able to step into that gap and develop their own systems. And at places like U of W they developed their own tracking systems and fully integrated it to their LIS because their LIS did not have anything even planned for barcoding. But now these same LIS companies have finally figured out that that the barcoding ship is leaving the dock
RE: [Histonet] Voice Recognition Systems
As an LIS vendor I hear this question quite often. I'd like to make an attempt to address this query for the benefit of the group. To start with, if your APLIS uses a version of Microsoft WORD to enter gross, or any other part of the report for that matter, then Dragon should work pretty much out of the box. There is no 'interface' required. Also, if your APLIS is based on the Visual Basic programming language, it will probably work for that as well. The bottom line here is that Dragon Naturally Speaking will work with quite a few commercially available word processors. If you're interested in voice entry, I'd recommend purchasing the most inexpensive version available and installing it on a single PC. Just try it. As to Dragon itself, there are different versions and the price varies dramatically. The basic 'engine' appears to be the same in all versions, but the 'medical' version adds an Anatomic Pathology specific vocabulary and it will let you create 'macros' and a few other things. For our clients that use Dragon, they all use the medical version. A couple more notes: 1. There's a company out there called Voicebrook who 'repackages' Dragon for lack of a better word. Basically they make Dragon even easier to use and they provide excellent support from what I've heard. I have to be honest though. I've heard they can be expensive. I say that not to criticize their marketing strategy, but to warn the smaller labs with smaller budgets who read histonet. 2. Grossing, in particular, is challenging to voice recognition not because the word choice is difficult (In fact, the 'home' version of Dragon might work fairly well here), but because of the environment -- it's just messy and to get Dragon to truly work well, you'll have to make some corrections. I've seen Dragon work for grossing, but in those places where Dragon worked well for grossing it was because 'templates' were in significant use. Basically, the user would use Dragon to fill in the blanks. If anyone has any further questions please feel free to contact me offline. We have a 20 pathologist, multihospital client who use Dragon 100% for all their diagnoses. Hence, our experience. PS: Your APLIS vendor may charge a license fee to 'allow' you to use Dragon with their product. You should check with them. We do not charge this fee as there really is no effort on our side to enable this functionality for use throughout our entire LIS. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Ann Specian Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 3:37 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Voice Recognition Systems I am looking for a voice recognition system for the gross room. It needs to be a system that will interface with our LIS. Does anyone have any recommendations in regard to vendors? Thank you, Ann Specian ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech
I really appreciate this conversation because it show's an interaction between different members of the team. I sometimes think people forget that there are other team members besides just the histotechnologists or just the pathologists or just the pathology assistants, etc., etc. The only other point I'd like to add from an LIS vendor perspective is that the next time you purchase an LIS or a tracking system, or some other computerized solution, that's the time you want to use to ensure that it's easy to log quality or other 'actionable' issues and that those same indicators are easily available to ALL team members. As others have said, quality has to be part of the process. In order to increase the likelihood of a system's use, it needs to be easy to use and communicate. If it takes too many sheets of paper, too much time, or if it's just a painful process where no one sees any benefit, then it's doomed to a very uphill battle. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Morken, Timothy Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:21 AM To: Lynette Pavelich; Bob Richmond; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech We have a QC sheet but it is only used when the pathologist/resident sees something out of whack. We don't QC every single slide or even case. Remember also that someone has to review all those forms or it's a waste of time so the fewer the better! The result is we have about one QC sheet every other day (1500 hundred slides/day between HE, IHC and SS). Fully half are submitted by one pathologist. That pathologist is also the ONLY one who submits them for good as well as poor slides (though in about a 10:1 ration bad:good). I keep track of them on a spreadsheet and do a review with the tech involved (f there is one). It is pretty random as to which techs have errors, and all have at least one during a year's time, but we have picked up a few sectioning and stain problem trends over the years. It seems to work ok and it does not seem to be a burden. I also talk regularly with individual pathologists and just randomly ask them if they have seen any problems they want me to work on. I pick up a few issues that way. Of course if it is something they feel is really a problem I get the phone call... Tim Morken Department of Pathology UC San Francisco Medical Center -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Lynette Pavelich Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 11:06 AM To: Bob Richmond; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech Dr. Richmond, It's always refreshing to hear what the other shoe has to say! I'm sure seeing those required quality control sheets coming in everyday is tiring, and then especially frustrating when small to none results are seen in a timely manner. I can empathize with you as change/improvement can sometimes take a long time!! I also realize...after being in the field 40+ years (ouch!), that verbal communication seems to work faster than all those required sheets of paper you have to fill out. Like the pathologist who comes through the door saying; HEY...what happened with this slide?? (LOL) will get a much faster response/correction than those papers I receive back everyday to collate! It's just more personal, and shows the techs more of the pathologist's side of the hardships of diagnosing after receiving less than lovely slides. Equally refreshing, is a pathologist who remembers to thank the tech who does a great job! And I thank you for that! A genuine complement is really appreciated! Lynette Lynette Pavelich, HT(ASCP) Histology Supervisor Hurley Medical Center One Hurley Plaza Flint, MI 48503 ph: 810.262.9948 mobile: 810.444.7966 From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] on behalf of Bob Richmond [rsrichm...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2012 1:42 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Re: Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech From: Kim Donadio one_angel_sec...@yahoo.com Subject: Re: [Histonet] Basis for Quality Work in a Histotech To: O'Donnell, Bill billodonn...@catholichealth.net,Maria Mejia mbmph...@gmail.com, Morken, Timothy timothy.mor...@ucsfmedctr.org Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Message-ID: 1355948250.57406.yahoomail...@web112302.mail.gq1.yahoo.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Kim Donadio (where?) comments: I'd like to add my two cents to the measuring Quality topic. I'll make it short. - You should have a Quality Management
RE: [Histonet] Synoptic Reporting
Good morning Anita, Here's a response from an IT vendor perspective: While I am by no means an expert at the interpretation of CAP, CMS, or any of the other myriad of regulations that we must comply with, it's always been my understanding that the use of synoptic templates was somewhat of a 'grey' area. My take on things is that you don't 'have' to use the actual CAP templates, but you must ensure that the questions in those templates are addressed in your patient report. We have certain sites that would rather not pay CAP's cost to use their templates, so we've given them the ability to create their own templates. Depending on your LIS vendor, perhaps you have this ability. If not, there is no reason why you couldn't use WORD or Dragon or whatever word processing tool you possess to create templates or autocorrect entries that ensure that the required questions are addressed. There are other aspects of this question that could be dealt with, but I'll leave that up for further discussion should the group, or yourself, wish to entertain them. Off the top of my head, I think of sending discrete data/answer elements to other systems for research or federal funding purposes. There's also the issue of which agency you are trying to comply with, CAP vs cancer institute vs others. Im anxious to hear other people's take on this subject as I think we will see a continual increased use and requirement for synoptic reporting. Bottom line, I see a day when all surgical reports will be required to be resulted/reported in a synoptic fashion. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Anita Buchiane Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2012 7:07 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Synoptic Reporting What are people doing for synoptic reporting? Are the CAP templates the only option? ___ The information contained in, or attached to, this e-mail, may contain confidential information and is intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and may be subject to legal privilege. If you have received this e-mail in error you should notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail, delete the message from your system and notify your system manager. Please do not copy it for any purpose, or disclose its contents to any other person. The views or opinions presented in this e-mail are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. The recipient should check this e-mail and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The company accepts no liability for any damage caused, directly or indirectly, by any virus transmitted in this email. ___ ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] voice recognition and synoptic reporting
Allison, it starts with what your objectives are: If you simply want your reports to present information in a certain format, then a word processor, optionally coupled with Dragon and optionally coupled with Voicebrook will work. If you need to send the data in it's individual components to another computer system, then that's an entirely different story as it probably means that you need to store the data discretely. Either way, if you'd like to talk about it further please feel free to contact me offline. Remember that I represent an LIS vendor, but since I love talking about this stuff, I have no problem talking to you about it from a non sales perspective. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Hutton, Allison Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 10:50 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] voice recognition and synoptic reporting We have been asked to look at changing our pathology reports over to the synoptic report format. I was wondering if anyone could provide me some information on voice recognition software for pathology and if this would be the best (easiest) way to implement synoptic reporting for our path reports. I am only vaguely familiar with both so any information will be of great use. Thank You in Advance Allison ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] RE: Two identifiers...
Our client labs have always used the barcode and the case id as the identifiers and we've never heard of a problem. This allows us to print special instructions on the cassette, which everyone finds helpful later in the workflow. PS: it also allows us to print the case id in a bigger font as well and that in itself may be the biggest 'bang for the buck'. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Ron Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 12:39 PM To: pamar...@uams.edu; tmcne...@lmhealth.org; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: Two identifiers... We do the same as Pam with the patient name and case number Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone Marcum, Pamela A pamar...@uams.edu wrote: We use the specimen or accessioning number and the patient name as the two identifiers and that seems to meet the criteria. We use the Thermo cassette writer and it transfers the information to the slides. Pam Marcum UAMS -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tom McNemar Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:03 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Two identifiers... Hello all, For those of you using cassette and slide labelers Does your system permit you to print the accession number, patient name, and DOB on the face of the cassette? Are you using the specimen number and name as your two identifiers? Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.orgmailto:tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.orgfile:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\TMCNEMAR\Applica tion%20Data\Microsoft\Signatures\www.LMHealth.org This e-mail, including attachments, is intended for the sole use of the individual and/or entity to whom it is addressed, and contains information from Licking Memorial Health Systems which is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, nor authorized to receive for the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this e-mail and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message immediately. You may also contact the LMH Process Improvement Center at 740-348-4641. E-mail transmissions cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. Thank you. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Confidentiality Notice: 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, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] RE: Two identifiers...
While on the subject of identifiers on slide labels, I was wondering if anyone had ever run into a concern regarding patient name on slides that are sent out for further stains, consultation, etc.? I've run into at least one lab that was concerned that it was a HIPPA/patient confidentiality violation. Has anyone else run into this issue or given this topic some consideration? Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Marcum, Pamela A Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 1:19 PM To: 'Weems, Joyce K.'; 'Ron'; tmcne...@lmhealth.org; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Two identifiers... That I don't know as we have barcodes that the information is transferred from on the cassettes. It contains all of the patient info plus block and date information.Pam -Original Message- From: Weems, Joyce K. [mailto:joyce.we...@emoryhealthcare.org] Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 11:59 AM To: 'Ron'; Marcum, Pamela A; tmcne...@lmhealth.org; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Two identifiers... Can a bar code be counted as an identifier? Joyce Weems Pathology Manager 678-843-7376 Phone 678-843-7831 Fax joyce.we...@emoryhealthcare.org www.saintjosephsatlanta.org 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Atlanta, GA 30342 This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Saint Joseph’s Hospital and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Ron Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 12:39 PM To: pamar...@uams.edu; tmcne...@lmhealth.org; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] RE: Two identifiers... We do the same as Pam with the patient name and case number Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone Marcum, Pamela A pamar...@uams.edu wrote: We use the specimen or accessioning number and the patient name as the two identifiers and that seems to meet the criteria. We use the Thermo cassette writer and it transfers the information to the slides. Pam Marcum UAMS -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tom McNemar Sent: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:03 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Two identifiers... Hello all, For those of you using cassette and slide labelers Does your system permit you to print the accession number, patient name, and DOB on the face of the cassette? Are you using the specimen number and name as your two identifiers? Tom McNemar, HT(ASCP) Histology Co-ordinator Licking Memorial Health Systems (740) 348-4163 (740) 348-4166 tmcne...@lmhealth.orgmailto:tmcne...@lmhealth.org www.LMHealth.orgfile:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\TMCNEMAR\Applica tion%20Data\Microsoft\Signatures\www.LMHealth.org This e-mail, including attachments, is intended for the sole use of the individual and/or entity to whom it is addressed, and contains information from Licking Memorial Health Systems which is confidential or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, nor authorized to receive for the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this e-mail and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message immediately. You may also contact the LMH Process Improvement Center at 740-348-4641. E-mail transmissions cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. The sender therefore does not accept liability for any errors or omissions in the contents of this message, which arise as a result of e-mail transmission. Thank you. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Confidentiality Notice: 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, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message
RE: [Histonet] Beaker module in EPIC
I'm curious. Are ANY labs using Epic for their APLIS? The last I heard was a sales presentation a couple of years ago where the sales person declined to show the APLIS because it wasn't ready. I do know of hospitals using Epic for order entry, though. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Martha Ward-Pathology Sent: Friday, July 13, 2012 7:42 AM To: Paula Sicurello; HistoNet; microsc...@microscopy.com Subject: RE: [Histonet] Beaker module in EPIC Again, we would be interested in any replies as well. Our institution is going live with Epic this fall but the labs will not be using Beaker until later on. We are still trying to figure out how all this will work and welcome all information. Paula, how soon will Duke be up and using Beaker? Martha Ward Wake Forest Baptist Health 336-716-2109 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Paula Sicurello Sent: Thursday, July 12, 2012 4:05 PM To: HistoNet; microsc...@microscopy.com Subject: [Histonet] Beaker module in EPIC Hello all Listers, I've already asked the Histonet but I'm wondering about a different thing this time. Does anyone have experience with Beaker in conjunction with Anatomic Pathology, Surgical Pathology or the multiple other clinical labs that are in hospitals today? I work in Anatomic/Surgical Pathology which encompasses all the Clinical Laboratory services here at Duke. We have been told to determine what we need for the Beaker module to be useful to us. I've seen a brief demo. as to how it will work for the ordering clinicians (they can order every test STAT!). Please, send me any of the pluses or minuses that you've experienced using Beaker. Thanks, Paula :-) -- Paula Sicurello, HTL (ASCP) Supervisor, Clinical Electron Microscopy Laboratory Duke University Health System Rm.#251M, Duke South, Green Zone Durham, North Carolina 27710 P: 919.684.2091 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Adopting a bar code system
Teri, if you don't mind, I'd like to respond from the perspective of an LIS vendor. I would propose that you need to think about what your objectives are when implementing such a system, and then seek out those vendors who can best help you to reach those goals. Barcoding is a fairly straight forward and simple thing to do, but it can open so many doors that it's hard to choose what doors to actually go down. At its most simplistic representation, you're putting a barcode on the requisition, specimen, block, and slide. By doing so you give yourself the POTENTIAL to records dates/times/userid of who handled what material at any given time. Once you know this information, you can identify bottlenecks in your workflow and design more efficient workflows. Your objectives come into play when you try to choose vendors to implement the system. For instance, 1. What times/processes are you measuring? Is it just the steps from grossing to embedding to cutting to slide distribution? I believe this is what most people think of when they think of a 'bar code system', and you can find solutions from various LIS vendors and middleware products from Leica, Ventana, Lablion, and more. 2. Do you want to track other 'waypoints' in the process? For instance, into and out of strainers, processors, shipping, pathologist diagnosis, etc.? 3. Do you want to turn tracking on and off? 4. What management and statistical reports do you want to see? You need to keep in mind that it would be very nice to create your own reports in addition to having access to standard reports because management is always asking to look at the data from a different perspective. 5. A key tangent of barcode tracking is the ability to log alerts/commentary/quality issues. Does the proposed tracking system provide this capability? How easy is it to see these notations? Does the pathologist need to see them? 6. For laboratories who have to process cytology specimen, does the system help you track paps, nongyns, etc.? I could go on for quite a bit on this subject. There are of course, the real world issues of slide labels vs printing directly on slides, barcode misreads, compatibility with instrumentations and so on. If you'd like to talk more, please contact me offline. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Teri Johnson Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2012 1:45 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Adopting a bar code system Hi Histonetters, I am interested in hearing from folks who went from a manual histology system to a barcoding system. I would like to look into to adopting bar coding and want to know the pitfalls, issues, and your successes in doing so. Thanks! Teri Johnson, HT(ASCP)QIHC GNF Histology Lab Manager Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation 858-332-4752 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Ventana/ LIS
Good afternoon Carol, I represent an LIS vendor and I can definitely tell you that 'technically', your LIS can be directly interfaced to the Ultra because we have done that ourselves. On the other hand, it's an entirely different issue as to whether Ventana will allow you to do this. Now that they have their Vantage offering, I believe that they are trying to run all their interfaces through this product. I'm not 100% certain of that fact though. I hope it's not true as it turns a pretty straightforward, HL7 based interface with a fairly standard cost into a significantly larger project both in terms of cost and implementation. If you'd like to discuss any of the technical details, please feel free to contact me directly. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Carol Bryant Sent: Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:41 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Ventana/ LIS Can the Ventana Ultra system be interfaced to your LIS so that personnel do not have to re-enter the case # and patient ID in the Ultra? I know that Ventana offers the Vantage system that connects everything, but can one merely interface their LIS directly to the Ultra? Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Thank you, Carol Carol Bryant, CT (ASCP) Cytology/Histology Manager Lexington Clinic Phone (859) 258-4082 Fax (859) 258-4081 cb...@lexclin.com NOTICE OF CONFIDENTIALITY This message, including any attachments, is intended only for the sole use of the addressee and may contain confidential or privileged information that is protected by the State of Kentucky and/or Federal regulations. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, copy, retain or disseminate this message or any attachment. If you have received this message in error, please call the sender immediately at (859)258-4000 and delete all copies of this message and any attachment. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, copying or distribution is strictly prohibited. Neither the transmission of this message or any attachment, nor any error in transmission or misdelivery shall constitute waiver of any applicable legal privilege. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] LIS questions
Good morning, Id like to take up the issue of server vs cloud in Kellys original email. I have some thoughts that Id like to share, but more importantly, Id like to hear other peoples opinions. This is going to be a continuing hot topic in the LIS world for years to come and I think it would be nice to have some sort of list for people to start thinking about. I am aware that traditionally there has not been a lot of LIS involvement in the histology laboratory, but with the advent of 'barcode tracking' and new quality initiatives, I am sure that this is about to change. Server Pros: 1.More control you know where your data resides and you have full control over it. 2. Ostensibly faster, because youre just sharing your data traffic internally, not across the world web. 3. We know this model works in both low and large volume operations. Cons: 1.Youre responsible for maintaining the server operating system patches which occur every few months it seems and daily backups. 2. Cost associated with the server(s) Often times there will be 2 servers production and development, plus there is a license fee. Bottom line, think around 10, 000 to 20,000. You also need a place to put the servers. Cloud Pros: 1. A user can get to the system from everywhere -- great if you dont have an infrastructure already in place. 2. No hardware costs for the server, but I would imagine that there is some fee hidden somewhere nothing in life is free, right? Cons: 1. No control over your data. It can reside anywhere in the world and who knows how the local laws protect your data. If the data resides in the US, thats less of a concern. With less control, you never really know if your backups are occurring or not. 2. Because youre on the web, the potential exists for a slower system. This is probably not as important when a pathologist is signing out a case, but depending on the LIS, it could be a big problem, if there is a lot of user interaction. For instance, anything to do with blocks or slides which can be numerous and require rapid processing, could be an issue. In my own experience, Ive waited on a web page refresh for several seconds from time to time. If my specials are due out at 10 a.m. and its 9:45, I dont have time for a slow connection. 3. With current technology, instrument interfaces can be difficult because they require more of a realtime or very fast response. 4. Does anyone know of a large volume lab that uses a web based LIS where the LIS requires quick response time? 5. What happens if I change from a web based LIS. I assume I dont get access to my data unless I continue to pay some sort of fee. With a server based system, I can stop paying maintenance, but I can still access my data. What do you all think? Do you disagree with the list? Do you have more to add? Bottom line, I think for me, and remember, Im an LIS vendor myself, system functionality would still be a priority as far as system selection is concerned. The feel of the company would be my next critical concern, and then I would think about cost and technology. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Kelly Boyd Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2012 11:31 AM To: histonet Subject: [Histonet] LIS questions Is anyone out there familiar with any of the following LIS systems, if so, what are your thoughts?? AIM Path Software systems, Wavefront Software, WinSURGE, CSS LIS What are the opinions out there for a server based system versus a cloud based?? Thanks! Kelly ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] LIS questions
William, you bring up a very good point, but Id like to respond to your concerns this way: 1.I dont know how my online banking security works, but It does. I have to believe that the industry and cloud based LIS vendors have already solved this issue or that they will in the short term. Perhaps I am naïve in where I place my trust, but the cloud is such a big marketing thrust these days, I have to believe that momentum alone will carry this forward. 2. I guess Im more of a functionality person than a technical person though I do have a technical degree from a pretty decent school. There are so many perspectives to this issue that I am content to confine the current thoughts to mostly functionality versus technical or legal. Still, I always try to be open to other thoughts and your commentary did just that thank you. 3. Finally, I think this topic is relevant to histonet because Im hearing more and more LIS vendors differentiate themselves as cloud vs server based solutions. Since I think the LIS will play more of a role in the daily lives of histotechnologists, I think its a good idea to talk about this and leave some trail of discovery for future people interested in this topic. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: WILLIAM DESALVO [mailto:wdesalvo@hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 9:28 AM To: m...@pathview.com; Kelly Boyd; histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] LIS questions When we start talking about the issues associated w/ server vs. cloud in healthcare, I think discussion needs to start w/ and be centered on capability of compliance and enforcement, as it relates to HITECH Act, HIPPA and delivery of ePHI. There is a complexity added as more health information exchanges are developed and access to data is expanded and the need to develop complex and sound Business Associate Agreements. In my mind, the idea of more access and/or ease of access must be directly related to the ability to control and provide security of access. I believe this very complex issue and process will rely less on the needs of the end user, Histotechnicians/Histotechnologists and more on the need to meet HITECH requirements and very secure delivery. This is a very complex IT issue and maybe not best discussed on the Histonet w/ technical personnel with limited IT knowledge. William DeSalvo, BS, HTL(ASCP) From: m...@pathview.com To: kdboydhi...@yahoo.com; Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:52:13 -0700 Subject: RE: [Histonet] LIS questions CC: Good morning, Id like to take up the issue of server vs cloud in Kellys original email. I have some thoughts that Id like to share, but more importantly, Id like to hear other peoples opinions. This is going to be a continuing hot topic in the LIS world for years to come and I think it would be nice to have some sort of list for people to start thinking about. I am aware that traditionally there has not been a lot of LIS involvement in the histology laboratory, but with the advent of 'barcode tracking' and new quality initiatives, I am sure that this is about to change. Server Pros: 1. More control you know where your data resides and you have full control over it. 2. Ostensibly faster, because youre just sharing your data traffic internally, not across the world web. 3. We know this model works in both low and large volume operations. Cons: 1. Youre responsible for maintaining the server operating system patches which occur every few months it seems and daily backups. 2. Cost associated with the server(s) Often times there will be 2 servers production and development, plus there is a license fee. Bottom line, think around 10, 000 to 20,000. You also need a place to put the servers. Cloud Pros: 1. A user can get to the system from everywhere -- great if you dont have an infrastructure already in place. 2. No hardware costs for the server, but I would imagine that there is some fee hidden somewhere nothing in life is free, right? Cons: 1. No control over your data. It can reside anywhere in the world and who knows how the local laws protect your data. If the data resides in the US, thats less of a concern. With less control, you never really know if your backups are occurring or not. 2. Because youre on the web, the potential exists for a slower system. This is probably not as important when a pathologist is signing out a case, but depending on the LIS, it could be a big problem, if there is a lot of user interaction. For instance, anything to do with blocks or slides which can be numerous and require rapid processing, could be an issue. In my own experience, Ive waited on a web page refresh for several seconds from time to time. If my specials are due out at 10 a.m. and its 9:45, I dont have time for a slow connection. 3
RE: [Histonet] RE: Barcoding specimen tracking, lessons you learned
Unfortunately (or is that fortunately?), pretty much all technology can be foiled by human beings. We've seen this scenario before as well. We tell our accession personnel that they must accession and label one case at a time, but when it comes down to it, there is no real way to FORCE people to follow a policy. This is why we have inquiry come up automatically at Gross, Transcription, and Pathology workcenters. Ostensibly, one or more people need to confirm the correct labeling of the case. ...at least that's the theory ... and of course there's that people part of the equation again. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Della Speranza, Vinnie Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 11:25 AM To: Morken, Timothy; Histonet Subject: [Histonet] RE: Barcoding specimen tracking, lessons you learned Hi Tim, One thing I did not anticipate that was an unfortunate eye opener. When humans are given a scanner to read barcodes they seem to trust the technology so much that they stop reading with their eyes. We had an unfortunate incident where the wrong barcode label was placed onto a specimen container at accessioning. Keep in mind the label containing the barcode also contained a patient name and MRN. Had the next individual in the chain of events, the individual at the grossing table, read the label, she might have noticed the discrepancy. Instead, the barcode on the cassettes was for the wrong patient and of course, the slides likewise. So while I adopted barcodes to reduce the likelihood of error, this event made me feel a bit more vulnerable because once the scanners are in use, you may find that staff become so reliant on the technology that they are no longer vigilant in keeping an eye out for problems. I'm sharing this in the hope that by alerting your staff to this pitfall you can avoid experiencing this in your lab. Vinnie Della Speranza, MS, HTL(ASCP) Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services Medical University of South Carolina 165 Ashley Avenue MSC 908 Charleston, SC 29425 tel. 843-792-6353 fax. 843-792-8974 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Morken, Timothy Sent: Monday, April 23, 2012 1:31 PM To: Histonet Subject: [Histonet] Barcoding specimen tracking, lessons you learned To anyone who has implemented a barcoding/specimen tracking system in your lab. What lessons did you learn that would make it easier if you did it over? We're starting the process and I would like to get some input on things to look out for! Thanks for any info and comments! Tim Morken Department of Pathology UC San Francisco Medical Center 505 Parnassus Ave, Box 1656 Room S570 San Francisco, CA 94132 (415) 353-1266 (ph) (415) 514-3403 (fax) tim.mor...@ucsfmedctr.org ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Pathology reports
Davide, good morning, Im fairly familiar with the Cortex product as we are an LIS vendor who replaced a large Cortex installation in Seattle. We use Crystal Reports to generate patient reports that get faxed, printed, sent to EMR's, etc. You, as the user of the system, can make your reports look anyway you'd like and can make them different per specimen or per requesting doctor, for example. Of course, you can also add graphics as well. Feel free to email me back or call at your convenience. Depending on your location, we could set up an onsite demonstration as well. My office is just north of Seattle and I know that Cortex had a lot of Northwest installations since they were Seattle based. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Davide Costanzo Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 8:57 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Pathology reports Is anyone out there familiar with Coretex Medical pathology software? Interested in input from users on what pathology software they use for generating final reports that are high quality, in color with photo capability, web based reporting and EMR interface. W0uld love to hear your thoughts on PowerPath, Coretex, Novopath, Softpath, McKesson and others. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Pathology reports
I'd like to apologize to the group. I had no intention of sending this out to the entire community. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 9:11 AM To: 'Davide Costanzo'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Pathology reports Davide, good morning, Im fairly familiar with the Cortex product as we are an LIS vendor who replaced a large Cortex installation in Seattle. We use Crystal Reports to generate patient reports that get faxed, printed, sent to EMR's, etc. You, as the user of the system, can make your reports look anyway you'd like and can make them different per specimen or per requesting doctor, for example. Of course, you can also add graphics as well. Feel free to email me back or call at your convenience. Depending on your location, we could set up an onsite demonstration as well. My office is just north of Seattle and I know that Cortex had a lot of Northwest installations since they were Seattle based. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Davide Costanzo Sent: Friday, August 19, 2011 8:57 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Pathology reports Is anyone out there familiar with Coretex Medical pathology software? Interested in input from users on what pathology software they use for generating final reports that are high quality, in color with photo capability, web based reporting and EMR interface. W0uld love to hear your thoughts on PowerPath, Coretex, Novopath, Softpath, McKesson and others. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] barcode scanner for tissue cassette
John, have your tried pastel colored cassettes? Scanning works much better with those. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Ryan, John P. Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2011 2:22 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] barcode scanner for tissue cassette Can anyone recommend a suitable barcode scanner that will work with the ThermoFisher Microwriter? I have 5 units that are currently using either a Symbol or a Cognex scanner that do not function appropriately. Requires multiple passes (4-6 if at all) of the 2D labeled cassette in order for the slide to print. Very seldom does it print on the 1st pass. When you are dealing with 500 - 700 cassettes there is no time for multiple passes. I don't know if it is the scanners, software or just settings. I have not had much success from the company regarding updating the scanners to help resolve this issue. John Ryan Assistant Administrative Director Pathology 832-355-2643 phone 832-355-4232 fax jr...@sleh.commailto:jr...@sleh.com +CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE+ The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments, if any, or the information contained herein is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail from your computer system. Thank you. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Histology Workflow Solutions
. At grossing do you need to see the requisition? Are the requisitions scanned into IMPAC? That would make it difficult for Vantage to display those images. What about patient history? Do you need to see that at grossing? There are certainly other issues, and please don't get me wrong. I think that Vantage is a very sexy product. It looks very nice and it provides the positive ID everyone should really have. As you read the literature and get responses from others keep in mind that you have a choice a lot of people don't have. You can choose a system that is supported by your current vendor. A LOT of other people don't have that choice. It's either Vantage, a competitor to Vantage or a new LIS. You can get a lot of 'bang for the buck' with just Vantage. ...but if you're looking for a new LIS, well that's where my company comes in but that's a subject for a private email. P.S. The purpose of this email is to neither endorse one or the other product. My intention was to simply get people thinking about the issues involved, especially as tracking solutions and LIS's have evolved over the last few years. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of CHRISTIE GOWAN Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 7:05 AM To: dana.spen...@pcmh.com; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Histology Workflow Solutions Hi Dana, I can't speak to the Elekta module but I have used the Vantage system for over a year now. We generate a bar code at accessioning that is used throughout the entire process to make cassettes, gross, embed, section, stain and turn out. We do not batch during any of the process other than the 20 slides we put in our staining tray. We scan each block at microtomy as we section which prints a label that we affix to the slide when we pick up the section. We have virtually eliminated errors at all stations. We were able to see quite an improvement in turn around times as well as tracking our specimens. This system also allows us to track quality issues anywhere in the process. Please feel free to contact me if you have further questions. Christie Gowan University of Alabama at Birmingham Surgical Pathology 205 934 4991 Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 09:41:02 -0500 From: dana.spen...@pcmh.com To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Histology Workflow Solutions I am currently investigating workflow solutions for our Histology Lab incorporating bar code labeling. We use the PowerPath/ Elekta AP System. I am looking into Elekta's AMP Module vs Ventana's Vantage system. I would welcome any comments on these systems and how they work in your lab or if you use something else. I would also welcome any suggestions or comments on how you label slides...Do you batch print and scan barcodes of the blocks and slides at the microtome? Do you scan blocks at the microtome and print labels there for the slides? Do you scan blocks at the microtome and print slides at the microtome? You may email directly if you prefer. Please share! Thanks in advance for your help and feedback! Dana -- The contents of this e-mail (and any attachments) are confidential, may be privileged and may contain copyright material. You may only reproduce or distribute material if you are expressly authorized by us to do so. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure or copying of this email (and any attachments) is unauthorized. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and immediately delete this e-mail and any copies of it from your system. == ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning
To me, there is only one 100% solution -- barcodes. I'm quite anxious to hear other people's thoughts, though. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Scott, Allison D Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 8:01 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning Hello to all in histoland. What types of checks and balances do you have in place for specimen accessioning. We had a incidcent where I was accessioning a case and I did not catch that the name on the container was different from the name on the requisition. The resident grossing did not catch it either. They usually peel back the copath label and look at the name on the label that came from the procedure area. In my case the resident did not do this. It was not until the pathologist saw a discrepancy in the age on the requisition and what was written in the pertinent history, that it was determined that it had been mislabeled from the beginning. I did a incident report and the area was cited. Besides making sure that who ever is accesioning cases checks that the names match, what else can be done? Any help in this will be greatly appreciated. Allison Scott HT(ASCP) Histology Supervisor LBJ Hospital Houston, Texas CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your computer system. To the extent the information in this e-mail and any attachments contain protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), PL 104-191; 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164; or Chapter 181, Texas Health and Safety Code, it is confidential and/or privileged. This e-mail may also be confidential and/or privileged under Texas law. The e-mail is for the use of only the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or any authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments is strictly prohibited. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning
..but Janice, Vantage won't help with accessioning issues will it? I'm just going back to this issue because that was the initial point of the thread and it's really, really important to get things right at accessioning. The other aspect of this is that accessioning is the point at which material from outside the lab comes into the lab. It's the 'interface' or the place where the river water meets the ocean water if you follow my analogy. We have a lot more control over material once it enters the lab. It gets frustrating to spend so much effort and monies on improving practices inside the lab, only to be subject to issues outside of the lab. Yes, you can check for them by manual processes (name verification), but in large volume environments, that's gets tougher. I just get frustrated that so many specimen still come down to the lab without a patient id/order #/something barcode, so that I can ensure positive identification. This is important stuff. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Mahoney,Janice A [mailto:janice.maho...@alegent.org] Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 9:12 AM To: 'Nita Searcy'; Allison D' 'Scott; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Michael Mihalik Subject: RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning Allison and all, As part of LEAN we use standard work. This means we have best practice written down, step by step and every person does it the same way on every specimen. No matter what! This gets hard-wired after a while. The inspection of the requisition against the container is one of the steps in the process. Errors can be virtually eliminated using this practice. There is also the wonderful innovation of using bar coding to assure things match. Check out the Vantage system by Ventana. I highly recommend it for eliminating the kind of mistakes you point out. Jan Omaha -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Nita Searcy Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 10:26 AM To: Allison D' 'Scott; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Michael Mihalik Subject: RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning You are absolutely correct. Nita Searcy, HT/HTL (ASCP) Scott and White Hospital Division Manager, Anatomic Pathology 2401 S. 31st. Street 254-724-2438 Temple, Texas, 76502 nsea...@swmail.sw.org 254-724-2438 Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com 2/25/2011 10:22 AM To me, there is only one 100% solution -- barcodes. I'm quite anxious to hear other people's thoughts, though. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Scott, Allison D Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 8:01 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning Hello to all in histoland. What types of checks and balances do you have in place for specimen accessioning. We had a incidcent where I was accessioning a case and I did not catch that the name on the container was different from the name on the requisition. The resident grossing did not catch it either. They usually peel back the copath label and look at the name on the label that came from the procedure area. In my case the resident did not do this. It was not until the pathologist saw a discrepancy in the age on the requisition and what was written in the pertinent history, that it was determined that it had been mislabeled from the beginning. I did a incident report and the area was cited. Besides making sure that who ever is accesioning cases checks that the names match, what else can be done? Any help in this will be greatly appreciated. Allison Scott HT(ASCP) Histology Supervisor LBJ Hospital Houston, Texas CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your computer system. To the extent the information in this e-mail and any attachments contain protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), PL 104-191; 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164; or Chapter 181, Texas Health and Safety Code, it is confidential and/or privileged. This e-mail may also be confidential and/or privileged under Texas law. The e-mail is for the use of only the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or any authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments is strictly prohibited. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http
RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning
One quick clarification: If the OR or whomever collects the specimen would put a barcoded label on the specimen container at collection time, all of this would be avoided. That just seems to be a difficult thing for those departments to do. I know that it's not a technical issue. It's something more than that. ..but it can be done and in what appears to be a small percentage of facilities, is indeed done. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Finley, Sue [PH] [mailto:sfin...@providencehealth.bc.ca] Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 10:08 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Mahoney,Janice A'; 'Nita Searcy'; 'Allison D' 'Scott'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning Hi All We too receive samples from our OR clinics and wards, referred-in etc. The example that you have illustrated in this e-mail thread is a very common occurrence and as Michael states bar coding cannot control the initial point of entry into the lab. It is the responsibility of the person preforming the task of accessioning to diligently check sample information is correct on both the container and the requisition. We too have implemented LEAN concepts throughout our AP flow and have very strict SOPs to address how to handle external incidents of this nature. We do not process until the sample has been corrected by the sender. For us; LEAN concepts/management is the preferred tool and then instrumentation selection is layered over our LEAN environment that interfaces with our LIS. Regards sue -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: February 25, 2011 9:47 AM To: 'Mahoney,Janice A'; 'Nita Searcy'; 'Allison D' 'Scott'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning ..but Janice, Vantage won't help with accessioning issues will it? I'm just going back to this issue because that was the initial point of the thread and it's really, really important to get things right at accessioning. The other aspect of this is that accessioning is the point at which material from outside the lab comes into the lab. It's the 'interface' or the place where the river water meets the ocean water if you follow my analogy. We have a lot more control over material once it enters the lab. It gets frustrating to spend so much effort and monies on improving practices inside the lab, only to be subject to issues outside of the lab. Yes, you can check for them by manual processes (name verification), but in large volume environments, that's gets tougher. I just get frustrated that so many specimen still come down to the lab without a patient id/order #/something barcode, so that I can ensure positive identification. This is important stuff. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Mahoney,Janice A [mailto:janice.maho...@alegent.org] Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 9:12 AM To: 'Nita Searcy'; Allison D' 'Scott; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Michael Mihalik Subject: RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning Allison and all, As part of LEAN we use standard work. This means we have best practice written down, step by step and every person does it the same way on every specimen. No matter what! This gets hard-wired after a while. The inspection of the requisition against the container is one of the steps in the process. Errors can be virtually eliminated using this practice. There is also the wonderful innovation of using bar coding to assure things match. Check out the Vantage system by Ventana. I highly recommend it for eliminating the kind of mistakes you point out. Jan Omaha -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Nita Searcy Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 10:26 AM To: Allison D' 'Scott; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Michael Mihalik Subject: RE: [Histonet] Checks and balances for specimen accessioning You are absolutely correct. Nita Searcy, HT/HTL (ASCP) Scott and White Hospital Division Manager, Anatomic Pathology 2401 S. 31st. Street 254-724-2438 Temple, Texas, 76502 nsea...@swmail.sw.org 254-724-2438 Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com 2/25/2011 10:22 AM To me, there is only one 100% solution -- barcodes. I'm quite anxious to hear other people's thoughts, though. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Scott, Allison D Sent: Friday, February 25, 2011 8:01 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject
RE: [Histonet] Joint Comm and patient identifiers
Here's another view on the matter: We have a client who purposely had us remove both the patient name and the MRN from the slide label. In their opinion, it was a violation of patient confidentiality when and if a slide left their organization for consultation or perhaps for further workups. Obviously, not all slides are sent out of the organization, but they took the attitude of 'being safe than sorry' I suspect. Hence, the two identifiers on their slide are the 2 D barcode and the case number. To the best of my knowledge they are TJC inspected and they have never had any issues. Keep in mind that I have not read the regulations, and I come at a lot of things from an IT perspective, but there's a big difference to me in the terminology, 'patient identifiers', and 'human readable patient identifiers'. In the end, this may be an example of people and technology not quite being in synch. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of histot...@imagesbyhopper.com Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 11:37 AM To: 'histonet' Subject: [Histonet] Joint Comm and patient identifiers Hi Histonetters! I have a question related to the two patient identifiers that TJC requires: can anyone point (online) me to the actual regulation? It was my understanding that the 2 identifiers related to the *collection* of the specimen, meaning that the container and associated requisition had to have 2 positive patient identifiers. The question is, do they *specifically* state that the 2 identifiers must be carried through to the final surgical slide? The reason I ask is that I have a friend who got dinged for their slides not having 2 patient identifiers on them. They have the surgical number and name of institution, but not the patient name or MRN. My friend is just looking for the actual statute so that he can read and follow exactly as expected. Also, can anyone confirm that the surgical number and a bar code would suffice as 2 identifiers? Thanks! Michelle ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] RE: Cassette/slide labelers - again
I'm sorry to say, but I think you're missing a major point here. Ideally, the cassettes should print when the specimen is scanned at the grossing station. Only the cassettes for the specific specimen should print. In that manner, there are no pre-printed cassettes and no cassettes wrongly associated with the specimen. Unfortunately, not all systems work that way. If your system does not work that way, then 'yes' there is still an advantage to using machine imprinted cassettes, but you're not getting ALL the benefits. I guess, I tend to agree with your pathologists. Pre-printed anything can get mixed up. If you have to do that, you need to have some sort of manual or automated double check. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Rathborne, Toni Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 11:39 AM To: Weems, Joyce; Nancy Schmitt; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] RE: Cassette/slide labelers - again Do you find that the number of errors has decreased since you have implemented this? Our pathologists are hesitant because they worry too many pre-printed cassettes could get mixed up. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Weems, Joyce Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 12:36 PM To: Nancy Schmitt; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] RE: Cassette/slide labelers - again We have GE Ultra - formerly Triple G. Cassettes are printed on our Sakura printer at accessioning (number is attached to the specimen) and more printed at grossing if needed. We use multiple colors of cassettes - the color is tied to the specimen of can be changed for decal. Slides are printed on our Sakura slide printer in batch by case type. Charged slides on in one hopper and printing is directed there for the necessary printing through the soft ware. It was painful getting the interface done, but once it was, it has been a good thing. Good luck, j Joyce Weems Pathology Manager Saint Joseph's Hospital 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30342 678-843-7376 - Phone 678-843-7831 - Fax -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Nancy Schmitt Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 12:31 To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Cassette/slide labelers - again Sorry to boot this dog around a bit more, BUT - We have Cerner CoPath plus and Dragon speak and are looking at Thermo and General Data. Do they interface smoothly? Do your cassettes get printed at accession or grossing? Are you using multiple colors of cassettes? What are you doing for slides that require levels or a mix of non-charged and charged slides? Thank you for any and all input! Nancy Schmitt, MLT, HT (ASCP) Histology Coordinator United Clinical Laboratories Dubuque, IA NOTICE: This email may contain legally privileged information. The information is for the use of only the intended recipient(s) even if addressed incorrectly. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender that you have received it in error and then delete it along with any attachments. Thank you. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Catholic Health East and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete this message, and reply to the sender regarding the error in a separate email. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message and any included attachments are from Somerset Medical Center and are intended only for the addressee. The information contained in this message is confidential and may contain privileged, confidential, proprietary and/or trade secret information entitled to protection and/or exemption from disclosure under applicable law. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, or use of such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the addressee, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender of the delivery error by e-mail or you may call Somerset Medical Center's computer Help Desk at 908-685-2200, ext. 4050. Be sure to visit Somerset Medical Center's Web site
RE: [Histonet] Workload Recording
Very well stated! If you're going to count 'units processed', be it specimen, blocks, or slides, those numbers lose their value if you're not somehow measuring quality issues as well. In addition to the 'middleware' solutions provided by the vendors mentioned, you need to make sure that your next LIS includes this functionality as well. Quality and metrics are important to the entire department and issues which occur in one area are often affected by actions that have occurred prior to or after the histology area. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of WILLIAM DESALVO Sent: Monday, December 06, 2010 8:43 PM To: allison_sc...@hchd.tmc.edu; histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Workload Recording There are now several commercial workload/work flow management systems available, if you are bar coded for your blocks and slides (Ventana, Thermo, Leica and Dako). These automated processes can simplify the capture of metrics for individuals, but not many have robust report functions. You could also use a manual system for capturing metrics, but this approach will require some additional effort over and above what is required for the automated systems. Both approaches will provide you a detailed look at what can be done, what is being done and what should be done at each step of your process and by whom. Productivity is a key management tool and with all the economy and industry pressures being applied, now being looked at closely for the Histology lab. I have been manually capturing workload metrics for accessioning, grossing, embedding and microtomy for 7+ years. It can be very useful when working with management to develop the correct staffing needs for the manual tasks in Histology. Workload recording allows you to better manage your process and employees. The data collected can be sliced and diced in many ways and I strongly suggest you collect on a daily basis. Each employee should know exactly what is expected of them for productivity and quality and you can only provide that direction when you have useful data. Once you have the data and create your reports, make sure you communicate with all employees regularly and continually. All that said, what are you trying to accomplish with creating workload metrics and/or what does your boss want to accomplish? It is important to understand that just capturing the workload metrics mean nothing without coupling quality standards. I believe that since we are very manual in our unit (case/specimen/block/slide) production, you must not just look at the production factor, you must apply a quality factor/standard, before setting any production standards. Quality must come first. last and always in your process development. Of course, that will mean you will need to take the next step and develop a process for capturing, trending and correcting all Mislabel, Procedural and Technical errors produced at each step of the process and ensure that the production metric and quality metric, when combined will lead and direct you to improved quality and measurable standards. I find that having the workload and quality metrics available provides valuable information for development of staff, training/competency documentation, SOP's and justifying equipment, consumables and reagent purchases. I learned from my CEO that You cannot manage what you do not measure. I would be more than happy to discuss this process with you off line, just send me an e-mail to start the process. William DeSalvo, B.S., HTL(ASCP) wdesalvo@hotmail.com Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2010 16:09:36 -0600 From: allison_sc...@hchd.tmc.edu To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Workload Recording Hello to all in histoland. Does anyone keep a log of how many blocks that their techs cut. My boss asked me do I keep this type of information. Anyone doing workload recording? Allison Scott HT(ASCP) Histology Supervisor LBJ Hospital CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your computer system. To the extent the information in this e-mail and any attachments contain protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), PL 104-191; 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164; or Chapter 181, Texas Health and Safety Code, it is confidential and/or privileged. This e-mail may also be confidential and/or privileged under Texas law. The e-mail is for the use of only the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or any authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its
RE: [Histonet] mislabeling of slides and blocks
Tim, I would both agree and disagree with your statement. We're all human.
We all make mistakes. However, I do believe that 'systems' can be put in
place which can render the likelihood of errors to almost zero.
By 'systems', I mean either computer systems or some manual mechanism that
may require checking and rechecking, perhaps by different parties.
While I'm not an expert on other people's tracking systems, I do believe I
know my own system pretty well, and I would tell you that it would be very,
very difficult, if not impossible to mislabel blocks and slides in our
system. Could you do it? Yes, I can imagine anyone can defeat a
computerized system or a manual system if that is their intent, but then
that's another question.
Michael Mihalik
PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369
-Original Message-
From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Tim Higgins
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 1:10 PM
To: sgoe...@xbiotech.com; 'Mahoney,Janice A'
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; 'Dean, Sherry'; 'Amy Farnan'
Subject: RE: [Histonet] mislabeling of slides and blocks
Glad I never worked at that lab, never would have made to a supervisory
role.
I have to agree with Sarah, two infractions in a 12 month period is
extremely severe. I don't care if you have Vantage or any one of the million
tracking software packages out there. Especially with the shortage of
qualified Histotechs out there to be so picky is not good. Anyone that has
worked for a busy Histology lab knows mistakes happen, we all want them
caught prior to going out but there are so many areas that these mistakes
can happen.
We do have a policy on mislabeled slides (or any infraction), there is a
verbal warning, written warning, final warning and then if it happens again
we would go to more of an extreme conclusion. That being said, we also
would go over with them how the mistake happened, ways to avoid that type of
mistake and then track that employee's slides more closely.
Now if an employee made the first mistake in January and the 4th one in
December of that same year I am still not sure we would dismiss that person.
Especially if than employee in good standing, maybe there are extenuating
circumstances going on.
Two and out is pretty severe.
Just my two cents!
Thanks,
Timothy Higgins, HT(ASCP) QIHC
Histology Manager
APA
-Original Message-
From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of
sgoe...@xbiotech.com
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 12:42 PM
To: Mahoney,Janice A
Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; Dean, Sherry; Amy Farnan
Subject: RE: [Histonet] mislabeling of slides and blocks
Holy cow man!! Fired for mislabeling 2 times in 260 days!!=bsp;
Have you never been human and made a mistake?! I could understa=d
if it was a tech on a regular basis messing up, but that seems a
little =razy, especially if you are in a high volume hospital!!
WOW!!
Just my opinion...
Sarah Goebel, B.A., HT (ASCP)
=iv
Histo=echnician
XBiotech USA Inc.
8201 East Rivers=de Dr. Bldg 4 Suite 100
Austin, Texas 78744
(512)386-5107
Original Message
Subject: RE: [Histonet] mislabeling of slides and blocks
From: Mahoney,Janice A [1]=anice.maho...@alegent.org
Date: Fri, October 08, 2010 9:40 am
To: Amy Farnan [2]farn...@nehealth=com,
[3]histo...@lists.utsout= hwestern.edu [4]
histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Cc: Dean, Sherry [5]she=ry.d...@ventana.roche.com
I'd be happy to share mine but it is very strict. People are given a
final=written warning for the first mislabel not caught in the
department and ca= be fired for the second within a year.
I highly suggest the Ventana Vantage (there are others but in my
opinion Va=tage is the best) bar code system for patient safety. It
also relieves th= stress on your Histo techs because the bar coding
helps them assure they =ave the correct slide, block, etc. Techs are
hard to find and if we start=iring for inevitable human error we
will cause even more tech shortages.=r When you look at all the
costs that a mislabel can incur, (law suits, repla=ing personnel,
rework, etc.) the cost of the software is not too bad.
Janice Mahoney HT(ASCP)
Histology/Cytology Coordinator
Alegent Health Laboratory
4955 F Street
Omaha, NE
(402)717-2889
fax(402)717-5231
From: [6]histonet=-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[[7]histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On =Behalf Of Amy
Farnan [[8]farn...@nehea=th.com]
Sent: Friday, October 08, 2010 7:14 AM
To: [9]histo...@lists.uts=uthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] mislabeling of slides and blocks
Hello everyone
RE: [Histonet] Vendors of Specimen Tracking Systems
From a vendor's perspective, we have not heard anything bad about any of these vendors. However, something else you might want to keep in mind is the objective of your implementation and what constraints you have on your implementation. For instance, at the most basic level, I've seen implementations where the sole objective was to address the issue of illegible writing on blocks or slides. For this laboratory, the purchase of cassette and slide labelers appeared to solve their needs. On the other hand, if you'd like to address workflow issues within the histology area, a solution with the appropriate printers and software is a better choice. The ultimate solution, in my opinion, is an implementation of printers and software within the Anatomic Pathology LIS. Such an implementation addresses workflow issues not only within the histology area, but throughout the department. An example of this might be the tracking of slides as they enter your stainer and an expected stain complete time viewable by a pathologist in the same query screen as all other case data is displayed. For many institutions, though, there is a constraint to use the existing LIS and many existing LIS vendors do not incorporate an existing tracking or workflow solution. If this is the situation, then the next best choice is the implementation of an 'add on' type solution. May I suggest that since the annual NSH convention is just around the corner, that you check out the vendor selections in Seattle. Not only will we be there demonstrating our LIS with a built in workflow and tracking solution, but of course the other vendors will be there demonstrating their wares. Pick their brains, take what everyone says with a grain of salt, and think about what you're really trying to achieve. If you'd like to pick my brain ahead of time, please feel free to email me directly. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Perkocha, Luke Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 10:37 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Vendors of Specimen Tracking Systems Dear Listservers, We're trying to compile a list of vendors of AP/histology specimen tracking to investigate. We have Cerner Co-path LIS, and they have their own product. The following are other vendors we've heard of - are their any others we should investigate? Which of these are not ready for prime time in your estimation? * Ventana * Dako * Omni Trax * Label Clinic * ID positive, from General Data * Brady Specimen Labeling * University of Washington system - ? awaiting commercialization Many thanks! Luke Perkocha, MD, MBA Associate Professor, Pathology and Dermatology Associate Director, Surgical Pathology University of California, San Francisco Office: 415 885-7254 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Communication when pathologist are not in same area as lab
Thank you for heading in that direction. The 'right' LIS makes a BIG difference. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Mahoney,Janice A Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:47 PM To: 'malbena...@gmail.com'; Scott, Allison D Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Communication when pathologist are not in same area as lab With the right LIS and standard work you may never have to or get to, depending on your perspective, speak with a Pathologist again. Jan Omaha -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Malika Benatti Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 2:38 PM To: Scott, Allison D Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Communication when pathologist are not in same area as lab Well our 5 pathologists, advance practitioner and SPR are just across the way from us, until last July all request were made personally by pathologist to staff and if there were any query with regard to the request made it was sorted then and then and it was pretty straight forward. But the good all days of face to face communication changed when we started to get requests via email, although a good idea, in principle, requests via email are not without pitfalls and therefore face to face communication between lab staff and pathologist is still necessary. say email request can be problematic as very often request. On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 4:09 PM, Scott, Allison D allison_sc...@hchd.tmc.edu wrote: Hello to all in histoland. What are you doing to minimize the communication breakdown, when the pathologist are not housed in the lab. We will be moving to a new lab and the pathologist will not be in the new bldg with us. They will be in the old building next door. Are you relying upon email and phone interactions. My directors concern is how will this effect the flow of information, especially when they are used to face to face interactions. Allison Scott HT(ASCP) LBJ Hospital 5656 Kelley Houston, Texas 77026 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender by return e-mail and delete this e-mail and any attachments from your computer system. To the extent the information in this e-mail and any attachments contain protected health information as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), PL 104-191; 45 CFR Parts 160 and 164; or Chapter 181, Texas Health and Safety Code, it is confidential and/or privileged. This e-mail may also be confidential and/or privileged under Texas law. The e-mail is for the use of only the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, or any authorized representative of the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination or copying of this e-mail and its attachments is strictly prohibited. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet -- Smile it confuses people ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives and Immanuel Health Systems, Alegent Health is faithful to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, providing high quality care for the body, mind and spirit of every person. The information contained in this communication, including attachments, is confidential and private and intended only for the use of the addressees. Unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this communication in error, please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail message from your computer. Additionally, although all attachments have been scanned at the source for viruses, the recipient should check any attachments for the presence of viruses before opening. Alegent Health accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Thermo Slide and Cassette printers
Hi Sharon, We're an LIS vendor working with a client that just purchased 6 of these. They're 30 days away from go live, but we've played with them for a bit. If you or anyone else is curious about what our experiences have been, feel free to email me. We also trialed cassette labelers from several other companies before our client selected these labelers. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Sharon.Davis-Devine Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:30 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Thermo Slide and Cassette printers Does anyone out there in Histo land have any experience with the new Thermo Scientific PrintMate and SlideMate system? Or do any of you have another system similar to this that you have experience with? We are looking into some of these systems to help reduce errors and make our laboratory more lean. I would appreciate any and all opinions and advice. Thank you. Sharon Davis-Devine, CT (ASCP) Cytology-Histology Supervisor Carle Foundation Hospital Laboratory and Pathology Services 611 West Park Street Urbana, Illinois 61801 217-383-3572 sharon.davis-dev...@carle.com ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Thermo Slide and Cassette printers
Guys, I'll be happy to respond, but I'm in the middle of some things now and I'd like to spend some time on my response. However, my quick response is EXACTLY what Jesus is saying: GD or Thermo and lighter/pastel colors seem to read easier. The hot plate is one of the things they also concur with, but still, don't press too hard on the hot plate or the bar code might be affected. ...more later, and I'll just respond to the group of people who queried me. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Jesus Ellin [mailto:jel...@yumaregional.org] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 1:12 PM To: Michael Mihalik; Sharon.Davis-Devine; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Thermo Slide and Cassette printers We have the Printmate coming on board and have used the slide mate. The Printmate is excellent, the slide mate is good but if you have it connected to LIS there is lag time. Also take into consideration that the barcodes have to be read and that traditional scrapping does hinder this. You will need to look at getting a hot plate for the blocks so that the read is clear, clean and concise. Also the color will play in issue. AS mike said there are different vendors out there, but for me for space and accuracy, since every histology labs has space, I would go with looking at thermo or General Data. If you have any questions feel free to give me a call. Jesus Ellin HT/PA ASCP Yuma Regional Medical Center 928-336-1743 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 8:48 AM To: 'Sharon.Davis-Devine'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Thermo Slide and Cassette printers Hi Sharon, We're an LIS vendor working with a client that just purchased 6 of these. They're 30 days away from go live, but we've played with them for a bit. If you or anyone else is curious about what our experiences have been, feel free to email me. We also trialed cassette labelers from several other companies before our client selected these labelers. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Sharon.Davis-Devine Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:30 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Thermo Slide and Cassette printers Does anyone out there in Histo land have any experience with the new Thermo Scientific PrintMate and SlideMate system? Or do any of you have another system similar to this that you have experience with? We are looking into some of these systems to help reduce errors and make our laboratory more lean. I would appreciate any and all opinions and advice. Thank you. Sharon Davis-Devine, CT (ASCP) Cytology-Histology Supervisor Carle Foundation Hospital Laboratory and Pathology Services 611 West Park Street Urbana, Illinois 61801 217-383-3572 sharon.davis-dev...@carle.com ___ 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 __ This message is confidential, intended only for the named recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended recipient(s), you are notified that the dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender at either the e-mail, fax, address, or telephone number listed above and delete this e-mail from your computer. Thank You. __ ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] thermal printer microscope labels
The key thing to note with slide labels is that it's not JUST the label. It's the combination of the label, ribbon, and printer. As an LIS vendor, I've heard very, very good things about General Data, and I do know that GD will sell you the label, ribbon, printer and even the bar code scanner. If you have any further questions, feel free to email me. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Paul Lambert Sent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 9:12 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] thermal printer microscope labels Does anyone have experience with printed plastic labels for microscope slides that are claimed to be resistant to various solvents and chemical used in histolology? If so what product do you use? One company (General Data) apparently has a special version of their label that is compatible with heat-based antigen unmasking steps... Any experience there as well? Appreciate the feedback Thanks Paul F. Lambert, Ph.D. Professor of Oncology McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health 1400 University Ave. Madison WI 54706 USA tel: 608-262-8533 fax: 608-262-2824 email: plamb...@wisc.edu ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments
Janice, may I ask whom you have for your LIS? Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Mahoney,Janice A [mailto:janice.maho...@alegent.org] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:14 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments We have Ventana IHC instruments and Ventana Vantage for labeling, tracking, QA, workload stats, etc, etc. It allows for the best process flow you can imagine. I'm very into processes and this system will reduce if not eliminate your errors. We were already a LEAN lab and with the addition of Vantage we reduced TAT by about 30% and virtually eliminated labeling errors. I'd suggest looking into Vantage before I'd venture into more costly interfaces that will just get you a label that can be read by an instrument. Vantage will give you so much more. Check it out. Jan Mahoney Omaha, NE -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:40 PM To: 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Actually, Jean it's a different story for Leica. With Ventana you HAVE to use THEIR labels. That's not the case with Leica. Succinctly, this means that you can use your LIS labels on a slide and the Lecia will read them and that's that. On the Ventana equipment, the slide MUST have the VENTANA slide label on the slide. Some powerpath users have gotten the powerpath barcode on the Ventana slide label and we're about to try and place our LIS slide label on the back of the slide. Purely, and I mean PURELY, from a labeling process, I would argue that the Leica is better suited for process flow. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Cordova, Jean Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 5:17 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments While our lab doesn't have the Ventana stainer I am assuming that the principle is the same for the Leica Bond. We are using slide labels generated from PowerPath on our slides for the Bond Immunostainer.without any issues. We do have an interface in place. Jean Cordova HT/HTL (ASCP) Pathology Manager Northwest Pathology Services LLC 541-341-8039 This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal laws. If you are not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the intended addressee, you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, distribute, or disclose to anyone this message or the information contained herein. If you have received this message in error, immediately advise the sender by reply email and destroy this message. ___ 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 Sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives and Immanuel Health Systems, Alegent Health is faithful to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, providing high quality care for the body, mind and spirit of every person. The information contained in this communication, including attachments, is confidential and private and intended only for the use of the addressees. Unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this communication in error, please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail message from your computer. Additionally, although all attachments have been scanned at the source for viruses, the recipient should check any attachments for the presence of viruses before opening. Alegent Health accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments
Janice, I have a few responses here, but let me give you one of them, for now. An interface cost roughly 10,000 per 'side'... so 20,000 without negotiation. What does Vantage cost? I'm not looking for your specific pricing, just ballpark pricing. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Mahoney,Janice A [mailto:janice.maho...@alegent.org] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:14 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments We have Ventana IHC instruments and Ventana Vantage for labeling, tracking, QA, workload stats, etc, etc. It allows for the best process flow you can imagine. I'm very into processes and this system will reduce if not eliminate your errors. We were already a LEAN lab and with the addition of Vantage we reduced TAT by about 30% and virtually eliminated labeling errors. I'd suggest looking into Vantage before I'd venture into more costly interfaces that will just get you a label that can be read by an instrument. Vantage will give you so much more. Check it out. Jan Mahoney Omaha, NE -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:40 PM To: 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Actually, Jean it's a different story for Leica. With Ventana you HAVE to use THEIR labels. That's not the case with Leica. Succinctly, this means that you can use your LIS labels on a slide and the Lecia will read them and that's that. On the Ventana equipment, the slide MUST have the VENTANA slide label on the slide. Some powerpath users have gotten the powerpath barcode on the Ventana slide label and we're about to try and place our LIS slide label on the back of the slide. Purely, and I mean PURELY, from a labeling process, I would argue that the Leica is better suited for process flow. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Cordova, Jean Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 5:17 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments While our lab doesn't have the Ventana stainer I am assuming that the principle is the same for the Leica Bond. We are using slide labels generated from PowerPath on our slides for the Bond Immunostainer.without any issues. We do have an interface in place. Jean Cordova HT/HTL (ASCP) Pathology Manager Northwest Pathology Services LLC 541-341-8039 This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal laws. If you are not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the intended addressee, you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, distribute, or disclose to anyone this message or the information contained herein. If you have received this message in error, immediately advise the sender by reply email and destroy this message. ___ 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 Sponsored by Catholic Health Initiatives and Immanuel Health Systems, Alegent Health is faithful to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, providing high quality care for the body, mind and spirit of every person. The information contained in this communication, including attachments, is confidential and private and intended only for the use of the addressees. Unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you received this communication in error, please inform us of the erroneous delivery by return e-mail message from your computer. Additionally, although all attachments have been scanned at the source for viruses, the recipient should check any attachments for the presence of viruses before opening. Alegent Health accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this e-mail. Thank you for your cooperation. ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments
Jan, we'll be at APIII in 10 days so it's going to be hard to turn around and be at NSH, but we're trying. I'd be very happy to get your and other people's opinion of our system. We think we have a very straight forward and comprehensive approach to workflow processing. It's really an unfair, but very simple advantage that we have. We built our system from the ground up with workflow in mind. Other vendors built their systems years ago and over the years they've more or less just added on. I don't know if you've ever been in the Northeast, but have you ever seen those farmhouses that are a hundred or two years old. You can see where each occupant just added on to the house. It's a big difference when you can initially build the house to provide the needed amount of living space. Our software looks like that compared to other vendors. Let me fully respond to your Vantage comment. (and btw, if anyone knows a ballpark for Vantage, please email me privately.) I'll start out with one of those SHOUTED statements. I HATE Vantage and products of that ilk. Now, let me explain. I love WHAT Vantage does. I just really, really think it all belongs in the LIS. All this tracking and audit information needs to be in ONE system. Having two systems means two purchasing costs, two systems to maintain, two systems to look into while you're trying to track down a problem, and on and on and on. The reason Ventana and Dako and others can sell this product is because LIS vendors have been slow to adopt these changes themselves. Not to toot our own horn too loud, but all this data is contained in our system. In fact, all this data is in ONE query screen not multiple screens. That's another thing that drives me nuts -- 10,000 tabs or screens to see data. Show me the things that I am most likely interested in in a query screen and make other things like audit or tracking information a quick click away. Most of the times when I query for results I need to see results. Show those results to me and only those results. However, when I need something more, don't make me go to some other tab or menu or something else that I need to use multiple clicks or tabs or whatever the heck it is. One click to see tracking information, period. I went on that 'rant' to prove a point. With Vantage, you can't do this in one simple click because it's a separate system. Now, is it better than nothing? Sure, it is. If I was you and I was stuck on my existing LIS, I'd probably go for Vantage because it's cheaper than a new system, but to be honest, Im not even sure of that. I know Vantage is expensive. I just don't know 'how' expensive. Finally, don't get me wrong. Im not mad or upset with Ventana or Dako or whomever. They're doing a good job filling a niche. If I'm upset with anyone, it's the LIS vendors. Of course, they're my competitors, so in a way I'm happy. Thank you all for listening. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Mahoney,Janice A [mailto:janice.maho...@alegent.org] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 10:01 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Cerner Millennium -Original Message- From: Michael Mihalik [mailto:m...@pathview.com] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 8:31 AM To: Mahoney,Janice A; 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Janice, may I ask whom you have for your LIS? Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Mahoney,Janice A [mailto:janice.maho...@alegent.org] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:14 AM To: 'Michael Mihalik'; 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments We have Ventana IHC instruments and Ventana Vantage for labeling, tracking, QA, workload stats, etc, etc. It allows for the best process flow you can imagine. I'm very into processes and this system will reduce if not eliminate your errors. We were already a LEAN lab and with the addition of Vantage we reduced TAT by about 30% and virtually eliminated labeling errors. I'd suggest looking into Vantage before I'd venture into more costly interfaces that will just get you a label that can be read by an instrument. Vantage will give you so much more. Check it out. Jan Mahoney Omaha, NE -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 4:40 PM To: 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Actually, Jean it's a different story for Leica. With Ventana you HAVE to use THEIR labels
RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments
Sheila, I apologize to you and Peter and to whomever else I have offended. I view Histonet as a place where people can go for knowledge and where people can share their experiences. I was trying to share my experience with LIS systems and information system technology in general. I do admit that I had one paragraph in there about our own product, but I was trying to illustrate a point. I thought I had spent a bit of time talking about Ventana and Dako and as you've read my other posts, you've seen me mention Leica and others as well. I always talk about things from an information technology perspective. That's what I do and that's what I believe I am good at. I don't know if you're from Ventana or Daka or whomever, but please notice that I stated I have no problems with what you guys are doing. In fact, I applaud you for filling a very needed role in the industry. In other posts I've perhaps compared Leica and Ventana, but I've only done so from an information technology/interface/labeling perspective. I know very little about the chemistry involved and therefore I am not qualified to say which instrument is better suited for the task. I think everyone should ask more of their LIS vendors. In that way everyone benefits. But, how do people know what to ask for if they don't know that certain things are possible. I was hoping to encourage people to ask for further functionality from their LIS vendors... and yes, I fully admit that there was some component of publicity. However, I do feel like it was 90/10 or 80/20 knowledge vs publicity. So, please forgive me I offended anyone, but I still think there are a lot of information technology aspects that people are not aware of and that a majority of people would like to learn about. Everyone will notice that I always publish all of my contact information and my company name. I'm not trying to 'sneak something' by anyone. Competition is good for everyone. Is it not? And finally, Sheila, I wouldn't call you 'wrong'. You've got an opinion and I respect it. I just disagree. I'll shut up now, and if you or anyone else would like to talk to me please feel free to do so. (My contact information is below, but to make my email address more obvious, it is m...@pathview.com) P.S. We're at APIII at the end of September. NSH is roughly 2 weeks after that. It's hard for us to be at both conferences and APIII is more computer oriented so we thought it would be a better fit for us. If you happen to be there, please come by. You don't even have to mention your name. I'd love to hear some comments on our system. The more we hear, the better our system will become. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: Tapper, Sheila J. [mailto:stap...@smdc.org] Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 11:39 AM To: Michael Mihalik; Mahoney,Janice A; Cordova, Jean; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Hi Michael, I have been reading with great curiosity your postings on Histonet. Other vendors have been shot in the knees for doing what you appear to be doing! You are openly soliciting! I personally don't care to read your opinions about the various LIS and LEAN based systems that are available - only because I view you as a direct competitor! Your system may be as great you tell us - but I see it as a sales pitch. If you want to sell to histologists - you had best be at NSH. That would allow histologists to view your product right next to your competitors. I may be wrong, and if I am please correct me. Sheila -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Michael Mihalik Sent: Friday, September 11, 2009 9:58 AM To: 'Mahoney,Janice A'; 'Cordova, Jean'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments Jan, we'll be at APIII in 10 days so it's going to be hard to turn around and be at NSH, but we're trying. I'd be very happy to get your and other people's opinion of our system. We think we have a very straight forward and comprehensive approach to workflow processing. It's really an unfair, but very simple advantage that we have. We built our system from the ground up with workflow in mind. Other vendors built their systems years ago and over the years they've more or less just added on. I don't know if you've ever been in the Northeast, but have you ever seen those farmhouses that are a hundred or two years old. You can see where each occupant just added on to the house. It's a big difference when you can initially build the house to provide the needed amount of living space. Our software looks like that compared to other vendors. Let me fully respond to your Vantage comment. (and btw, if anyone knows a ballpark for Vantage, please email me privately
RE: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels
So can you explain your layout a little bit, please? At the microtome, do you have a Ventana slide label printer and an LIS slide labeler? Put it another way: You received the request for an IHC. Now, what happens?... with emphasis on the labeling? Thank you again for your time. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:22 AM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels Oh yah, we have the case number on there. Using these labels, we can put the label on before the section is cut and just use that single label for everything. Aside from doing the same thing (getting labels with both barcodes), I can't think of a way around writing on the slides or double labeling. Mark Tarango On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: Yeap, news travels fast. I had heard of this as well. For us and our system design, however, the issue is labeling the slide correctly AT THE TIME THE SLIDE IS CUT. I hate that you have to either write patient information on the slide or perform some sort of double labeling. BTW, I assume you have the case # on this slide somewhere, right? Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 5:37 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels One of our IT guys heard about it at a conference, that someone had got the Ventana system to print powerpath barcodes on the Ventana. I think it was someone out in Yuma, AZ name Chuy who first did this. The IT guys knew that the interface was transferring the barcode information, but not doing anything with it. After trying for months to talk with someone at Ventana who knew something about this, we finally found him. He then helped our IT dept get it working. The barcode prints right below the normal Ventana barcode. We no longer have the patient name on the slide and concluded that the barcode itself can serve as the second identifier of the specimen. Mark Tarango HT(ASCP)QIHC On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 1:11 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: Ventana's ebar printer - tell me a little about that, please.. I don't think I'm going to like what I hear, but let me shut up and listen for a little bit. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 3:25 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels We currently put the LIS label on the back of the slide. We very recently got Ventana to help us create a new label template that has the Ventana barcode and our 2D LIS label all printed on Ventana's Ebar printer. We will start using the new labels in a few weeks. Ventana doesn't support the new labels but they did help our IT people figure out how to do it. Mark Tarango On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 12:18 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: I need some help from those of you who work with Ventana stainers. The Ventana equipment requires the use of Ventana slide labels. You can't just stick your LIS slide label on the slide and expect the Ventana equipment to read the slide barcode and perform the required stain (yes, I am assuming an interface is in place). On the other hand, have any of you either: 1. placed the LIS slide label on the back side of the slide, or 2. Overlapped the LIS slide label with the Ventana slide label such that you can still read both the LIS and the Ventana barcodes. I have heard conflicting answers from multiple Ventana representatives as to whether one or both of the aforementioned mechanisms work. I appreciate your time. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels
Ahh, that's what I wanted to hear. Thank you very much. I would also like to thank everyone else who has responded. In summary, at least a couple of people have found out how to print their LIS barcodes on the Ventana label. This is done via an interface and the printer is the printer connected to the Ventana PC. While this is a very good improvement, and I compliment Jesus Ellin on his work down in Yuma (got to give credit to those who have earned it), I yearn for the time when a generic slide label and barcode can be read by the Ventana gear. When that happens, we can label the slides like all the other slides - one at a time, while the material is being cut. Again, thank you all very much. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 12:54 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels The tech checks the worklist in powerpath for any orders. The worklist is then printed. He/she goes to the Ventana instrument to print the labels that have transferred over through the interface. Then they take the labels to the control slide area and grab their pre-cut control slides and put the labels on the slides. Then they go over to the waterbath and cut the orders. Since we only have two location where Ventana labels can be printed, the tech has to get up and to go print them. At the cutting station there is only a slide label printer for LIS/Powerpath labels. Mark Tarango On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 8:26 AM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: So can you explain your layout a little bit, please? At the microtome, do you have a Ventana slide label printer and an LIS slide labeler? Put it another way: You received the request for an IHC. Now, what happens?... with emphasis on the labeling? Thank you again for your time. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 10:22 AM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels Oh yah, we have the case number on there. Using these labels, we can put the label on before the section is cut and just use that single label for everything. Aside from doing the same thing (getting labels with both barcodes), I can't think of a way around writing on the slides or double labeling. Mark Tarango On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: Yeap, news travels fast. I had heard of this as well. For us and our system design, however, the issue is labeling the slide correctly AT THE TIME THE SLIDE IS CUT. I hate that you have to either write patient information on the slide or perform some sort of double labeling. BTW, I assume you have the case # on this slide somewhere, right? Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 5:37 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels One of our IT guys heard about it at a conference, that someone had got the Ventana system to print powerpath barcodes on the Ventana. I think it was someone out in Yuma, AZ name Chuy who first did this. The IT guys knew that the interface was transferring the barcode information, but not doing anything with it. After trying for months to talk with someone at Ventana who knew something about this, we finally found him. He then helped our IT dept get it working. The barcode prints right below the normal Ventana barcode. We no longer have the patient name on the slide and concluded that the barcode itself can serve as the second identifier of the specimen. Mark Tarango HT(ASCP)QIHC On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 1:11 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: Ventana's ebar printer - tell me a little about that, please.. I don't think I'm going to like what I hear, but let me shut up and listen for a little bit. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 3:25 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels We currently put the LIS label on the back of the slide. We very recently got Ventana to help us create a new label template that has the Ventana barcode and our 2D LIS label all printed on Ventana's Ebar printer. We
RE: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments
Actually, Jean it's a different story for Leica. With Ventana you HAVE to use THEIR labels. That's not the case with Leica. Succinctly, this means that you can use your LIS labels on a slide and the Lecia will read them and that's that. On the Ventana equipment, the slide MUST have the VENTANA slide label on the slide. Some powerpath users have gotten the powerpath barcode on the Ventana slide label and we're about to try and place our LIS slide label on the back of the slide. Purely, and I mean PURELY, from a labeling process, I would argue that the Leica is better suited for process flow. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Cordova, Jean Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2009 5:17 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Slide labels used with IHC Instruments While our lab doesn't have the Ventana stainer I am assuming that the principle is the same for the Leica Bond. We are using slide labels generated from PowerPath on our slides for the Bond Immunostainer.without any issues. We do have an interface in place. Jean Cordova HT/HTL (ASCP) Pathology Manager Northwest Pathology Services LLC 541-341-8039 This message is intended solely for the use of the individual and entity to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable state and federal laws. If you are not the addressee, or are not authorized to receive for the intended addressee, you are hereby notified that you may not use, copy, distribute, or disclose to anyone this message or the information contained herein. If you have received this message in error, immediately advise the sender by reply email and destroy this message. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels
Ventana's ebar printer - tell me a little about that, please.. I don't think I'm going to like what I hear, but let me shut up and listen for a little bit. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 3:25 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels We currently put the LIS label on the back of the slide. We very recently got Ventana to help us create a new label template that has the Ventana barcode and our 2D LIS label all printed on Ventana's Ebar printer. We will start using the new labels in a few weeks. Ventana doesn't support the new labels but they did help our IT people figure out how to do it. Mark Tarango On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 12:18 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: I need some help from those of you who work with Ventana stainers. The Ventana equipment requires the use of Ventana slide labels. You can't just stick your LIS slide label on the slide and expect the Ventana equipment to read the slide barcode and perform the required stain (yes, I am assuming an interface is in place). On the other hand, have any of you either: 1. placed the LIS slide label on the back side of the slide, or 2. Overlapped the LIS slide label with the Ventana slide label such that you can still read both the LIS and the Ventana barcodes. I have heard conflicting answers from multiple Ventana representatives as to whether one or both of the aforementioned mechanisms work. I appreciate your time. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels
Yeap, news travels fast. I had heard of this as well. For us and our system design, however, the issue is labeling the slide correctly AT THE TIME THE SLIDE IS CUT. I hate that you have to either write patient information on the slide or perform some sort of double labeling. BTW, I assume you have the case # on this slide somewhere, right? Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 5:37 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels One of our IT guys heard about it at a conference, that someone had got the Ventana system to print powerpath barcodes on the Ventana. I think it was someone out in Yuma, AZ name Chuy who first did this. The IT guys knew that the interface was transferring the barcode information, but not doing anything with it. After trying for months to talk with someone at Ventana who knew something about this, we finally found him. He then helped our IT dept get it working. The barcode prints right below the normal Ventana barcode. We no longer have the patient name on the slide and concluded that the barcode itself can serve as the second identifier of the specimen. Mark Tarango HT(ASCP)QIHC On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 1:11 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: Ventana's ebar printer - tell me a little about that, please.. I don't think I'm going to like what I hear, but let me shut up and listen for a little bit. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 From: Mark Tarango [mailto:marktara...@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, September 09, 2009 3:25 PM To: Michael Mihalik Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Ventana Slide Labels We currently put the LIS label on the back of the slide. We very recently got Ventana to help us create a new label template that has the Ventana barcode and our 2D LIS label all printed on Ventana's Ebar printer. We will start using the new labels in a few weeks. Ventana doesn't support the new labels but they did help our IT people figure out how to do it. Mark Tarango On Wed, Sep 9, 2009 at 12:18 PM, Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com wrote: I need some help from those of you who work with Ventana stainers. The Ventana equipment requires the use of Ventana slide labels. You can't just stick your LIS slide label on the slide and expect the Ventana equipment to read the slide barcode and perform the required stain (yes, I am assuming an interface is in place). On the other hand, have any of you either: 1. placed the LIS slide label on the back side of the slide, or 2. Overlapped the LIS slide label with the Ventana slide label such that you can still read both the LIS and the Ventana barcodes. I have heard conflicting answers from multiple Ventana representatives as to whether one or both of the aforementioned mechanisms work. I appreciate your time. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Dragon dictating system
Judy, my company and I have been experimenting with Dragon since version 4. The current version is 10. The bottom line summary is Yes, it will work if you 1. put a lot of time in it, or 2. use a lot of macros/shortcuts/items of that nature. When it works, it's pretty awesome. If you need more details, please let me know. I'd be happy to share. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of judy webb Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:27 PM To: histonet Subject: [Histonet] Dragon dictating system Histonet, Has anyone had any experience with the Dragon dictating system? Pro's or Con's? Thanks for your opinions Judy McKinney John Peter Smith Hospital Fort Worth Texas 817-927-1024 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] RE: Histonet Digest, Vol 70, Issue 3
Rebecca, that was great advice. You covered a lot of good detail there. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Riesen, Rebecca Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 11:44 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] RE: Histonet Digest, Vol 70, Issue 3 Judy, We have been using Dragon also for about the same length of time mentioned by Michael. All pathologists, cytotechs and PA's use it. It is a fantastic program if used properly and with the right attitude. Facts: 1) There are some words that it will always have problems with ie. Tan/ten/tin/ for example are difficult to distinguish between. 2) If in your mind it's not going to work - It won't! It knows :) 3) Creation of Macros, templates and commands make it a breeze. 4) Removing words from its dictionary. Words that you will never ever use can be very helpful when Dragon interprets words with something bizarre. 5) Or the opposite: train a command with a bizarre word ie. BINGO so that a command won't be performed in error by speaking a word that could be found in routine dictation. 6) Train it for phrases, rather than single words As you can see there are a lot of little tricks that we would be happy to pass on that will make the transition less frustrating. Use other's experiences to expedite your process and I think you too will find it's awesome. Message: 22 Date: Thu, 3 Sep 2009 06:51:20 -0400 From: Michael Mihalik m...@pathview.com Subject: RE: [Histonet] Dragon dictating system To: 'judy webb' webb3...@sbcglobal.net, 'histonet' histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Message-ID: 001801ca2c84$790ab310$6b2019...@com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Judy, my company and I have been experimenting with Dragon since version 4. The current version is 10. The bottom line summary is Yes, it will work if you 1. put a lot of time in it, or 2. use a lot of macros/shortcuts/items of that nature. When it works, it's pretty awesome. If you need more details, please let me know. I'd be happy to share. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 952.241.7369 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of judy webb Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2009 9:27 PM To: histonet Subject: [Histonet] Dragon dictating system Histonet, Has anyone had any experience with the Dragon dictating system? Pro's or Con's? Thanks for your opinions Judy McKinney John Peter Smith Hospital Fort Worth Texas 817-927-1024 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet -- Visit our website at http://www.nchmd.org CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This email and any files transmitted with it are from the NCH Healthcare System. This message is confidential and is intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this email in error, please call us immediately at (239) 436-5000 and ask to speak to the message sender or promptly email the message sender of the delivery error and then delete the message. Thank you. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] ABT systems
Donna, if you're looking at LIS vendors, which I assume you are, since you're looking at Cerner's Copath, may I ask you to consider our information system. From reading through the literature, we may have been the first commercially available, vendor supplied information system that included complete barcoding and tracking from beginning to end. If you purchase the interface to the dictation system, you never have to enter a case # in our system. Please feel free to contact me offline if you'd like. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Donna Millard Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2009 3:20 PM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] ABT systems Hello, We are investigating purchasing an Automated Bar Code and Tracking System. So far we're looking at Ventana's Vantage system, and Cerner CoPath's system. Is anyone aware of other systems out there? We're not looking for just the bar-coding, we also want the tracking features. Thanks Donna Millard, B.S. Histology Supervisor Physicians Reference Laboratory, LLC 7800 W. 110th Street Overland Park, KS 66210 Direct: 913-339-0485 Fax: 913-319-4156 CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message and any included attachments are from Physicians Reference Laboratory, LLC and are intended only for the addressee.The information contained in this message is confidential and may constitute inside or non-public information under international, federal, or state securities laws. Unauthorized forwarding, printing, copying, distribution, or use of such information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the addressee, please promptly delete this message and notify the sender of the delivery error by e-mail or you may call PRL's corporate offices in Overland Park, Kansas, U.S.A at (913)338-4070. ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] SLIDE PRINTER
I guess I'm confused. If pricing is an issue, why not go with a Zebra printer that prints labels. I wholeheartedly agree that printing directly on slides is a preferred solution, but the up front cost is a killer. I wouldn't blame a lab for going with slide LABELS. Frankly, if it was me, I'd save the money on this printer and put it towards a cassette labeler. If money is not an issue, then I'd get both. P.S. ..and you guys are getting me nervous. This is the second person that I've heard that has 'returned a printer'. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Andrea Grantham Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3:37 PM Cc: HISTONET Subject: Re: [Histonet] SLIDE PRINTER BUT...I have a small lab and can't justify a more expensive printer so we purchased this printer - in fact we probably purchased the last one that AccuPlace sold before Thermo got it. I like it a lot and even though we have returned a couple of them we have no complaints. It does a nice job. We were lucky to get it at the AccuPlace price. Andi Andrea Grantham, HT (ASCP) Senior Research Specialist University of Arizona Cell Biology and Anatomy Histology Service Laboratory P.O.Box 245044 Tucson, AZ 85724 algra...@email.arizona.edu Tel: 520.626.4415 Fax: 520.626.2097 happy slicing and dicing and may all your stains work perfectly - Paula Sicurello P Please consider the environment before printing this email. On Jul 29, 2009, at 12:13 PM, Jimmy Markum wrote: Janice, I know this well! It is a terrible item. This was originally sold under AccuPlace and it barely worked, but showed very nice at various meetings under a very controlled environment. In fact it worked so well, that the nice people at Thermo decided to purchase this from AccuPlace and more than double the price and hope to dupe us to purchase at almost 2700% increase for the same item. While I have returned my units plenty of time and Thermo has added some of their crack engineering to the item. Save your money and run from Thermo, buy a Leica or wait for TBS or someone else to come up with something better for a cost you can justify. I will never purchase anything from Thermo again, every time you do, it only justifies what they are doing to the market. Jimmy Date: Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:42:27 -0400 From: mitchel...@email.chop.edu To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] SLIDE PRINTER Anyone out there in Histoland have any experience with Thermo slide mate? We are looking into purchasing a few. Thanks for any input, Janice ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _ Windows LiveT SkyDriveT: Store, access, and share your photos. See how. http://windowslive.com/Online/SkyDrive?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_CS_SD_photos_072009 ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] FW: Order Entry - Meditech
I think I know the answer, but at the risk of sounding quite ignorant, can you guys tell me why you'd want to separate 'like' specimen? To me, at least, manually accessioning a case is an awful steep price to pay for this desire. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Fye Beth Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 10:52 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Cc: ahut...@dh.org Subject: [Histonet] FW: Order Entry - Meditech Allison, We have not implemented Order Entry for Surgical Pathology as of yet, but it is on the wish list for later this year. We do however, currently do our Cytology Specimens this way. The case is ordered under OE but it is still accessioned once received in the laboratory, so the accession number is assigned there. That would allow you to keep like cases separated. Please keep me informed of your progress, I would love to learn from your experience. Beth A. Fye, CT (ASCP) Pathology Technical Manager HCA Richmond Hospital Laboratories office: (804)228-6564 fax: (804)323-8638 mailto:beth@hcahealthcare.com ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Gross Photography
Just as another endorsement for this practice. Digital images seem so important to us that in our information system, a hyperlink to all images is included in case query. Hence, you can see the image at the same time you're reading all the other details of the case. It's just one more piece of information that helps provide a better diagnosis. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of kemlo Sent: Saturday, April 18, 2009 3:01 AM To: 'Sate Hamza'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Gross Photography As a Biomedical Scientist I agree with you totally. One of the weaknesses of Biomedical scientists performing the 'grossing' is that the original evidence at dissection is lost to the Pathologist (that is until that Time Biomedical Scientists carry out the interpretation). Taking digital photos at all stages of dissection retains the evidence for the reporting Pathologist. I did this for many years when dissecting samples for my Pathologist; saved drawing diagrams. I guess you'd agree that 80% of all interpretations could be carried out by a Biomedical Scientist (Histotech) once competency is attained and the envelope of responsibility is agreed. It's happened in Cytopathology in the UK! Kemlo Rogerson MSc MIBiol CBiol CSci DMS FIBMS -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Sate Hamza Sent: 18 April 2009 06:37 To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Gross Photography As a pathologist, I am a strong proponent of ample gross photography in the cutting room. When I first started in my current place, I thought that not much gross photography was being done. This has increased in recent years in our center. I always encourage our residents to take digital gross photographs. I recently bought an easy to use digital camera and gave it as a gift to our cutting room to encourage more digital photographs. I think that the availability of easy to use digital cameras has made taking pictures much easier. A picture is a great tool for documentation and for communication. No matter how skillful and expressive the gross description is, a picture can make things much easier for sign out. If sections need to be mapped for margins or other considerations, one can take a digital picture, make a quick print out of it and map the sections on it. Such pictures are so helpful, for example, for excisions of flat pigmented lesions from sun-damaged skin. Gross-microscopic correlation can help so much in assessing margin status (this can be so difficult with microscopy alone). It also helps in excisions of vulvar lesions/tumors and in irregularly shaped complex excisions from any site. The digital photos can be taken quickly. They do not need to be textbook quality. The goal usually is to facilitate communication and facilitate the sign-out process. The pictures that our PAs take are placed on a network server in folders that are named with the accession number. The printouts with sections mapped are kept in a binder in the cutting room where a pathologist can find them when the need arises. Sate On Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 6:30 PM, Joe Nocito jnoc...@satx.rr.com wrote: like Mike, we only photograph unusual specimens. Seems photographing specimens has become less and less important. Kind of like autopsies. -- Sate Hamza, MD, FRCPC Dermatopathologist Winnipeg, Canada ___ 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
RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare
Yea, I probably didn't communicate quite clearly enough, but I didn't want to elaborate too much as I suspect some people may be getting tired of hearing me talk. .but yes, invariably in every lab I run into, I find at least one person in each area who is more knowledgeable about computers than others and the good news, is that I suspect that trend will increase. Remember a lot of people in this area didn't grow up with computers. The newer generations are quite different. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 From: joelle weaver [mailto:joellewea...@hotmail.com] Sent: Friday, March 27, 2009 4:48 AM To: m...@pathview.com; Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Yes, I do agree, that is why I call it a tool for people to use. I think that it is a stereotype to think that histologists are not experienced or knowledgable about computers. There are some histologists who have had a fairly good introduction to computer systems, how computers work, what they can and cannot do, software, applications, interfaces, databases, and have worked with 5 or more LIS systems, barcodes etc. Though admittedly, in my experience this is a rarity. Most of what I have learned about computers, I have gotten from formal classes, but I also have used this knowledge in other arenas, and wish I could use it more in my job. I am just not fortunate enough to have been given the opportunity to have much influence on the processes, or the computer systems. I think that many who have been promoted into management simply also accept this stereotype that histologists know only technical information, and so we are not consulted, though we do the work everyday.I wish that you could come to our lab and educate those who have been given this authority! I would love to have a computer geek come to our lab and inform us of what is available to help us to our jobs better. Joelle Weaver HTL (ASCP) From: m...@pathview.com To: joellewea...@hotmail.com; jel...@yumaregional.org; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:14:21 -0500 People are always at the forefront. Someone has to build that new tool, or come up with some new process or whatever. That's why before we do any installation of our software, we spend what probably amounts to 100 to 200 hours interviewing and watching each clerk, PA, histotech, secretary, cytotech, and pathologist and THEN we propose how we would install and tailor our software. By the way, at the end of that analysis, people are usually pretty tired of hearing me ask 'why do you do that', but guess what -- you are way, way more likely to get 'buy in' from the staff. That tech you spoke to at 3 a.m. remembers that some computer geek took the time and effort and asked them how they would do things better. ...but let me address a real world issue. I am not versed in the technologies of many aspects of the AP/Cytology department (you'll never hear me speak on subjects of which stainer is better for instance), but I do know a few things about work flow and computerization. I like to illustrate via example, so let's try this one: In the real world, a histotechnologist may have only worked in let's say 3 or 4different labs in their life, and perhaps only 1 or 2 different computer systems. With that background, how are they supposed to know what's possible or not possible to do with computer technology. Personally, I think it's the job of the LIS vendor to work TOGETHER with the histotechnologist and other department personnel to come up with better solutions. In this example, each side has knowledge and experience that needs to be conveyed to the other. When that communication occurs, magic happens. Barcodes are not the magic. It's how you use those barcodes in your work flow. It's always about the people. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of joelle weaver Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:53 PM To: jel...@yumaregional.org; Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Well, I can't speak for everyone of course, but I know in the program that I am affiliate with that we stress, if not require, thinking beyond the manual methods. In fact, I really see an in depth understanding of basic manual histology methods as only a beginning point to how I want the future histologists to think and apply their technical knowledge.I encourage this at every opportunity myself, in every course. Crtical thinking skills, process thinking and the ability to see how our function fits into total laboratory
RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare
Quote: You cannot check a process step which introduces human errors of oversight and transcription with another process that introduces the same type of error potential. I love that line. May I use it? The only thing I would add is a subtlety. The easiest way to use barcoding in any information system is to just 'add it on'. A truly efficient system INCORPORATES the technology. What do I mean? Here's an example: In Scenario 1: bar coded cassettes are printing at accessioning. They are then moved to the gross area with the requisitions and specimen. However, we know that cassettes can be separated from the requisitions and specimen, so some systems have you scan the specimen and each block to confirm that they match. This is an example of an 'add on' functionality. The additional step to scan the specimen and blocks has been added. This increases quality at the cost of more work. In Scenario 2: bar coded cassettes are printed at the grossing station by scanning the bar code on the specimen label. Only the blocks for that specimen are printed. This provides the same increase in quality WITHOUT any extra work. This is an example of an 'incorporated' technology. The difference between the two philosophies is huge and it's a hard one to ferret out by simply reading product brochures because in both scenarios 'barcodes are used'. .but you have to ask yourself, which system would you use? And finally, I apologize if this is coming across as a sales pitch, but I'm very, very passionate about work flow analysis. The best systems out there don't just collect information, they help you get your work done faster, better, etc. and you can't do that without analyzing how work flows to the department, within the department, and out of the department. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 From: joelle weaver [mailto:joellewea...@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 5:09 AM To: m...@pathview.com; Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Thanks for posting this.I just couldn't help commenting on this post because as a working histologist, I have tried to convince managers in the past who have tried to recituify the need for specimen tracking in histology, and the general situation with very time consuming, tedious and inaccurate manual transcription steps in the effort to create tracking and not have to buy anything. I have printed off information from vendor websites, showing that middleware was not always needed, and presented this information to them, but they just don't believe it. Lack of understanding I think, caused them to instead go with manual the manual processes to create a paper trail. Even in this day and age, people are surprisingly afraid of, and unaware of technology. In my experience, these manual processes are marginally effective at best, and of course moved the process away from efficiency and reliability, not to mention frustrated employees who are already struggling to get their work done with time pressures and staffing constraints. My position has always been that computer systems are very good at some things, such as repetitive information processing, and they do not get tired, transpose numbers etc. Please use them for this!You cannot check a process step which introduces humam errors of oversight and transcription with another process that introduces the same type of error potential. To do so, merely expands the opportunity for this kind of error to pass farther into the process. As a working histologist, I do wish that people would not be so afraid of technology in our field, and use it to improve and update histology processes.More education is needed! So keep posting this type of information. Only by incorporating this aspect will the field be able to move forward and keep pace with the other areas of the laboratory and medical practice in general. Joelle Weaver HTL (ASCP) From: m...@pathview.com To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:46:11 -0500 Subject: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Good morning, I was just at the Lab Infotech Summit in Las Vegas last week where the subject of the conference was informatics in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Along with the usual seminars were the usual vendors in the exhibitor's hall demonstrating and talking about their products and services. As one of those vendors, I had the opportunity to talk to a few people and a general trend appeared to merge -- one which I would like to dispel, if possible. I'd like to make sure that everyone is aware that you do NOT have to have middleware in order to have bar coded cassettes, slides, etc., and you do NOT have to have middleware in order to have specimen/material tracking. Let me explain. If, on the one hand, you
RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare
Thanks and no problem with your request. I'm a big one for 2 things: 1. Admit when you make a mistake, and 2. Always give credit where credit is due. .and along those lines, the best part of our system, comes from the people who work in AP, day in and day out. Michael Mihalik http://www.pathview.com/ PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 From: joelle weaver [mailto:joellewea...@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 3:52 PM To: m...@pathview.com; Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare I am very passionate about this as well! Yes, you may use my line- but if you could, and it fits into the conversation, indicate that it was histotech that said it! I completely agree that the best use of technology, such as bar coding is to incorporate it.- and especially true in light of the histology process which is peppered if you will, with intensly manual steps. Our field will never catch up in advancement until more people accept this notion. So what you are saying really does not come across as a pitch to me, because I think it just makes sense. Regards- Joelle Weaver HTL (ASCP) _ From: m...@pathview.com To: joellewea...@hotmail.com; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:08:32 -0500 Quote: You cannot check a process step which introduces human errors of oversight and transcription with another process that introduces the same type of error potential. I love that line. May I use it? The only thing I would add is a subtlety. The easiest way to use barcoding in any information system is to just 'add it on'. A truly efficient system INCORPORATES the technology. What do I mean? Here's an example: In Scenario 1: bar coded cassettes are printing at accessioning. They are then moved to the gross area with the requisitions and specimen. However, we know that cassettes can be separated from the requisitions and specimen, so some systems have you scan the specimen and each block to confirm that they match. This is an example of an 'add on' functionality. The additional step to scan the specimen and blocks has been added. This increases quality at the cost of more work. In Scenario 2: bar coded cassettes are printed at the grossing station by scanning the bar code on the specimen label. Only the blocks for that specimen are printed. This provides the same increase in quality WITHOUT any extra work. This is an example of an 'incorporated' technology. The difference between the two philosophies is huge and it's a hard one to ferret out by simply reading product brochures because in both scenarios 'barcodes are used'. .but you have to ask yourself, which system would you use? And finally, I apologize if this is coming across as a sales pitch, but I'm very, very passionate about work flow analysis. The best systems out there don't just collect information, they help you get your work done faster, better, etc. and you can't do that without analyzing how work flows to the department, within the department, and out of the department. Michael Mihalik PathView http://www.pathview.com/ Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 From: joelle weaver [mailto:joellewea...@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 5:09 AM To: m...@pathview.com; Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Thanks for posting this.I just couldn't help commenting on this post because as a working histologist, I have tried to convince managers in the past who have tried to recituify the need for specimen tracking in histology, and the general situation with very time consuming, tedious and inaccurate manual transcription steps in the effort to create tracking and not have to buy anything. I have printed off information from vendor websites, showing that middleware was not always needed, and presented this information to them, but they just don't believe it. Lack of understanding I think, caused them to instead go with manual the manual processes to create a paper trail. Even in this day and age, people are surprisingly afraid of, and unaware of technology. In my experience, these manual processes are marginally effective at best, and of course moved the process away from efficiency and reliability, not to mention frustrated employees who are already struggling to get their work done with time pressures and staffing constraints. My position has always been that computer systems are very good at some things, such as repetitive information processing, and they do not get tired, transpose numbers etc. Please use them for this!You cannot check a process step which introduces humam errors of oversight and transcription with another process that introduces the same type of error potential. To do so, merely
RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare
People are always at the forefront. Someone has to build that new tool, or come up with some new process or whatever. That's why before we do any installation of our software, we spend what probably amounts to 100 to 200 hours interviewing and watching each clerk, PA, histotech, secretary, cytotech, and pathologist and THEN we propose how we would install and tailor our software. By the way, at the end of that analysis, people are usually pretty tired of hearing me ask 'why do you do that', but guess what -- you are way, way more likely to get 'buy in' from the staff. That tech you spoke to at 3 a.m. remembers that some computer geek took the time and effort and asked them how they would do things better. ...but let me address a real world issue. I am not versed in the technologies of many aspects of the AP/Cytology department (you'll never hear me speak on subjects of which stainer is better for instance), but I do know a few things about work flow and computerization. I like to illustrate via example, so let's try this one: In the real world, a histotechnologist may have only worked in let's say 3 or 4different labs in their life, and perhaps only 1 or 2 different computer systems. With that background, how are they supposed to know what's possible or not possible to do with computer technology. Personally, I think it's the job of the LIS vendor to work TOGETHER with the histotechnologist and other department personnel to come up with better solutions. In this example, each side has knowledge and experience that needs to be conveyed to the other. When that communication occurs, magic happens. Barcodes are not the magic. It's how you use those barcodes in your work flow. It's always about the people. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of joelle weaver Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 4:53 PM To: jel...@yumaregional.org; Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Well, I can't speak for everyone of course, but I know in the program that I am affiliate with that we stress, if not require, thinking beyond the manual methods. In fact, I really see an in depth understanding of basic manual histology methods as only a beginning point to how I want the future histologists to think and apply their technical knowledge.I encourage this at every opportunity myself, in every course. Crtical thinking skills, process thinking and the ability to see how our function fits into total laboratory and diagnostic patient services is stressed. I see it as imperative that this is incorporated into training in formal programs and within the lab. We cannot afford to not further this trend. I really don't see any other alternative really. If you look at newer instrumentation, it really is little more than a computer with software and application interfaces connected to the mechanics that perform the tasks of histology. Technology is really just another tool at our disposal to perform our jobs better. We in histology, are due to begin to merge and become cohesive with the totality of healthcare delivery and to begin to operate in such a parallel manner. I believe that the emerging histologist will be better armed with a broader educational background that provides this insight,due to more structured training program requirments. I for one, certainly hope that this is the next wave of evolution in our practice! Joelle Weaver HTL(ASCP) Subject: RE: [Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare Date: Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:10:14 -0700 From: jel...@yumaregional.org To: joellewea...@hotmail.com I want to throw this notion out there as well,, how are we training our techs to think? I would say that the majority of the histology programs still teach to manual methodology rather than to think out of the box and provide a total solution to the problem (with work flow and technology). In my experience I see that people tend to take technology and imitate their current manual process's rather than looking at improving the current one. I like to hear what other people think on this matter? It seems to me that there is a hunger for this technology within the histology community but a lack of knowledge on how to implement a viable solution to our current manual problems.. We are starting to see the coming of age again, an evolution within our field were a technology similar to IHC, FISH, etc, will change the course on how we tend to do things in the future. But we are not educating our selves or our replacements, on how to handle these issues. We cannot continue to solve a problem at the same level of thinking as the previous solution. We need to begin to have a culture and environmental shift in order for this technology to be adapted
[Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking MiddleWare
Good morning, I was just at the Lab Infotech Summit in Las Vegas last week where the subject of the conference was informatics in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Along with the usual seminars were the usual vendors in the exhibitor's hall demonstrating and talking about their products and services. As one of those vendors, I had the opportunity to talk to a few people and a general trend appeared to merge -- one which I would like to dispel, if possible. I'd like to make sure that everyone is aware that you do NOT have to have middleware in order to have bar coded cassettes, slides, etc., and you do NOT have to have middleware in order to have specimen/material tracking. Let me explain. If, on the one hand, you are quite content with your current information system and you simply wish to add barcodes and specimen tracking and you do not want to work with your information system vendor because either they don't have this capability or for some other reason, then YES, middleware is a viable alternative. On the other hand, if you are planning to purchase a new Information System for your laboratory, then by all means, DEMAND of your new vendor, the ability to have barcoded everything and to have specimen tracking built into your new information system. There are lots of good reasons to have all this capability in your information system and not in some middleware product. I'd be happy to discuss the reasons for my statements, but I've taken up enough of everyone's time. If you'd like to hear more, then please, just ask. I just thought everyone should know... Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
RE: [Histonet] Are there no LEAN labs out there?
Hazel, we are an information system vendor who has built their entire computer system around LEAN. If you'd care to hear any details please email me outside the group. In a nutshell, you never have to enter a case # in the system. Michael Mihalik PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968 -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Horn, Hazel V Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 10:18 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: [Histonet] Are there no LEAN labs out there? I have not heard from any labs that have gone to the LEAN process. Are there none out there? I have heard from labs who are interested in it but not one response from a lab who is LEAN. Thanks. Hazel Horn Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP) Supervisor of Histology Arkansas Children's Hospital 800 MarshallSlot 820 Little Rock, AR 72202 phone 501.364.4240 fax501.364.3155 visit us on the web at:www.archildrens.org ** The information contained in this message may be privileged and 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 the message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you. ___ 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
