Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - Tostick a Pin
"Acceptable experience", for the on-the-job route (OJT), as defined by ASCP to sit for the HT or the HTL exam is the following: ". . . you must have experience, within the last ten years, in the following areas: •Fixation •Microtomy •Processing •Staining " So, the PA met the requirement: - they fix tissue in formalin and maybe something else - using a cryostat is microtomy - if they ever load the tissue on the processor, then they process (And if you think about it, freezing tissue is a type of processing - it's changing the consistency of the water in the cells) - H&E is a stain The same can be said for someone working in Mohs, who only does FS and H&E on skin. The same can apply to someone working in EM, who fixes with glut and osmium, uses an ultramicrotomy on resin blocks, stain with metal salts. They meet the criteria. As would someone working just in a GI lab, or with just rat tissue, or only doing IHC. There is no ASCP HT/HTL criteria of what type of tissues, what type of processing, which stains are required, how many/how fast. That allows for histotechs in many different labs working with very different tissues, stains, embedding media, microtomes, etc., to be eligible to sit for the histo exams. We don't want to make demands that are too strict, which would make a lot of people ineligible to take the exam. By making the requirements generic enough so that a lot of histotechs in a lot of different types of lab will be qualified to sit for the exam, unfortunately, there will be some people who slip in who may not really be qualified (like the PA). But remember, he had to have studied the book enough to pass the written exam. That says something. So again, it comes back to be supervisor who is thinking about hiring the person. Either have the person prove during the interview that they really can microtome paraffin blocks, do an H&E, and/or coverslip. OR, use the 3 months probation and get rid of the person if they can't perform the duties of a histotech. I think most histotech supervisors are nice people, but sometimes we are too nice. We don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. We like to give people lots of chances. But sometimes, we HAVE to be the supervisor, and do what's best of the lab and the patient. Peggy Wenk -Original Message- From: Morken, Timothy Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 3:11 PM To: 'Pam Marcum' ; Emily Sours Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - Tostick a Pin But, to take the test you need an affidavit from the pathologist that you worked in the histology lab for at least a year. So something fishy there... Tim Morken -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Pam Marcum Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 11:54 AM To: Emily Sours Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To stick a Pin I will clarify. This person worked in the gross room as a PA and decided he wanted an HT. So he watched over the shoulders of the histologists and learned enough to see the basics and then studied for the exam without ever cutting or staining a slide in Histology. His theory was - I cut frozens and do H&Es it won't be hard to pass a test with no practical and no one is checking to really see what I know besides what I learned in books and through acquiring testing examples so why not. Guess what it was enough and he has an HT now. I don't believe he has ever worked in the field as he is gone now and somewhere out of state. Pam - Original Message - From: "Emily Sours" To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 12:52:43 PM Subject: Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To sticka Pin How do you become a certified HT and not have any lab experience?! That's crazy. Not that i know anything about being an HT, but I'm a lab tech and I can't imagine going into the job never having been in a lab at all. What exactly do they teach you?! Emily A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted. You should live several lives while reading it. -William Styron ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet ___ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet
Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - Tostick a Pin
They do. I think most are accredited. Seems to be some loop holes, or more detailed process might be needed? Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -Original Message- From: Victor Tobias Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:35:02 To: Subject: Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To stick a Pin Just curious, does NAACLS perform inspections like CAP to re-accredit and are all the programs out there NAACLS accredited? Victor Tobias HT(ASCP) Clinical Applications Analyst University of Washington Medical Center Dept of Pathology Room BB220 1959 NE Pacific Seattle, WA 98195 vic...@pathology.washington.edu 206-744-2735 206-744-8240 Fax = Privileged, confidential or patient identifiable information may be contained in this message. This information is meant only for the use of the intended recipients. If you are not the intended recipient, or if the message has been addressed to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate or otherwise use this transmission. Instead, please notify the sender by reply e-mail, and then destroy all copies of the message and any attachments. On 8/31/2011 12:16 PM, Marcum, Pamela A wrote: > Tim, I understand that and he got one to sign it!! So it can be done and yes > it is not legal or fair and unfortunately, it is not the first time I have > heard of it just the first time I actually could verify. Way too late when I > got here and it shows we have flaws in the system that are not being seen. > > -Original Message- > From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Morken, > Timothy > Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 2:11 PM > To: 'Pam Marcum'; Emily Sours > Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To stick > a Pin > > But, to take the test you need an affidavit from the pathologist that you > worked in the histology lab for at least a year. So something fishy there... > > Tim Morken > > -Original Message- > From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Pam Marcum > Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 11:54 AM > To: Emily Sours > Cc: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > Subject: Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To stick > a Pin > > > > I will clarify. This person worked in the gross room as a PA and decided he > wanted an HT. So he watched over the shoulders of the histologists and > learned enough to see the basics and then studied for the exam without ever > cutting or staining a slide in Histology. His theory was - I cut frozens and > do H&Es it won't be hard to pass a test with no practical and no one is > checking to really see what I know besides what I learned in books and > through acquiring testing examples so why not. Guess what it was enough and > he has an HT now. I don't believe he has ever worked in the field as he is > gone now and somewhere out of state. > > > > Pam > > > > > - Original Message - > > > From: "Emily Sours" > To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 12:52:43 PM > Subject: Re: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To > stick a Pin > > How do you become a certified HT and not have any lab experience?! > That's crazy. > Not that i know anything about being an HT, but I'm a lab tech and I can't > imagine going into the job never having been in a lab at all. What exactly > do they teach you?! > > Emily > > > A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted. > You should live several lives while reading it. > -William Styron > ___ > 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 > 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 ht
RE: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - Tostick a Pin
Here's a man with a beer on his mind (just barley) Some typos ar just closer to my heart than others. -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Lunetta Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 12:30 PM To: joellewea...@hotmail.com; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu; tpodawi...@lrgh.org; b-freder...@northwestern.edu; hborg...@wakehealth.edu; rjbu...@yahoo.com Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - Tostick a Pin Tom, I feel that this is very important conversation, not whining about the situation but shining a very bright light on an important subject. I agree that it is an opportunity to help shape a new HT if several factors are in place, the facility can afford the time, cost and personnel that it takes to train. Oh by and by the new HT is coming along and it will take months (much longer than the 3 probationary) to get them to the right place, luckily we can afford (just barley) the time, cost and personnel. At this time 2 months into the process they are not cutting small BX, STATS, embedding of BX, no immuno work and are not to be left alone in the lab. We are hopeful for a good outcome. Matt Lunetta BS HT (ASCP) >>> "Podawiltz, Thomas" 08/31/11 8:59 AM >>> I have had one tech finish an online HT course and currently a second person looking at going the online route to her HT. In both cases as their supervisor I have had to sign on as their in house trainer. As a trainer it is my job to make sure that they know how to function well in Histology when they are finished. My first tech was working elsewhere when she started school and receive little support with her studies, one of the main reasons she came to work for me was how appalled I was to hear that she was getting not support. By the time she was finished I would of let her work on any specimen removed from either myself or anyone in my family. We get the HT's that we work to get. As a supervisor and trainer, I am only as good as my staff makes me look. If I can go on vacation and the lab does not miss a beat, then I have done my job correctly. So to everyone that gets a fresh tech who got short changed on their training, don't whine about it, take it as an opportunity to shape them to the HT that you need them to be. Tom Podawiltz HT (ASCP) Histology Section Head/Laboratory Safety Officer. LRGHealthcare Laconia, NH 03246 603-524-3211 ext: 3220 -Original Message- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Matthew Lunetta Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 10:15 AM To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Re:peggy wenk comments on HT/HTL practical - To stick a Pin You might be surprised I too agree with Joyce and Richard. I understand very well that a new graduate will not be up to the skill level of an individual that has been working for a while. What I am surprised about is that this program seemed to teach to pass the test and has left all of the technical skills left to be taught by the persons 1st job. This could lead to several painful experiences for not only the facility but the new HT. Were is the disconnect. If a person is doing the OJT route they need to have at least one year of experience signed-off by a pathologist. If a person goes through a program who is responsible for making sure that the base-skills are there? Is there not some standards that a new graduate should be able to cut/embed so many blocks in an hour? Is it reasonable for a new graduate to take 1.5 hours to cut 5 (uterus, appendix, tonsil) one-cuts? From facing to lifting the slide off the water-bath? Or to take 2hrs to embed 15 (large tissue sections) one-cut blocks? So Richard is also right how is a new grad to get experiance without that 1st gig? But how much resposiblity should be placed on the 1st gig to train a new HT that is supose to have base skills in lab equipment, cutting, embeding, staining etal? More thoughts ciao Matt Lunetta BS HT(ASCP) Edwards, Richard E." r...@leicester.ac.uk If you do not employ recently trained individuals, how on earth are they going to obtain the experience that Matt craves, it's beyond me. My daughter recently qualified as an Occupational Therapist, when she asked for the reason that she was unsuccessful in obtaining a post, they said that as a recen tly graduated student she had no experience, what rubbish!!.Thankfully she has now obtained a position under more enlightened management that is to be found here!. Cheers Richard Edwards >>> "Shirley A. Powell" 08/30/11 6:32 PM >>> I second that Joyce. sp From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwe
