Transcript Document

Association of Pathology Chairs
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Annual APC / PDAS Meeting
Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Colorado Springs, Colorado
July 2008
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Histology Staffing Crisis
The History…
Early Fall 2007:
•Surveyed PDAS Membership to Submit Histology Staffing
Problems
Late Fall 2007:
•Presented PDAS Views to NSH at NSH Annual Symposium in Denver
Winter 2007/2008
•Presented both PDAS & NSH views at Regional PDAS Meetings, which
sadly mandated travel to Puerto Vallarta and San Juan
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Quick Summary of PDAS vs. NSH Views
EXTERNAL CHALLENGES
INTERNAL CHALLENGES
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
External Challenge #1 –
Supply vs. Demand
Current population of registered technologists is aging,
many approaching retirement.
• Number of nationally accredited histology schools are
decreasing.
•
NSH RESPONSE: www.nsh.org website provides a comprehensive list
of histology schools and contact information. NSH officials will also
collect information on non-accredited programs and forward to PDAS
for distribution.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
External Challenge #2 –
Regulatory Struggles
New federal and/or state licensure mandates.
• Inconsistent and conflicting institutional
requirements for certification/education.
•
NSH RESPONSE: We need more help from the Administrators
and Chairmen. We need to work together more effectively to
resolve these internal and external regulatory challenges.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
External Challenge #3 –
Technology
Lack of qualified applicants who are
technologically savvy.
• Technology increases often favor more
educated candidates, who are often NOT the
most qualified histologists.
•
NSH RESPONSE: Histologists have had to handle
the lab responsibilities over the years.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
External Challenge #4 –
Identity Crisis
Lack of support and/or understanding from human
resources departments.
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Histology vs. other medical technology specialties.
NSH RESPONSE: Must immediately
develop/increase efforts to gain “pathology
awareness” …….departmental/histology tours,
internal regional lectures, local college inservices, internships have been very effective.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
External Challenge #5 Competition
Competition between hospitals and private
industry.
• Enormously varying pay scales nationwide.
•
NSH RESPONSE: Administrators’ and
Chairmen's fault for not assuring equitable
pay and not supporting histologists.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
Internal Challenge #1 –
Lack of Internal Support by
Supervisors
Unwilling / resistant to train a “successor”
• Uneducated supervisors vs. educated technicians
• Uncertified supervisors vs. HT/HTL(ASCP)
technicians
•
NSH RESPONSE: Varied…agreed/disagreed.
We had no choice…
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
Internal Challenge #2 –
Problems Developing Histology
Training Programs
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Often lose trainees shortly after training
Consumes too much faculty time
Costly / Bureaucratic
NSH RESPONSE: Would consider employment contracts if
salary scales were uniform and comparable. Need more
Chairman and Administration ‘buy in’ to sustain these
programs.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
PDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing
Internal Challenge #3 –
Lack of Support from Pathologists &
Faculty
NSH RESPONSE: Integrate Histology as a
mandatory training program rotation for all
fellows and residents….”start them young”
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Summer Meeting – July 2008
So What Do We Do Now???
•5
Suggestions for PDAS to Review
•These
were presented to NSH President,
Vincent Della Speranza (Medical
University of South Carolina) in Feb 2008.
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Histology Staffing
1.
Exchange direct web site links on NSH
& APC/PDAS web sites. Under the
PDAS section of APC, we would have a
direct link to:
www.nsh.org
(Status: NSH has agreed…PDAS? APC?)
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Histology Staffing
2.
Exchange PDAS/NSH council
members’ information and agree to
try to align our organizations for any
suitable national issuers).
(Status: NSH agreed. PDAS? APC?)
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Histology Staffing
3.
Obtain a ‘packet’ of Histology
information from NSH to distribute to
our training program directors who
may have significant influence over
incoming fellows/residents.
(Status: Pending..hoped to get this packet
for this meeting)
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Histology Staffing
4.
Encourage all Administrators
and Chairman to become
proactive in improving
awareness for all aspects of our
industry. Target audiences
should include Human
Resources, other departments,
local schools, job fairs, etc.
(Status: Sure Thing)
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Histology Staffing
5.
Exchange names of key individual(s)
who will serve as the voice for each
group. Currently offered John Baci as
a contact person to NSH.
(Status: NSH President will serve as key
contact)
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Parting Comments:
CONS
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Surprised by the level of animosity and
suspicion…well, maybe not!
Many goals & suggestions sound like Miss
America
Thought I would have been able to accomplish
more
Still very difficult to communicate….many “old
walls to break through.”
Pathology Department Administrators Section
Parting Comments:
PROS
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Any communication is good
Proud to have extended the ‘olive branch’
Maybe won over some NSH folks
Web site link will be a positive & useful tool
May appeal to the younger generation of both
groups
Intend to continue this effort into the future