Hi Renee,

The PA's have a web page which details the standards and such. It is
pathologistassistants.com I think.

Kathy

Renee Escalona wrote:

> So, how does one go about getting certified as a PA?
>
> Renee Escalona, BS, HTL(ASCP)
> Veterinary Laboratory Technologist
> TX Vet. Med. Diag. Lab
> College Station, TX
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tim Morken" <timcdc@hotmail.com>
> To: <Leeryan2@aol.com>; <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
> Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 10:48 AM
> Subject: Re: HT's doing PA work
>
> > this person wrote:
> >
> > "Let the docs try to hire a PA that is certified. They'll wish they would
> > have taken care of their cheap labor.
> > I think that HT's that do PA work should organize for this reason.
> > Just my two bits."
> >
> > How do you 'organize' a group that has no standing in any organization or
> > job description outline? There is no certification as "HTL Who Does
> > Grossing." As such, there is nothing to organize around.
> >
> > The problem you face is that you have taken on work far beyond your
> original
> > job description. You are lucky to be getting paid well for it; in some
> > places you wouldn't get anything extra. You don't say whether your title
> or
> > job description has been changed within your institution. It certainly has
> > no formal equivilent in any certification scheme in the US (The closest
> > route is on-the job training for PA certification).
> >
> > In anatomic pathology the pathologist takes full responsibility and is
> free
> > to have anyone do the work for them. NO formal training necessary in most
> > circumstances (some states have licensing requirements, however).
> On-the-job
> > trained people are the norm and that leads to all kinds of
> inconsistentcies
> > in work done.
> >
> > My advice to you is to get certified as a PA, then you can demand what you
> > feel you deserve.
> >
> >
> > Tim Morken, B.A., EMT(MSA), HTL(ASCP)
> > Infectious Disease Pathology
> > Centers for Disease Control
> > MS-G32
> > 1600 Clifton Rd.
> > Atlanta, GA 30333
> > USA
> >
> > email: tim9@cdc.gov
> >        timcdc@hotmail.com
> >
> > Phone: (404) 639-3964
> > FAX:  (404)639-3043
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----Original Message Follows----
> > From: Leeryan2@aol.com
> > To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> > Subject: Fwd: HT's doing PA work
> > Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 18:02:02 -0400 (EDT)
> >
> >
> >
> > I have been a HT since 1984. For the last ten years I have been a PA. I
> > gross in
> > biopsies to mastectomies. I work for a group that does approx. 45000 cases
> a
> > yr.
> > I don't work in a big city but still make over $55,000 /yr.
> > Grossing should pay more. You are the eyes of the pathologist. You are
> > responsible for creating the mental image through your descriptions.
> > Gwen Goss at Cleveland Clinic has an excellent setup with her HT's that do
> > gross.
> > Let the docs try to hire a PA that is certified. They'll wish they would
> > have
> > taken care of their cheap labor.
> > I think that HT's that do PA work should organize for this reason.
> > Just my two bits.
> >
> > Lee
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
> >
> >