RE: Responding To Tissue Processor Alarms & Being On Call

From:"Cheasty, Sandra"

Responding To Tissue Processor Alarms & Being On Call
I would be sure and check with Human Resources/Payroll re: your institutions policies on mileage compensation and on-call policies.  There is usually a minimum of 2-3 hours paid (overtime) for call backs. Also, if you are expected to be available and come in "off shift" when you are summoned, you should really should be compensated for being on call.  You might also want to check state labor laws re: these issues. 
 
 
[Julsing, Sandra]   -----Original Message-----
From: Walzer Susan [mailto:Susan.Walzer@HCAHealthcare.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2002 09:22
To: 'Jones, Laura'; Histonet (E-mail)
Subject: RE: Responding To Tissue Processor Alarms & Being On Call

We have night techs check our processor 2 times during the night and sign off that it is processing in the correct station. If there is a problem one of us is called and usually we can walk them thru a solution. If worse comes to worse I as super. come in and figure a solution. I sign in as I would any other time.If I am not home someone else is called.
-----Original Message-----
From: Jones, Laura [mailto:lpjones@srhs-pa.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 04, 2002 3:07 PM
To: Histonet (E-mail)
Subject: Responding To Tissue Processor Alarms & Being On Call

Hi!  We are interested in finding out how other labs handle the inevitable middle of the night phone calls when the alarm sounds on the tissue processor.  Who is responsible for dragging him or herself into the lab at three a.m. to resolve the problem, and does that person get paid to be "on call"?  Also, if your processor is going to be down for a few days or more, and a neighboring facility is gracious enough to process your tissues, (Thank You, Northside!!!) who is the lucky one driving miles away to deliver and pick up the tissues?  How is that person compensated for this service? 

Here is our situation.  Our Pathologist acts as our supervisor.  We have three techs, so we have decided to rotate the months between the three of us to be responsible for answering those middle of the night calls.  We do not get paid to be "on call", but we do punch in when we get here, and then punch out when we leave.  If we are here for an hour, they like us to try to leave an hour early at some time during the week to balance it out.  When our processor has been down for days at a time, we have driven our tissues to a neighboring hospital ourselves, and picked it up in the mornings ourselves as well.  For this, we are paid mileage from hospital to hospital, and our start time is considered to be the time we arrive at to pick up the tissue. 

We would very much appreciate your input and suggestions!  Thanks very much! 

Laura Jones
Sharon Regional Health System
Sharon, PA


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