I have just retired from histology.  For the last 12 years I supervised a
clinical Histology laboratory, and personally would not consider managing a
lab without an external alarm on the tissue processor.  I did not have it
for the first 2 years I was in the lab, and I can tell you nothing was worst
than to be called  when the technicians came in at 5:30 and be told the
machine was alarming. It ruined the whole day straightening it out.  After
we had the external alarm connected to a computer in central energy, I, or
one of the techs, was called. All it involved was 30 minutes of time in
which I went in and restarted the processor or moved the tissue.  Then
things proceeded normally in the morning with no damage to tissue and little
problem of timing.

That was one advantage of technology that really helped make my life easier.
I have not had the advantage of working with the newer machines which you
can actually view the process or access from a home computer. That was my
dream.

Susan Meloan




Original Message

Date: 6 Feb 2001 09:00:31 -0600
From: "Rippstein, Peter" <prippstein@ottawahospital.on.ca>
Subject: Tissue Processor Alarms

Histoneters,

I would like to get a general consensus on the merits of external alarms on
tissue processors which would alert staff in case of an error during the
night or on weekends.
Thanking you in advance,

Peter Rippstein, ART
Charge Technologist
Anatomical Pathology
The Ottawa Hospital, Civic Campus
Ph: 798-5555 ext 16589
Fax: 761-4846
email: prippstein@ottawahospital.on.ca