Histonetters -

I have received a couple of questions/comments about the
ASCP Vacancy and Salary Survey. I'll try to answer them
here, since, if one person asked, others probably want
to know to.

I originally commented on what I remembered from the 1998 survey.

Today, I went and looked up that survey that was published in
the March 1999 "Laboratory Medicine". I also called ASCP 
to see if they were doing the survey again this year, and
when they were planning on doing it. They could not tell
me a lot of specifics about the new survey. We have to
wait until the results are published to get that information.


1. DATES OF SURVEY MAILING:

In 1998, the survey was done from July 31 - October 31.

I called ASCP Board of Registry today, and they stated
that the surveys are at the printer, and should be
mailed "soon." So I would guess in another week or two.


2. NUMBER OF SURVEYS:

The 1998 survey was sent to 2500, not the 1500 that I
typed. Error on my part (finger parts, I guess).

I don't know how many will be sent out this time.
ASCP did not tell me when I asked.


3. HOW SELECTED:

The 1998 surveys were sent to 2500 RANDOMLY selected
labs, specifically to the managers or supervisors or
directors who are ASCP members.

I'm assuming that is how it will be done this time.


4. WHAT IF MY DIRECTORS/SUPERVISORS/MANAGERS ARE
NOT ASCP MEMBERS?

ASCP only sends to PEOPLE, not to labs - no "blind"
mailing, if you understand what I mean.

And they can only get the supervisor/etc. name if
they are an ASCP member.

So if they have passed their certification exam but
are NOT an ASCP member because they didn't pay their
ASCP BOR membership dues this year, then they are 
NOT on the list from which the 2500 will be pulled. 
So they  WON'T be sent a survey. One of the benefits
of ASCP membership.  ;-)

If they are PhD, MS, or a tech who has NEVER taken
or passed the ASCP certification, then again, they
are not on the list. . . 


5. ARE ONLY HOSPITAL LABS SENT THE SURVEY?

No. In the previous surveys, they broke down the
results into 4 categories:
- hospital labs (then broken down into # beds)
- private labs
- POL (physician office labs)
- other (which I'm assuming is research and
veterinary pathology, for example)

So I'm assuming from this that people in these
labs were sent surveys.

I don't know how they pick within these categories.
I don't know if they just mail out the 2500 surveys
without regard to what type of lab, or if they
send out so many to hospital labs and so many
to POL, etc., based on percentages of members in
each category, or if there is some other basis
of randomness. That was not revealed in the 
1999 article, and I didn't ask. Figured it was
a "trade secret".


6. SINCE MY DIRECTOR/MANAGE/SUPERVISOR IS NOT
AN ASCP MEMBER, BUT I AM (BUT I'M JUST A TECH)
CAN I CONTACT ASCP TO HAVE THEM SEND ME THE
SURVEY?

Sorry, no. Then it wouldn't be 2500 RANDOM
labs. And it has to be random to be statistically
correct. I did ask, though. 

Sorry to all of you who would LOVE to fill 
out a survey and tell the world how short 
staffed you are, or how you are not being 
paid enough to do this job you love.  


Hope that answers some of your questions.

Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
William Beaumont Hospital
Royal Oak, MI 48073