Amy,

I had weekend on-call coverage that worked out very nicely.  It was a
rotating shift.  If a technician had to come in they were paid for on-call
and overtime.  If a stat came in it was the technicians choice of whether
they would come in that evening or the next day.  The pathologists and
techs worked it out between themselves.  It became necessary for the
department to implement this because of the transplant program.

We also would have stats or possibility of stats during the week (after
hours).  This was voluntary and believe it or not there was never any
problems with coverage.  I also had a late person because of stats who's
shift ended at 5:30 PM.

There was also a short program for biopsies on the tissue processor.

Hope these ideas help.

Rande Kline HT (ASCP)





"Histomail\\" <histomail@netspace.net.au> on 07/13/99 03:45:07 AM

To:   "Woodfin, Amy C" <AWoodfin@peacehealth.org>
cc:
Subject:  Re: On-Call Techs ?




Dear Amy,
for the life of me I can't think of any scenario in which Micro wouldn't
have diagnosed it first eg. of imprints of suspected lesions etc.
Certainly if clinically suspected or if at the time of surgery a "Cheesy"
lesion is removed, microbiology would be considered first, although I do
recall doing a frozen section some years ago on a suspected seminoma ,
which
because of its appearance we also did some smears and a ZN which was
positive; but micro could have done it just as well.
If the practice is paying a standby rate already to a Pathologist (and most
places do) then let them do the Histo/cyto on call, because let's face it ,
histo doesn't always have the same urgency as Biochem, Haematology etc.
Regards Mike Rentsch
-----Original Message-----
From: Woodfin, Amy C <AWoodfin@peacehealth.org>
To: 'Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu' <Histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu>
Date: Tuesday, 13 July 1999 3:55
Subject: On-Call Techs ?


>Hi folks,
>
>Wondering if many labs have on-call Histotechs?  We currently don't, but
our
>docs are interested in having something more formal than the scramble that
>happens when they REALLY need a stat GMS or AFB on the weekends.  I
realize
>there are a variety of ways to do call systems, and would appreciate some
>input on what your lab does.  Do you rotate?  How often?  Are you paid for
>the entire call time, or just the time you are called in?  How are you
>notified; home phone, cell phone, pager?  Any info would be VERY helpful
:-)
>
>Thanks!
>Amy Woodfin
>Pathology Supervisor
>St. Joseph Hospital
>Bellingham, WA
>
>
>