We accession right into the computer.  We use a windows based, stand
alone system (WinSurge" by Computer Trust Corp in Boston, Mass).  We have
been using it for over 5 years now and are quite happy with it.  It will
not let you use an accession number or medical record number more than
once. Different queries are printed daily - 1 for the cutting bench which
has accession number and type of specimen, a  work sheet for the
pathology secretary to refer to while typing gross and microscopics,
billing report so charges can be entered into the main hospital computer
system.  We can order the number of labels (with site designations &
patient's name) needed for each case and the final report can be
electronically signed by the pathologist and automatically faxed to the
surgeon.  We also accession cytologies using this system.

On Fri, 23 Jun 2000 08:10:32 -0700 "Johnson, Mickey" <JohnsoM@shmc.org>
writes:
> Hi!
> 
> I thought I would put my two cents worth in on this. We use a log 
> book (a
> small spiral bound book and use both sides of the pages) and we 
> accession
> into CoPath. The number is assigned by us manually, and then we are 
> careful
> to keep everyting in order so CoPath assigns the same number(it's 
> pretty
> straight foreward). If we were to use the CoPath 
> specimen/slide/block log(s)
> for our daily reference log, instead of copies of the spiral log 
> book, we
> would go through about a ream of paper per week. The CoPath system 
> writes
> each block on a separate line. We process 3-4 hundred blocks a day. 
> Anyway,
> the log book is also an extremely useful reference for Add-ons, 
> Autopsy
> blocks, Cell Blocks, Bone Marrows, Special Stains, special 
> instructions for
> embedding, sentinel nodes, etc. We get a lot of information on 5 
> pages.
> Computers are wonderful for accessing reports and billing 
> information
> speedily on-line, but they are notoriously inefficient when it comes 
> to the
> time it takes to input data. CoPath in particular is down right 
> wasteful in
> its use of paper for daily logs. I would have to have 10 times the 
> space to
> store the CoPath logs compared to our spiral log books we currently 
> use. 
> In our lab we have 3.5 FTE's of Lab Assistants who accession, print 
> labels,
> help set up gross, etc. My hat is off to them for their ability to 
> get
> everything into the computer systems consistently, accurately and 
> quickly.
> They have to input patients into our DOS based Meditech system 
> (l980's
> technology) first and then accession into CoPath. The Sunquest 
> system is the
> invisible (unless the interface is down) link between Meditech and 
> CoPath.
> The computer vendors always tell you that they can do anything that 
> you
> question them about, but frequently, to everyone's consternation, 
> cannot
> deliver.
> Well, I feel better now! Grin! :)
> 
> Best Regards,
> 
> Mickie
> 
> Michael L Johnson, BS, HTL(ASCP)
> Histology Supervisor
> Department of Pathology
> Sacred Heart Medical Center
> W. 101 8th Avenue
> Spokane, WA 99220
> 
> johnsom@shmc.org
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Renee Seiler [mailto:horalka@iopener.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 4:29 AM
> To: histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: specimen accessioning
> 
> 
> Hello, I have been reading with interest on all the feedback about 
> entering
> specimens, and am totally flabbergasted that a) you have secretaries 
> and
> transcriptionists who WILLINGLY do this and b)those who have a 
> computer
> system STILL use logbooks--hello, let's save some trees here!  Yes, 
> use
> manual entry when the system goes down, but the whole purpose of a
> computerized system is to let the computer and only the computer 
> assign
> numbers.  I have used both Sunquest and Meditech and have worked in 
> labs
> where everyone from the lab assistant to histotech to cytotech to 
> path
> assistants to pathologists will accession specimens, but NEVER the 
> office
> people!
> Renee Seiler, Rose Medical Center, Denver CO, USA
> 
> 
> 

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