PROPOSED MT ESSENTIALS

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From:lpwenk@netquest.com (Wenk, Lee & Peggy)
To:histonet@Pathology.swmed.edu
Reply-To:
Date:Wed, 09 Jun 1999 07:08:16 -0400
Content-Type:text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hi - This is for HT/HTL Program Directors, and anyone interested
in the education levels of HTL in a training program. Or if you 
would like to see had the NAACLS accrediting agency says average
MT bench techs (and maybe average HTL benchtechs) should be able
to do. The rest of you have my blessings to delete.  :)

NAACLS has available for comment the MT Essentials on their web page:
        http://www.naacls.org

I think it is very important that HT/HTL look at these AND comment, 
because based on what is accepted for the MT Essentials, will 
determine how the HTL, and eventually the HT/MLT Essentials will look.

I have some real BIG concerns about the MT Essentials, and
how it could impact HTL and eventually HT.

On the 1995 NAACLS Essentials, we stood up for the fact
that a technologist is a technologist, and a technician is a
technician. As a result, for the first time, the HTL and MT 
Essentials were nearly identical, and the HT and MLT essentials 
were also nearly identical.

With that in mind, I have concerns that the proposed 1999 MT
Essentials are too advanced for not only entry level MT, but also
the average bench tech. If so, the essentials would also be
too advanced for HTL.

In the "Description of the Profession", it says: "The Description
of the Profession is given as a guideline to prepare students for
entry into the profession. Programs are responsible for the Essentials
that follow the Description." So I don't know if this means that our 
students would have to be able to do all that is listed under the 
Description or not. 

in the 4th paragraph of the Description, it says "The MT should be able
to demonstrate scientific knowledge and competencies in the following
areas of professional practice:" So what follows is for AVERAGE ROUTINE
MT BENCHTECHS.

Do you feel what follows is what your average MT and HTL is capable of
doing? I think VERY FEW PEOPLE (myself included with almost 20 years of
experience and additional coursework) is knowledgeable and competent in 
all the areas. I think it takes additional classes, workshops, CE, 
reading, and just plain supervisory/managerial experience to be able to 
do all these.

Please comment on each one, or as a group (I've only listed those that I
have a concern about.)

"c. Apply statistical analysis of data for use in laboratory
epidemiology, examining the relationships of tests to treatment 
decisions, and to health care outcomes." Anyone out there (MT/HTL) 
influencing treatment decisions and outcomes on a routine level?

"g. Implement laws, regulations and accrediting standards within the
operating requirements of the organization to minimize risks and 
maximize patient outcomes." Do any our your bench MT/HTL implement 
any of these?

"j. Utilize financial information for decision making to balance cost
with quality." Bench tech level?

"k. Apply reimbursement policies to avoid fraud and abuse, and operate
on a fiscally sound basis while optimizing patient outcomes."
Considering 
the discussions on Histonet on billing lately, is this something the 
average bench tech is competent in?

"l. Develop strategies for a successful operation by using effective
marketing and sales techniques." Bench tech stuff?

"m. Plan daily operations." Bench tech stuff?

"n. Develop public relations programs for client services." Bench tech
again?

"o. Recruit and maintain appropriate level and skill mix of personnel to
insure a productive work environment meeting best practice benchmarks." 
With this job market, I think most supervisors would have a hard time 
with this one.

"p. Implement programs for safety, hazardous materials, infectious
disease prevention and fire safety management." How many average bench 
tech implement these?

"q. Define and use competencies for performance appraisal assessment."
How many bench techs are defining their own competencies, as well as 
use them?

"r. Plan, evaluate, implement and deliver effective educational programs
for healthcare personnel and healthcare receivers." This one, maybe,
some MT and HTL bench techs could do. But most?

"s. Consult with physicians, other health care professionals and the
public on appropriate choice and sequencing of laboratory tests." 
How many bench techs consult with physicians?

"t. Teach healthcare providers how to request tests cost effectively and
appropriately for patient care." Bench techs?

"w. Evaluate and select information system applications." Routine bench
tech?

"aa. Establish, maintain and deliver continuing education as a function
of growth and maintenance of professional competence." Maybe a routine
MT/HTL could do this. 

"bb. Foster interdisciplinary approaches and team building skills to
influence communication, collaboration and cooperation for optimum
full value patient outcomes." Routine bench tech? This takes our
management development team to do this.

This section ends with:

"Program goals and objectives should be developed considering the
rapidly changing and dynamic nature of the health and human services 
delivery systems. This requires the entry level MT to possess basic 
skills as a health care professional; consultant; educator; manager 
of time; personnel and resources; researcher; and advocate for both
the profession and the patient."

Do you feel a ENTRY LEVEL MT or HTL should have the basic skills to be
a consultant, manager of time, personnel and resources? Of some of the
others?

Thanks for reading all of this. Please let me know what you think.

Once I get some feedback, I will decide whether to then list the
requirements for the curriculum, that relate to the above.

************************

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



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