Re: DO HTL's DO THIS AT YOUR INSTITUTION?

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From:"D. Hammer" <hammerd@u.washington.edu>
To:"Wenk, Lee & Peggy" <lpwenk@netquest.com>
Reply-To:
Date:Wed, 16 Jun 1999 06:05:52 -0700 (PDT)
Content-Type:TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Peggy,

Thanks for re-sending this post. I missed it the first time.

These are not skill levels of an entry level MT or HTL.  They are clearly
skills possesed by someone in the field awhile and performing supervisory
or managerial responsibilities.  There may be exceptions to that, such as
a one person lab, but even then, most of this is handled by someone in
management.
Item C. could be interpeted to mean normal performance of lab testing.

I would like to know what NCCLS has in mind and what the politics are
behind this.  It seems real strange.

Thanks for asking,
Don
PS We have been trying for years to raise the quals and now it seems they
want to go well beyond what is necessary.



                                              
                                             
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don Hammer, Administrative Director            UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON 
Hospital Pathology, Box 356100                     MEDICAL CENTER
1995 NE Pacific St.                                
Seattle Washington, 98195                  ~Where Knowledge Comes To Life~ 
(206) 598-6401 Fax: (206) 598-4928         
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


On Wed, 16 Jun 1999, Wenk, Lee & Peggy wrote:

> Dear Histonetters -
> 
> Hi. I asked this question about a week ago, and only got one response.
> (Probably my fault, with all the "disclaimers" at the front.)
> 
> I REALLY NEED some input from this community.
> 
> The accrediting agency for MT, MLT, HTL and HT programs is
> rewriting the Essentials for the programs. The following are
> listed as the job duties of a routine MT. If these are
> accepted, then the HTL will have similar responsibilities.
> 
> Personally, I think these are much too high a level for the
> routine MT or HTL, let alone entry level. To me, most seem 
> to be supervisory and/or managerial, needing additional 
> years of experience and/or additional coursework (classes, 
> workshops, etc.).
> 
> PLEASE let me know how YOU feel about them, as I will take this
> information to the accrediting agency. There is power in numbers,
> not one person's opinion.
> 
> Please email me directly     Lpwenk@netquest.com
> and I'll report back to Histonet.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> 
> "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 on a routine level MT/HTL influencing treatment 
> decisions and outcomes?
> 
> "g. Implement laws, regulations and accrediting standards within the
> operating requirements of the organization to minimize risks and 
> maximize patient outcomes." 
> - Do any of 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. What do you think?
> 
> "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 hospital's 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? Or some of the
> others?
> 
> Thanks for reading all of this. Please let me know what you think.
> 
> I'll report back to Histonet when I get some more responses. Thanks
> 
> ******************************
> 
> Peggy A. Wenk, HTL(ASCP)
> William Beaumont Hospital
> Royal Oak, MI 48073
> 
> 




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