In general my facility does not provide materials for learning, this was my
point.  In order to get what is needed some effort and yes expense on your part
outside of work may be necessary.  A really good resource is NSH and the Journal
of Histotechnology which comes with that membership.  There is a resource
committee through NSH called the Immunohistochemistry Resource Group which is a
group of over 300 people working in IHC from all over the world.  We share
resources and expertise with each other.  To join the group go to www.ihcrg.org
and fill out a membership form and send it back to me online.  Membership in NSH
is required to be part of this group, if you are not already an NSH member let
me know and I can send you an application form online as well.
Patsy Ruegg, IHCRG Chair

Melissa Jensen wrote:

> Does your facility provide materials for learning? Journals,Meetings etc?It
> is difficult and expensive to stay current,when you have to provide these
> things for yourself...Our facility so far provided nothing.I have purchased
> the Tech sample each year...I would like to know about listservers and
> recommendations for journals...
>             Respectfully Melissa
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "rueggp" 
> To: "Hinton, Sandy" 
> Cc: "'Tom McNemar'" ; 
> Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 11:58 AM
> Subject: Re: Who does IHC?
>
> > Sandy,
> > Well said.  In my experience there are some techs who want to do the
> special
> > procedures but are not willing to put in the extra effort required to
> educate
> > oneself in the technology.  It is my opinion that those who are
> intimidated by
> > IHC vocabulary, math skills, waiting to see the results at the end of the
> > procedure, etc., are that way because they have not read the Journals,
> > participated in this listserv, attended meetings, etc., as the those of us
> with
> > these skills have done.  If someone is not interested in learning what
> makes the
> > IHC and special procedures work, it is my opinion that they should not be
> doing
> > them, for the sake of the patient.  In order to stay current in our
> rapidly
> > developing field we must do our homework, (and I do mean homework).  We
> can no
> > longer get all the information we need to perform quality work by punching
> in
> > for 8 hours a day at a work place.  Many technicians are not willing to do
> > anymore to learn about their job than what is required of them on the job
> 8
> > hours per day, and you all know with the staff shortages and and increased
> > workload we all face, learning anything more than going through the
> motions at
> > work is impossible most of the time.
> > My opinion.
> > Patsy
> >
> > "Hinton, Sandy" wrote:
> >
> > > Tom,
> > > Through the years I have found that people's talents differ. Years ago
> when
> > > we initially started doing IHC's, I also tried to include the procedures
> in
> > > the regular rotation. It just didn't work for us, and I've heard other
> > > supervisors and managers say the same thing.
> > >
> > > I think the IHC vocabulary, which varies significantly from that of
> routine
> > > histology, is intimidating to some technicians. The fact that you don't
> see
> > > results until the end of the procedure can also be intimidating because
> it's
> > > so different from the routine special staining procedures that Histology
> > > technicians are used to. You also have to be good at laboratory
> mathematical
> > > calculations and that can be an intimidator.
> > >
> > > We do a large number of diagnostic IHC's and those duties along with the
> > > Kidney and Muscle biopsy procedures are performed in our Special
> Procedures
> > > laboratory. The three technicians in that lab are all well experienced
> > > senior technicians, who from the beginning expressed a desire to work
> with
> > > the procedures.
> > >
> > > Since I'm located in Texas, I can't address the New York requirements. I
> > > have one Medical Technician III, and two Histology Technician III's, one
> of
> > > which is a HTL and the other a HT performing the procedures. Personally
> I
> > > think that it's the desire to learn and perform at the highest level
> > > technically, that produces the best technicians, not the MT, HT or HTL
> > > behind someone's name.
> > > sh
> > >
> > > Sandy Hinton
> > > Chief Tech Divisions of Surgical Pathology and Autopsy
> > > Office CLS 5.541A
> > > Phone (409) 747-2488
> > > FAX (409) 772-9305
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Tom McNemar [mailto:TMcNemar@lmhealth.org]
> > > Sent: Friday, May 31, 2002 7:04 AM
> > > To: 'histonet@pathology.swmed.edu'
> > > Subject: Who does IHC?
> > >
> > > I need a little help and would like to take a little survey.  My lab
> manager
> > > tells me that she wants everyone in my department to be able to do
> > > everything.  I have no problem with that in general and it has always
> been
> > > my philosophy.  A problem has developed with IHC however.  A couple of
> folks
> > > just have not gotten the hang of it causing a lot of repeats and
> > > unhappy/mistrusting pathologists.  I want to limit the number of people
> > > performing IHC but I cannot convince my manager.  She says to re-train
> them
> > > (again).  And so to my questions.....
> > >
> > > 1. How many techs do you have and how many of those are performing IHC?
> > >
> > > 2. Is it true that the state of New York requires an HTL to perform IHC?
> > >
> > > I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback.  Thank you in advance.
> > >
> > > Tom Mc Nemar HT(ASCP)
> > > Histology Supervisor
> > > Licking Memorial Hospital
> > > Newark, Ohio
> > >
> > > The Information contained in this e-mail message is privileged and
> > > confidential, and is intended for the use of the addressee and no one
> else.
> > > If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read or use this
> e-mail
> > > message and notify the sender of the mistaken transmission.
> >
> >