I have been gone for a week and just got a chance to check my e-mails
and found this question interesting.  First, have you asked the PA?  I
know it seems like a simple question but you would be surprised at all
the misunderstanding that can be cleared up with a simple question
asked?  Please know that I have NEVER met a pathologist that will gladly
read more slides than he thinks are necessary for a good diagnosis on a
routine basis.  I gross for seven pathologists and it is tricky to
satisfy all at the same time.  Luckily, my pathologists and I here have
great communication and we manage to keep the block count, as well a
gross recut number down.  As far as "rules of thumb" we do have certain
guidelines that are basically thought of as "standards of care".
Without knowing other details the best advice I could give is to ask the
PA.

Charles Embrey PA(ASCP)
Urbana IL    

-----Original Message-----
From: histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
[mailto:histonet-bounces@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Smith
Wanda
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2005 7:56 AM
To: histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu
Subject: [Histonet] Number of Blocks Submitted by PA

Good Morning Histonetters,
I have a question for you this morning...Are there written standards or
"Rules of Thumb" regarding number of blocks that should be submitted on
certain tissues?  The reason I ask is, "it seems to me"  that sometimes
the PA submits an extreme number of blocks on some specimens that could
be accomplished with less.  I'm not advocating cutting corners or not
performing good medical practice, I just need to know.  An example would
be a uterus w/ fibroids, tubes and ovaries which we have gotten up to 24
blocks on.  I'm not a PA, but it's interesting to me that when the
Pathologist cut, we get alot less blocks.
Please advise.
Thanks,
Wanda

> Wanda G. Smith,  HTL/HT(ASCP)
> Pathology Supervisor
> Trident Medical Center Laboratory Services
> *9330 Medical Plaza Drive, Charleston, SC 29406
> *843-797-4586 *fax 843-797-4296
> *wanda.smith@hcahealthcare.com
> 
> 
> 
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