John,
  I agree!  The more education a histotech has today, the better!!  I
obtained a BS degree in biology before I entered this field and it has
helped me to understand many aspects of our work and gave me problem solving
abilities vital to this work.  I have found that it is often harder to train
someone who has not been exposed to a higher level of learning of chemistry,
anatomy, or math.  I agree that we will all benefit from these new
educational requirements!

Carla J. Shoffeitt,B.S.,HT(ASCP)
Histology Supervisor
Columbus Regional Medical Center
Columbus, GA.


>From: John Ryan <ZJPR01@sleh.com>
>To: Histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
>Subject: Re: Board of registry
>Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2000 09:16:42 -0500
>
>Dear Mary,
>
>When I started in Histology in 1967 the pay rate was $2.50 per hour and
>that was with a degree.  The reason the salary was and in many cases still
>remains so low is that the educational requirements for the profession have
>not kept pace with the technology.  The changes coming from the BOR only
>require an Associate degree for the HT not a Bacculaureate degree which is
>required for the HTL.
>
>Until the educational requirements are changed and the profession demands
>only certified HT(ASCP) staff the salary will not change.  Salary is
>pressured by supply and demand and as long as hospitals are willing to hire
>uncertified staff at low wages and the rest of us are willing to train
>these people there is no need to improve the salary structure.
>
>Over the past 20 years there have been massive new technologies introduced
>into the profession of Histology but in many institutions the "HT" were
>unable to handle them and these new procedures then became the province of
>the Medical Techhnologist who have a BA or BS degree rather than the
>histotech. With the future including genetic technology from the Genome
>Project the need for better educated HT and HTL histology professionals is
>required.  There will always be the need for routine paraffin and H&E
>staining as this is the backbone of histology but the advancements require
>us to keep up.
>
>I realize that there is a staff shortage (I have a position one also), but
>that is no reason to continue at the same level that we have been at since
>1949 when the HT(ASCP) began.  Times have changed and we must change with
>it.
>
>I think the change is past due and hope that the time will come when only
>certified HTs and HTLs will be hired in hospitals.  I also believe that we
>need to do everything that we can to promote the opening of accredited
>schools to properly train and equip the HTs and HTLs for the future.
>
>jryan@sleh.com
>St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital
>Houston, TX
>
>

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