How Employers are Retaining Cytotechnologists – Part One
Currently the economy is affecting almost everyone. This inlcudes cytotechnologists’ employers who can’t always offer the same pay rate they were previously able to. The employers of cytotechnologists also can’t offer the same bonuses that they used to. However, there are some ways that cytotechnologists can remain satisfied in their jobs through this difficult time.
Often if managers make small efforts to make cytotechnologists feel valuable, they go further than the big efforts would have. For example, bringing in food or drinks to cytotechnologists on the job can make a big difference. Cytotechnologists also feel special when managers celebrate their birthdays with a simple cake or pizza. If the small successes of cytotechnologists are rewarded with a lunch or small gift card this can help the cytotechnologist to feel appreciated. Even pot luck lunches help make cytotechnologists in a lab feel like more of a team, and this would be free to the lab.
Other small events can help too, like dressing up for Halloween as a group or having an ice cream day or a small breakfast.
Cytotechnologists will also take notice of how great their workplace is if managers help out when the workload is large. Cytotechnologists will often begin to feel like a team and even like part of a family when the members of the workplace help each other out.
Check back soon to see part two of this blog and learn about more ways that an employer of cytotechnologists can keep employees happy.
Learn about finding a job as a cytotechnologist.
Source:
Koehler, Amanda (November 3, 2008) Pinching Pennies. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals. Page 22-23.
Pros and Cons of Working as a Medical Technologist
Medical technologists are always looking for better pay, better hours, and opportunities to advance their careers in the clinical laboratory profession. Those hiring medical technologists often wonder what they can do to keep medical technologists longer term. Data was gathered from 600 medical technologists who have been in the field for at least five years to attempt to answer this question.
Most medical technologists said the reasons they stay in their profession are that they are interested in their work, they have job security, they feel challenged at work, and they have good medical benefits. Medical technologists said they feel that their work is important. Medical technologists also say their work is different each day. Medical technologists also have a lot of independence at work which they enjoy.
When these medical technologists were asked what could keep them in the field long term they said it would help if they had salaries equivalent to nursing salaries. Medical technologists said it would also help if individuals were recognized by those outside of the laboratory. The recognition that medical technologists seek is more from physicians, nurses, and administrators than from patients or the public.
Medical technologists could help to improve their field by working to increase recognition of the value of their work. If medical technologists were able to gain recognition from hospital administrators, the administrators might work harder to increase medical technologists’ salaries. This could help to solve both main problems that medical technologists have with their field.
Learn about finding a job as a medical technologist.
Which Molecular Tests should a Pathologist’s Assistant’s Lab Perform – Part Three
The number of samples that must be processed in order to break even on the set up costs must be estimated. Molecular tests often require control samples, both positive and negative, in order to process one patient sample. Control samples can be expensive, and the cost of these samples must be built into the cost to run the test. Some tests might use a reagent that expires after a certain amount of time. A laboratory leader must decide whether there will be enough tests requested to use all of the reagent before it expires.
Repeat tests sometimes need to be run by pathologist’s assistants or other laboratory professionals when a test result is hard to read. The number of repeat tests that will need to be done by a pathologist’s assistant can be estimated by the vendors, but it makes sense to verify those numbers by asking other users.
The amount of time that it will take for a pathologist’s assistant or other laboratory professional to run each test needs to be considered. Vendors can give time estimates, and these estimates can be verified by other users of the products.
Equipment cost and setup costs are very important to factor in. Technology is always improving, and a laboratory must think about how long a piece of equipment will be up to date before there will be a need to purchase new equipment for pathologist’s assistants to use.
Find a job as a pathologist’s assistant.
Source:
Savaloja, Lynette C. (November 3, 3008) Choosing the Right Molecular Tests. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
Which Molecular Tests should a Pathologist’s Assistant’s Lab Perform – Part Two
Laboratory leaders must consider the skills the pathologist’s assistants and other laboratory employees have as well as how much molecular background the employees have.
One big advantage laboratories have in performing tests in house is that they can control the quality of the work. Another good thing about doing testing in house is that there is much less risk of a sample getting lost or damaged. Furthermore, when testing is done in house, the testing can normally be done more quickly. Billing can also be made simpler when testing is done in house by pathologist’s assistants. In addition, when testing is done in house, all of a patient’s test information can be found in one place. This makes it easier for providers to find a patient’s information, and it allows the laboratory to have all of the information available if they need it for statistical information.
A laboratory leader must think about whether there is enough space available in the laboratory to run additional tests. First of all, there must be enough space for the pathologist’s assistant or other laboratory professional to run the test. Some tests require venting equipment, which can take up a lot of space in a laboratory. There also needs to be space for samples and testing reagents to be stores.
If all other necessities are available to run additional molecular tests in a laboratory such as space and qualified pathologist’s assistants or other laboratory employees, a cost analysis is in order. There are many factors to be considered and this makes cost analysis a difficult process.
Check back soon for the next part of this blog.
Find a job as a pathologist’s assistant.
Source:
Savaloja, Lynette C. (November 3, 3008) Choosing the Right Molecular Tests. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
Which Molecular Tests should a Pathologist’s Assistant’s Lab Perform – Part One
All types of laboratory testing are not usually done in one laboratory. However, there are many laboratories which could benefit from doing more testing than they are. Most laboratories where pathologist’s assistant’s work must frequently reevaluate to determine if they should be performing more, or less, tests in house. It is usually unrealistic for a lab to perform all tests within one lab, and it often makes sense to specialize in some tests and outsource others. It can be expensive for a lab where a pathologist’s assistant works to get started doing their own testing, but there are many advantages to doing tests in house. 
The fact that the health care field is always evolving complicates the decision as to whether certain tests should be done in house or outsourced. Some tests may become obsolete, while others that were never done before may slowly become normal. Labs where pathologist’s assistants work must constantly consider which tests they should be doing at any given time. For example, recently, human papilloma virus testing has recently been recommended to do along with a regular pap test. It has become very standard, and many labs where pathologist’s assistants work have brought human papilloma virus testing in house because it is done so often.
One of the first factors that a laboratory leader must consider when thinking about bringing a test in house is whether qualified pathologist’s assistants and other laboratory personnel are going to be available to perform these tests. Some states require certain qualifications that pathologist’s assistants or other laboratory employees must have to legally perform molecular tests.
Check back soon for the next part of this blog.
Find a job as a pathologist’s assistant.
Source:
Savaloja, Lynette C. (November 3, 3008) Choosing the Right Molecular Tests. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
How a Cytotechnologist can Plan Strategically – Part Two
It is useful to compare what cytotechnologists are doing in one lab versus how they are practicing in other labs. It is worth the while for a cytotechnologist to follow what large labs are doing and what they are investing their money into. A cytotechnologist may want to try to work for the employer who they feel is the most abreast of new technology in anticipation that those employers who are behind in technology may fail.
Now, knowing all of this information, a cytotechnologist must think about a strategy to follow. A cytotechnologist might see that pap tests are not being done as often, but HPV testing is done often in a lot of the pap tests that are done. So, it might be a good move for a cytotechnologist, seeing this trend, to learn how to perform HPV testing. Perhaps the lab a cytotechnologist works for is going to start doing new testing. It might be a smart move for a cytotechnologist in this situation to think about whether this testing is going to be a thing of the future, and learn how to do it if so, even if it means having to take the time to get trained on how to do it. A cytotechnologist in this situation should volunteer to learn how to do the new testing. Employers will see that this cytotechnologist is actively trying to advance their career, and an employer may view them as a more valuable asset.
This process must be done over and over again often, because technology is always changing in the labs where cytotechnologists work.
Find employment as a cytotechnologist.
Glenn, David MT(ASCP) (December 3, 2007) Looking Forward. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
How a Cytotechnologist can Plan Strategically – Part One
Strategic planning is a good idea for anyone to do, not matter what field that person is in, to ensure that they are following an ideal career path. However, this is especially true for a cytotechnologist, because cytotechnology is part of the medical field, which is always changing. As a cytotechnologist you can take steps to take your career to the next level. Instead of just letting our career take its natural path without doing any planning, take action and see if you can get to a better place than you otherwise would as a cytotechnologist.
Take time to evaluate the market that you are working in as a cytotechnologist. Think about what may happen in the future to the field of cytotechnology. Medicare and Medicaid programs are always trying to reduce payment costs for laboratory tests, including tests run by a cytotechnologist. Private insurance companies are always trying to cut costs as well. Competitive bidding could really decrease the costs of tests a cytotechnologist runs, and that could in turn decrease the amount that a facility can afford to pay a cytotechnologist. The future of health care in the United States may change drastically if health care becomes publicly funded. Cytotechnologists are less in demand today than they have been in previous years, because doctors have begun recommending that patients have pap tests every three years instead of every year when tests are normal. If HPV vaccines become very widely administered, there will be need of less repeat pap tests as well.
Find employment as a cytotechnologist.
Glenn, David MT(ASCP) (December 3, 2007) Looking Forward. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
Certification for a Medical Laboratory Technician
Figuring out how to get certified and by whom can be a bit of a process for a medical laboratory technician. There are several certification agencies who a medical laboratory technician can be certified by, and each one has a slightly different process.
To get certified by the American Association of Bioanalysts medical laboratory technicians must get re-validated every year for certification. It costs 95 dollars to get re-validated each year for a medical laboratory technician. If a medical laboratory technician does not get re-validated for three or more years, then it is required that the person must take the examinations again and pay a 180 dollar fee to become reinstated.
American Medical Technologists will require medical laboratory technicians to take the American medical technician exam unless the person has already passed a general medical laboratory technician exam as well as passed a medical laboratory technician exam for state licensure. After a medical laboratory technician has passed the required tests, they must apply to become certified. Medical laboratory technicians need to re-certify every three years by earning 45 continuing education points.
American Society for Clinical Pathology required medical laboratory technicians to re-certify every three years and pay a 50 dollar fee. In order to re-certify a medical laboratory technician must earn 36 hours of continuing education. If a member waits longer than three years to re-certify, they are still able to as long as it hasn’t been more than ten years, if they submit documentation showing they have completed their continuing education points and if they pay the reinstatement fee.
The National Credentialing Agency for laboratory personnel also certifies medical laboratory technicians. Medical laboratory technicians must be re-certified every three years after earning at least 36 hours of continuing education and paying a 75 dollar re-certification fee.
Find a job as a medical laboratory technician.
Source:
Montgomery, Kelly A. (December 31, 2007) Learn the Ins and Outs of Clinical Laboratory Licensure, Certification and Specialties. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals.
Pay for Performance Pros and Cons for Histotechnicians – Part Two
So far, the argument for pay for performance sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? Pay for performance could result in increased quality in patient care and decreased costs for patient care, while facilities experience the same flow of income as before. However, as with most things there are some cons that histotechnicians might see. One negative aspect is that while the theory sounds good, the pay for performance plan is not always used as strictly as it could be. One reason for this is that facilities where histotechnicians work have a difficult time using the pay for performance system in all aspects of business. It can be hard for the facilities where histotechnicians work to get on board with the pay for performance plan in the first place, because there are barriers to entry such as the necessity to use time and money to hire employees to track the performance. Also, the equipment that is needed to track performance can be pricey, which is another reason it can be hard for some facilities to see the advantages.
Histotechnicians play a very important part in quality in lab tests. It is estimated that 40 percent of mistakes happen in the pre and post analysis process of samples. The pay for performance system could take away jobs from histotechnicians because automation of a lab could reduce errors by nearly 40 percent while simultaneously improving processing time by more than 50 percent. Facilities who study these advantages could decide to automate their systems and provide some histotechnicians of jobs.
Learn about hiring a histotechnician or learn about finding a job as a histotechnician.
Pay for Performance Pros and Cons for Histotechnicians – Part One
Because the cost of healthcare has gotten quite high there are many payers who have started to use pay for performance systems to decrease costs and improve patient care. This is done by paying those facilities who use certain proven clinical practices more to do so. Those facilities who do not stick to proven clinical practices will be paid less. One plan which is pending before Congress suggests a cut from two to five percent in the reimbursement to facilities which can be earned back in the form of a bonus if the facility meets the pay for performance standards. It is theorized that by using this system there will be less unnecessary tests ordered.
Histotechnicians and other laboratory technicians will see the effects of these pay for performance systems directly because they work in labs who actually provide the evidence about what clinical practices provide the best results.
The good things about pay for performance is that there is already research available that shows that these systems do actually improve the quality of patient care. Histotechnicians can feel more job satisfaction knowing that patients are being treated better and knowing that their tests, which are often processed by histotechnicians, will show more useful results. The facilities for whom these histotechnicians work are benefiting too, because they are being given bonuses for using the pay for performance system.
Check back soon for part two of this blog. Part two will discuss the cons of the pay for performance system and how the pay for performance system could negatively impact histotechnicians directly.
Learn about hiring histotechnician or learn about finding a job as a histotechnician.
