Cytotechnologists Jobs: Essential in Early Detection of Cervical Cancer
Most people are not aware of the vital role Cytotechnologists play in early detection of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, with the incline in unemployment rates, the medical profession is experiencing a steady decline in the number of new Cytotechnologist graduates. The average active national workforce of Cytotechnologists is approximately 6,500 with an average age of 50 years old. Due to budget constraints within the allied health fields, many well-established cytotechnology training schools in the United States have already or are planning a significant number of closures in the field of cytotechnology. Historically, 200 Cytotechnologists graduate annually. With the recent decline in training course offerings, cytotechnology training schools are graduating on average approximately 37 Cytotechnologists annually.
According to an article published in Cervical Trends Health, “Recently several senior veteran Cytotechnologist educators have expressed alarm over the sudden and unexpected closure or planned closure of a significant number of well-established cytotechnology training schools in the United States.”
Cytotechnologists are not only responsible for screening approximately 64 million Pap tests, Cytotechnologists also extend into other essential functions such as cytologic evaluations of other non-gynecologic organ systems, laboratory administration, and cytogenetic and molecular testing including the early detection of Cervical cancer. Many patients do not realize how much we truly rely on the cytotechnology workforce to diagnose certain cancers.
Dr. Robert Marshall Austin, M.D., is a Professor of Pathology and the Director of Cytopathology at Magee-Womens Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh states ”A modeling study of emerging cervical cancer screening issues and challenges in a recent issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute cautions that the potential benefits could be neutralized, and even reversed, if screening were to substantially decrease . This would obviously be a great misfortune, given the promise of new primary prevention vaccine era. Schools of cytotechnology are a valuable resource in the ongoing efforts for cervical cancer screening and detection of nongynecologic cancers. Support of cytotechnology school infrastructure in the United States is important to ensure an adequate and appropriately-trained cytotechnology workforce”.
Some attribute the need for Cytotechnologists is due to the introduction of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine and HPV DNA Tests. The United States is relying more and more on liquid-based cytology and location-guided/computer assisted screenings which no longer requires the work of a Cytotechnologist. However, according to Dr. Austin, “Only one HPV DNA test is FDA approved, and its approved indications are exclusively for adjunctive use along with cervical cytology. Remarkably, the current approved test has no internal adequacy standard to prevent erroneous negative reporting on sparsely cellular or even acellular samples. The reliance on testing from liquid-based cytology vials further suggests that it will be difficult for the manufacturer to too strongly discourage the use of cytology. According to the manufacturer, no clinical trials to seek FDA approval as a stand alone primary screening test are anticipated in the near future. Despite the inability of the manufacturer of the sole FDA-approved HPV DNA test to publicly advocate off-label, stand-alone HPV testing and the absence of acknowledged plans for early clinical trials, a few investigators are often cited in lay press articles predicting the imminent demise of the Pap test. Whether or not the manufacturer will be effective in muting these misleading communication messages regarding modern Pap testing remains to be seen”.
To read more about Dr. Austin’s article http://www.cervicalhealth.com/Spring2008/focus.php
Reasons that Cytotechnologists Enjoy the Field
This video features cytotechnologists talking about why they enjoy cytotechnology and what drew them into the field in the first place.
Find a job as a cytotechnologist.
Pap Smear Test that a Cytotechnologist Would Perform
Here is an interesting video showing how a cytotechnologist would analyze a pap smear.
Find a job as a cytotechnologist.
Pros and Cons of being a Cytotechnologist – Part Two
This blog is continued from the previous blog.
Continuing on from the previous blog these are more positive aspects to being a cytotechnologist. A job as a cytotechnologist can help many to feel that they are making a difference in the lives of others. Cytotechnologists are part of the healthcare system, and can help improve healthcare for others. A cytotechnologist can have input into the way they do their jobs, something that certainly many employees of other fields do that feel that they have.
There are also several cons to being a cytotechnologist, as there are to any profession. Cytotechnologists often feel that they are not respected by the physicians who rely on the tests that the cytotechnologists perform. Cytotechnologists also don’t get much recognition from patients, the physicians are the ones interacting with the patients and getting most of the respect. On the other hand, when patients are unhappy with their health care, physicians are the ones who often get blamed, so cytotechnologists can enjoy their relative anonymity in those circumstances. Many cytotechnologists do not feel that they are paid enough relative to what others in the health care profession are paid. Being a cytotechnologist can sometimes be stressful when too high of a work load is placed on the shoulders of one person. When a cytotechnologist has too much work to do, they often aren’t able to complete each test with the amount of care that they would like.
All in all, being a cytotechnologist can be a rewarding career for many, although, like with any profession, those who choose to go into the field should research it adequately so they know what they are getting into.
Find a job as a cytotechnologist.
Pros and Cons of being a Cytotechnologist – Part One
There are good and bad things about any job, cytotechnologist included. This blog will focus on these good and bad points of a job as a cytotechnologist. It can be helpful to reconsider the pros and cons if you are a practicing cytotechnologist, to help you realize why you went into the career of cytotechnologist in the first place. It can be helpful to consider the plusses and minuses also if you are considering a career as a cytotechnologist and are gathering information.
The main reasons that people seem to choose to become a cytotechnologist are part of the pros of the job. Cytotechnologists usually are people who like to help other people. A cytotechnologist is often one who has a natural ability in and affinity for biology and chemistry. The fact that healthcare generally offers stable employment is another thing that might draw one to be a cytotechnologist. Sometimes someone might become a cytotechnologist as an alternative to becoming a physician, pharmacist, or physical therapist if they can’t get into those programs. Those who enjoy working with their hands may find the profession of a cytotechnologist to be appealing. Sometimes the job of cytotechnologist is recommended to people by those who love it for the above reasons or those reasons to come later in this blog. Being a cytotechnologist can also be appealing for those who want to be in the medical field, but who don’t want to work directly with patients.
Find a job as a cytotechnologist.
How Employers are Retaining Cytotechnologists – Part Two
Make sure to read part one of this blog on how employers can retain cytotechnologists before you start on part two.
Offering flexible hours to cytotechnologists is another great incentive that shouldn’t cost the company any money and will increase job satisfaction for cytotechnologists. Flexible hours are quite valuable to many cytotechnologists, especially if they have children. Tuition reimbursement is another option that employers of cytotechnologists would certainly enjoy, as well as offering an exercise facility. Some facilities offer paid work out time to cytotechnologists. This seems like a high cost, but it has been shown that after working out employees such as cytotechnologists are more awake and focused. Cytotechnologists will have great appreciation for this exercise time and will likely tell people outside of the lab about this wonderful perk.
In addition, employees who work out are healthier employees, and sometimes employers of cytotechnologists are able to save money on health insurance plans for cytotechnologists who work out more often.
Health insurance is often a big consideration for a cytotechnologist. It is important to make sure that the health insurance benefits offered are at least similar to what cytotechnologists would see in other labs, if not better.
These efforts will also go a long way towards enticing other cytotechnologists to come work in your lab, even if the pay offered isn’t as great as they might find elsewhere.
Learn about finding a job as a cytotechnologist.
Source:
Koehler, Amanda (November 3, 2008) Pinching Pennies. Advance for Medical Laboratory Professionals. Page 22-23.
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.
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.
