Association of Pathology ChairsAssociation of Pathology ChairsPathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators Section

Annual APC / PDAS MeetingAnnual APC / PDAS MeetingCheyenne Mountain ResortCheyenne Mountain ResortColorado Springs, ColoradoColorado Springs, Colorado

July 2008July 2008

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionHistology Staffing CrisisHistology Staffing Crisis

The History…The History…

Early Fall 2007:Early Fall 2007:•Surveyed PDAS Membership to Submit Histology Staffing Surveyed PDAS Membership to Submit Histology Staffing ProblemsProblems

Late Fall 2007:Late Fall 2007:•Presented PDAS Views to NSH at NSH Annual Symposium in DenverPresented PDAS Views to NSH at NSH Annual Symposium in Denver

Winter 2007/2008Winter 2007/2008•Presented both PDAS & NSH views at Regional PDAS Meetings, which Presented both PDAS & NSH views at Regional PDAS Meetings, which sadly mandated travel to Puerto Vallarta and San Juansadly mandated travel to Puerto Vallarta and San Juan

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionQuick Summary of PDAS vs. NSH ViewsQuick Summary of PDAS vs. NSH Views

EXTERNAL CHALLENGESEXTERNAL CHALLENGES

INTERNAL CHALLENGESINTERNAL CHALLENGES

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

External Challenge #1 – External Challenge #1 – Supply vs. DemandSupply vs. Demand• Current population of registered technologists is aging, Current population of registered technologists is aging, many approaching retirement.many approaching retirement.• Number of nationally accredited histology schools are Number of nationally accredited histology schools are decreasing.decreasing.

NSH RESPONSE: www.nsh.org website provides a comprehensive list NSH RESPONSE: www.nsh.org website provides a comprehensive list of histology schools and contact information. NSH officials will also of histology schools and contact information. NSH officials will also collect information on non-accredited programs and forward to PDAS collect information on non-accredited programs and forward to PDAS for distribution.for distribution.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

External Challenge #2 – External Challenge #2 – Regulatory StrugglesRegulatory Struggles

• New federal and/or state licensure mandates.New federal and/or state licensure mandates.• Inconsistent and conflicting institutional Inconsistent and conflicting institutional requirements for certification/education.requirements for certification/education.

NSH RESPONSE: We need more help from the Administrators NSH RESPONSE: We need more help from the Administrators and Chairmen. We need to work together more effectively to and Chairmen. We need to work together more effectively to resolve these internal and external regulatory challenges.resolve these internal and external regulatory challenges.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

External Challenge #3 – External Challenge #3 – TechnologyTechnology• Lack of qualified applicants who are Lack of qualified applicants who are technologically savvy.technologically savvy.• Technology increases often favor more Technology increases often favor more educated candidates, who are often NOT the educated candidates, who are often NOT the most qualified histologists.most qualified histologists.NSH RESPONSE: Histologists have had to NSH RESPONSE: Histologists have had to handle the lab responsibilities over the years. handle the lab responsibilities over the years.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

External Challenge #4 – External Challenge #4 – Identity CrisisIdentity Crisis• Lack of support and/or understanding from human Lack of support and/or understanding from human resources departments. resources departments. • Histology vs. other medical technology specialties. Histology vs. other medical technology specialties. NSH RESPONSE: Must immediately NSH RESPONSE: Must immediately develop/increase efforts to gain “pathology develop/increase efforts to gain “pathology awareness” …….departmental/histology tours, awareness” …….departmental/histology tours, internal regional lectures, local college in-internal regional lectures, local college in-services, internships have been very effective.services, internships have been very effective.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

External Challenge #5 - External Challenge #5 - CompetitionCompetition • Competition between hospitals and private Competition between hospitals and private industry.industry.• Enormously varying pay scales nationwide.Enormously varying pay scales nationwide.

NSH RESPONSE: Administrators’ and NSH RESPONSE: Administrators’ and Chairmen's fault for not assuring equitable Chairmen's fault for not assuring equitable pay and not supporting histologists.pay and not supporting histologists.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

Internal Challenge #1 – Internal Challenge #1 – Lack of Internal Support by Lack of Internal Support by SupervisorsSupervisors• Unwilling / resistant to train a “successor”Unwilling / resistant to train a “successor”• Uneducated supervisors vs. educated techniciansUneducated supervisors vs. educated technicians• Uncertified supervisors vs. HT/HTL(ASCP) techniciansUncertified supervisors vs. HT/HTL(ASCP) technicians

NSH RESPONSE: Varied…agreed/disagreed. NSH RESPONSE: Varied…agreed/disagreed. We had no choice…We had no choice…

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

Internal Challenge #2 – Internal Challenge #2 – Problems Developing Histology Problems Developing Histology Training ProgramsTraining Programs• Often lose trainees shortly after trainingOften lose trainees shortly after training• Consumes too much faculty timeConsumes too much faculty time• Costly / BureaucraticCostly / Bureaucratic

NSH RESPONSE: Would consider employment contracts if NSH RESPONSE: Would consider employment contracts if salary scales were uniform and comparable. Need more salary scales were uniform and comparable. Need more Chairman and Administration ‘buy in’ to sustain these Chairman and Administration ‘buy in’ to sustain these programs.programs.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology StaffingPDAS vs. NSH Views – Histology Staffing

Internal Challenge #3 – Internal Challenge #3 – Lack of Support from Pathologists & Lack of Support from Pathologists &

FacultyFaculty NSH RESPONSE: Integrate Histology as a NSH RESPONSE: Integrate Histology as a mandatory training program rotation for all mandatory training program rotation for all fellows and residents….”start them young”fellows and residents….”start them young”

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionSummer Meeting – July 2008Summer Meeting – July 2008

So What Do We Do Now???So What Do We Do Now???

•5 Suggestions for PDAS to Review5 Suggestions for PDAS to Review

•These were presented to NSH President, These were presented to NSH President, Vincent Della Speranza (Medical Vincent Della Speranza (Medical University of South Carolina) in Feb 2008.University of South Carolina) in Feb 2008.

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionHistology Staffing Histology Staffing

1.1. Exchange direct web site links on Exchange direct web site links on NSH & APC/PDAS web sites. Under NSH & APC/PDAS web sites. Under the PDAS section of APC, we would the PDAS section of APC, we would have a direct link to:have a direct link to:

www.nsh.orgwww.nsh.org

(Status: NSH has agreed…PDAS? APC?)(Status: NSH has agreed…PDAS? APC?)

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionHistology Staffing Histology Staffing

2.2. Exchange PDAS/NSH council Exchange PDAS/NSH council members’ information and agree to members’ information and agree to try to align our organizations for any try to align our organizations for any suitable national issuers).suitable national issuers).

(Status: NSH agreed. PDAS? APC?)(Status: NSH agreed. PDAS? APC?)

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionHistology Staffing Histology Staffing

3.3. Obtain a ‘packet’ of Histology Obtain a ‘packet’ of Histology information from NSH to distribute to information from NSH to distribute to our training program directors who our training program directors who may have significant influence over may have significant influence over incoming fellows/residents. incoming fellows/residents.

(Status: Pending..hoped to get this (Status: Pending..hoped to get this packet for this meeting)packet for this meeting)

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionHistology Staffing Histology Staffing

4.4. Encourage all Administrators Encourage all Administrators and Chairman to become and Chairman to become proactive in improving proactive in improving awareness for all aspects of our awareness for all aspects of our industry. Target audiences industry. Target audiences should include Human should include Human Resources, other departments, Resources, other departments, local schools, job fairs, etc. local schools, job fairs, etc.

(Status: Sure Thing)(Status: Sure Thing)

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators SectionHistology Staffing Histology Staffing

5.5. Exchange names of key individual(s) Exchange names of key individual(s) who will serve as the voice for each who will serve as the voice for each group. Currently offered John Baci as group. Currently offered John Baci as a contact person to NSH.a contact person to NSH.

(Status: NSH President will serve as key (Status: NSH President will serve as key contact)contact)

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators Section Parting Comments:Parting Comments:

CONSCONS Surprised by the level of animosity and Surprised by the level of animosity and

suspicion…well, maybe not!suspicion…well, maybe not! Many goals & suggestions sound like Miss Many goals & suggestions sound like Miss

AmericaAmerica Thought I would have been able to accomplish Thought I would have been able to accomplish

moremore Still very difficult to communicate….many “old Still very difficult to communicate….many “old

walls to break through.”walls to break through.”

Pathology Department Administrators SectionPathology Department Administrators Section Parting Comments:Parting Comments:

PROSPROS Any communication is goodAny communication is good Proud to have extended the ‘olive branch’Proud to have extended the ‘olive branch’ Maybe won over some NSH folksMaybe won over some NSH folks Web site link will be a positive & useful toolWeb site link will be a positive & useful tool May appeal to the younger generation of both May appeal to the younger generation of both

groupsgroups Intend to continue this effort into the futureIntend to continue this effort into the future