Standard 22B Instructional Areas HT Accredited Curriculum

Standard 22B The standard states: The curriculum must include: 1.Methodologies for all major areas currently practiced by a modern histopathology laboratory, including problem solving and troubleshooting techniques; 2.Receiving and documenting, processing, and analyzing biological specimens and other substances; 3.Histopathologic examination utilization in diagnosis and treatment; 4.Communications sufficient to serve the needs of patients and the public; 2

Standard 22B, continued 5. Technical training sufficient to orient new employees; 6. Quality Assessment in the Laboratory; 7. Laboratory safety and regulatory compliance 8. Information processing in the clinical histopathology laboratory; 9. Ethical and professional conduct; and, 10. Significance of continued professional development. 3

Standard 22B Objectives Upon completion of this unit of instruction and review of additional resources, the learner shall be able to: Identify the scientific content required for the HT curriculum as defined by the NAACLS standards Review course curriculum and assess if all required content areas are addressed. Categorize examples of curriculum topics/experiences into the appropriate instructional areas for HT. 4

Standard 22B.1 – The program must ensure that the methodologies of a modern histopathology laboratory are included in the curriculum by determining that they are either: Taught as part of the HT program curriculum Or Taught as a prerequisite university/college course prior to entry into the HT program. 5

Standard 22B Components of a modern histopathology laboratory that require problem solving and troubleshooting as applied to receiving, documenting, processing, and analyzing specimens include but are not limited to: Tissue fixationTissue processing Tissue embeddingMicrotomy Slide coverslippingDecalcification Special stainsRoutine staining 6

Standard 22B Although much attention is given to the core technical skills of a histotechnician, there are supporting skills that students must be well versed in to function as an entry level professional 3. Histopathologic examination utilization in diagnosis and treatment; 4. Communications sufficient to serve the needs of patients and the public; 5. Technical training sufficient to orient new employees; 6. Quality Assessment in the Laboratory; 7. Laboratory safety and regulatory compliance; 8. Information processing in the clinical histopathology laboratory; 9. Ethical and professional conduct; and, 10. Significance of continued professional development. 7

Standard 22B.3 Histopathologic examination utilization in diagnosis and treatment. – Instruction for students must make obvious for them how their daily work impacts patient care and treatment. Example: Her2neu results and subsequent hormonal treatment for breast cancer. Example: Positive Acid Fast Bacillus stain and subsequent treatment for tuberculosis.

Standard 22B.4 Communications sufficient to serve the needs of patients and the public – Although the primary work of an HT is within the confines of a laboratory, practicing HTs are often called upon to interface with service technicians or patients seeking materials for second opinion. – In addition, students should understand that department communication results in a high performing team that provides exceptional patient care. Strong communication plays a role in conflict management, telephone etiquette, and business communication such as , and memos

Standard 22B.5 Technical training sufficient to orient new employees – Practicing HTs are often called upon to assist in the orientation of new staff members or students. Programs should prepare students for such expectations. – Examples of ways to provide experience in orienting new employees: Create and present an in-service for the clinical laboratory personnel Create and present a recruitment session for a grade school, high school or college Develop competency assessment tools. Create an educational poster presentation for non-laboratory personnel or the public

Standard 22B.6 Quality assessment in the laboratory – Practicing HTs are called upon to perform quality assessment of laboratory practices. Students should be prepared for the role of quality assurance and quality improvement in a laboratory. – Examples of quality assessment: Review of quality control slides for routine and special stains Review of proficiency testing data Review of laboratory compliance with CAP accreditation checklists. Review of quality assurance monitors in the histology laboratory such as slide mislabeling thresholds or tissue contaminants at microtomy

Standard 22B.7 Laboratory safety and regulatory compliance: – Students and practicing HTs must have an understanding of the safety risks related to their work and the multiple agencies regulating their practice. – Examples: Accreditation (CAP, The Joint Commission, CLIA) Hazardous Waste Handling (OSHA and the Environmental Protection Agency) Compliance (HIPAA and Hospital confidentiality policies) Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement (CPT Coding and ICD9 coding)

Standard 22B.8 Information processing in the clinical histopathology laboratory. – Laboratory information systems play a key role in the modern histopathology laboratory. – Students should be exposed to manual processes such as special stain ordering but also have been exposed to computer systems that facilitate patient reporting, test orders, and quality event tracking.

Standard 22B.9 Ethical and Professional conduct – Students must be prepared to participate in a hospital community. Such participation requires professional conduct and respect for patient’s rights and privacy. – Examples: Professional ethics Hospital medical ethics committee Program policies such as plagiarism and honesty

Standard 22B.10 Significance of continued professional development – Professional development is essential for an HT to remain informed and relevant in the medical setting. They must remain abreast of changes in regulation or practice. – During the program, students must be exposed to tools that can be used to continue their professional development beyond graduation. Examples: – Professional societies – Continuing education conferences, – Certification and continuing education maintenance – Presentation at professional meeting – Specialist certifications

Assessment Based on the NAACLS HT standards, which of the following is considered required curriculum? a.Troubleshooting b.Physics c.Ecology d.College algebra 16

Assessment A program can illustrate the regulatory requirements by asking students to: a. Assess a laboratory’s compliance with a CAP checklist. b. Participate in a mock Joint Commission inspection c. Perform a sample proficiency test d. All of the above 17

Assessment HT students are given the opportunity to sit with a pathologist during slide review, ancillary test ordering, and case sign-out. This is an example of education in the curricular area of: a.Histopathologic examination utilization in diagnosis and treatment. b.Laboratory safety and regulatory compliance c.Significance of continued professional development d.Technical training sufficient to orient new employees. 18

Assessment An HT student is asked to research and present a journal article to clinical instruction staff. This is an example of which curricular area: a.Quality assessment in the laboratory b.Group projects c.Information processing in the clinical histopathology laboratory d.Significance of continued professional development. 19