Oregon State Society of American Fall/ Winter 2018 Medical Technologists Volume 35, Issue 2

The Microscoop

The Microscoop is published two times a year under the sponsorship of the Oregon State Society of American Medical Technologists-Allied Health Professionals. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and are not necessarily those of AMT or ORSSAMT. The Editor reserves the right to edit any submitted materials. Contents are not to be INSIDE THIS ISSUE reproduced or reprinted without permission of the Editor. The MICROSCOOP-Oregon State Society of American Medical Technologists- ORSSAMT officers ...... 2 Allied Health Professionals. Legislative Report ...... 3 Delegates Report ...... 4 Western District Councillor’s message……5 President’s Message ...... 6 NWMLS 2018 ...... 8 Articles………………….10 Calendar………………...12

AMT– 2018 OREGON STATE SOCIETY OFFICERS

Louise Isbell, RMA Susan M. Beard, MT

PRESIDENT PRESIDENT– ELECT

EDITOR

Audrienne Whitley, MT Edna Anderson, MT SECRETARY TREASURER

William Dettwyler, MT Susan Potter, MT LEGISLATIVE CHAIR BOARD MEMBER Board MEMBER

Sheryl Rounsivill, RMA Marilyn Abertsen, MT Kimberly Cheuront, PhD

WESTERN DISTRICT COUNCILLOR PAST PRESIDENT AMT JUDICIAL COUNCILLOR BOARD MEMBER

2 LEGISLATIVE REPORT 2018

AMT NWMLS REPORT October 2018 Legislative Report for the Fall AMT meeting for Oregon Capitol Hill, Washington D.C. Of the many challenges that labs face in the coming years, the most critical one is the PAMA (Patient Access to Medicare Act) concern. This Act initiated by Congress has been to reduce the payment to laboratories selectively over other medical services. The intent of Congress was to pick on a small segment of the Health Care Industry that could not easily combat or fight back these reductions. The original intent was to reduce payments to laboratories by about 100 million dollars. CMS did not follow the intent of Congress and wrote the rules that have resulted in a reduction of close to two thirds of a Billion dollars, approximately $670,000,000.

This magnitude of reduction will within a few years reduce the number of laboratories to a very few mega labs that will be able to have a monopoly on the laboratory industry and it will raise havoc with the access of lab services to Medicare recipients. Money will be saved short term as now a Lab courier/phlebotomist is paid about 2 dollars to go out and collect a lab specimen and another $2.94 for the blood draw, costing Medicare about $4.94. In a few years after the small labs are gone and many locations will not have currier service any longer the Hospital Emergency Department will be contacted to send out an ambulance to bring the patient in to the ER, to have the blood drawn and then another ambulance to take the patient back to the Nursing Facility. This 10 to 15 thousand dollar cost will be significantly higher than the present cost of $4.94. Most other concerns for the laboratories will be minor compared to PAMA (Preventing Access to Medicare Act) and the destructive effects that this one Act will have done to Laboratories. Adding to the concerns for laboratories is the shortage of personnel, as the number of new graduates is not keeping up with the demand. Compounding this problem is that the salaries of Techs are now significantly below what the RN’s are paid, and there are less persons wanting to enter a program that is not wage competitive. For a profession that furnishes close to 70% of the information utilized by a physician making a diagnosis, that is a sorry state. My advice, contact your congressperson, have your friends do it also, but it may already be too late.

William K. Dettwyler, MT LEGISLATIVE Chair - ORSSAMT 2018

3 DELEGATE REPORT

It is always special to attend the AMT convention and reconnect with friends as well meet new members.

The scientific program was interesting and relevant. As a 60 year member of AMT I always learn something new in the medical field.

All Child abuse is disturbing and the speaker explained “ Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy” form of abuse. The perpetuator is usually the parent of primary caregiver. The perpetuator keeps the child ill by various means. By keeping the child ill they receive attention for caring a chronically sick child. The speaker explained there is a psychiatric condition and it also is a hard form of abuse to prove.

“Blood Product Deviation from FDA: Information New Managers Should Know:, The speaker shared the information about what blood product deviation is and what has to be reported to the FDA. It is critical that everyone involved in the manufacture of blood products to the administering of blood products to the patients have the information. The speaker shared what has to be reported , how to report it and where to report it.

Finally, “Special Needs of the Geriatric Patient” was helpful in understanding those changes as we age. The speaker explained needs with hearing loss, needs with sight loss and changes in the body. An example of changes is hair loss in some spots and hair gain in other places. The medical staff needs to understand all of the needs and changes in their patents. It will be helpful in helping the patient as well of those in our personal life.

I thank the AMT staff and AMT officers, Board of Directors and all of the committees who make the convention terrific every year.

Audrienne Whitley, MT

DELEGATE REPORT

AMT convention was very good as usual this year in Washington DC. I wish more of you could have attended. It is always a pleasure to meet and greet old friends and to make new friends.

I attended many sessions but I found I needed to pay attention to this particular class. I went to a class on Melanoma. It is a very deadly and the most common form of skin cancer in the U.S. It can develop any where in the body. Be aware of changes in moles. As in color, asymmetry, diameter etc. It attacks basil cells, and they advised to not use sun tan beds as they increase the possibility of Melanoma, and stay out of the direct sun between 10am and 2pm. UV radiation causes muta- tion in the skin. Especially UV exposure-blistering sunburn before the age of 18. Too much sun when you are young affects you when you are old. In other words if you notice changes of any kind, have it checked out. Care: See your dermatologist who may send you to an oncologist if needed Treatment: Depends on the stage 1,2,3,4. Care could be medication, radiation, chemo or surgery.

Thank you for sending me as your RMA delegate to National convention this year. Hope you can attend nest year. Have a good and safe year.

4 Sincerely, Louise Isbell RMA(AMT)

WESTERN DISTRICT COUNCILLOR’S MESSAGE

AMT's 80th Educational Meeting and Educational Program was held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. There were 415 registered members, guests and students in attendance. I hope everyone that had the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. and was able to walk around the city, even though it was hot and humid. Some of you might have had the chance to take a tour on their hop on hop off bus. Venture out to see our Nation’s Capital and monuments or maybe you took on the July 4th spectacular at the Capital either way it was another successful AMT convention. Here is some important information I would like to share with you. Award recipients from the Western District received their awards at the awards banquet in Washington, DC as follows: RMA of the Year Nicole Weiss, RMA,RPT,AHI California - Exception Merit Lucy Leyva, RPT Wyoming - Pillar Award Jill Carlson, RMA Colorado – Fr. Ernest, Silva, jr., M. Div, RMA , RPT, AHI, Hawaii – Distinguished Achievement Adrian Rios, RMA California – Silver Service Award Robert L. Newberry, MT Wyoming – Honor Roll State Societies Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Northwest, Oregon, Rocky Mountain – State Society Publication Awards – Journal 3rd place Juanito Naval, MT Editor, New Mexico – Newsletter 1st place Nicole Weiss, RMA,RPT,AHI, Editor California – Editor of the Year Nicole Weiss RMA,RPT,AHI, Editor – Friends of AMT Judy Marchand, New Mexico. Congratulations to you all.

Three new members were elected to the Board of Directors. Harry Narine, MT, RPT - CASMET, Martha Hinkel, MT - Rocky Mountain and Francine Orin, RMA-Central Plains were elected to their first term. Your AMT Officers are President: Jeannette Hobson, RMA, RPT, CMAS, AHI; Vice President: Christopher Seay, MT Secretary: Deborah Westervelt, RMA, COLT and Treasurer: Ken Hawker, MT.

AMT’s 81st Educational Program and National Meeting will be in Chicago, Illinois at the Chicago Hilton Hotel 720 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 6060 July 1-5, 2019. Room rates will be $ 129 + tax single or double occupancy. Plan your vacation around the AMT national meeting as there is so much to see and do in Chicago. AMT’s 2020 meeting will be held in the Western District.

Magnolia and Great Lakes conference October 19-20, 2018 Medical Assistants Recognition Week (MARW) is October 15-19, 2018. Registered Medical Assistants (RMA) will be celebrating the theme “Medical Assistants: At the Heart of Healthcare” Download the 2018 logo and promo kit from the AMT website and help get the word out in your state.

Check out the newly released AMTrax video – Quick Guide to AMTrax for CCP, now available for viewing on YouTube. It is about nine minutes in length and is a step-by-step instructional video on how to log your continuing education on AMTrax.

Maggie Highland is the new Guest speaker approval, email her at [email protected] As always it is an honor to work with you all. Looking forward to seeing and working with this great district in the coming months! Have any questions please email me at [email protected]

Sheryl Rounsivill Western District Councillor

5 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

I hope this Fall brings good memories to you. Our beautiful State is working in all temps these days and I am hoping you are faring as best you can. They say the fires should be out by October, lets hope so. This month brings many things for Oregon State Society. We have Medical Assistant week which I hope that you were able to celebrate with your colleagues. Check the AMT web site for things going on for you to participate in. I love being an RMA and have been for 40 + years. The National Convention in July was very busy, educational and fun. It will be in Chicago, Illinois next year, in July so try to plan to come.

We had our Symposium last October 22-27, 2018. Our board meeting was conducted Friday October 24th and business meeting on October 26th and we elected a new board member. I’m glad to see some of you at the symposium.

Take care.

Sincerely,

Louise Isbell, RMA - ORSSAMT President

Views from the AMT National Convention 2018 American Medical Technologists– Allied Health held a fun and educational meeting every year. This event is held on different states of the country. It is very informative and fun for all Jeannette Hobson New AMT Officers R-L Jeannette Hobson–President, Christopher Seay– Vice President, Ken Hawker– Treasurer, allied health professionals New AMT President Deborah Westervelt– Secretary all around the country. Oregon State has been part of this convention and this year we have two dele- gates that attended the convention.

Oregon State Society Delegates - Audrienne Whitley, MT and Louise

6 Isbell, RMA AMT National Convention 2019 The National Convention 2019 will be in Chicago, Illinois. For more information Jefferson Memorial please visit Washington, D.C. Lincoln Memorial www.americanmedtech.org

Washington, D.C. or call 1-847-823-5169

Library of Congress– Jefferson National Archives Reflection Pool Building Certification Continuation Washington, D.C. Program through AMTrax go to the website:

https://www.americanmedtech.org/Stay-Certified/ AMTrax

Drum and Flute for the Opening Ceremony at the National Convention

July 1-5, 2018 Washington, DC

7

Northwest Medical Laboratory Symposium 2018

ADVERTISEMENT RATE The Northwest Medical Laboratory Symposium is conducted every year, one year ______in Portland, Oregon and the next year in Lynnwood, Washington. It offers a variety of continuing education for all laboratory professionals. This year the event was Business Card $20 held in Portland Oregon. It has gathered a lot of Allied Health professionals. The event was a joint effort with the AMT– American Medical Technologists and the 1/4 page $35 ASCLS– American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science state officers and mem- bers. 1/2 page $65 The event was held last October 24-27, 2018 in Holiday Inn, Portland Airport, Full page $100 Portland Oregon.

Money received for advertising will be used to help publish THE MICROSCOOP.

Checks are to be written to ORSSAMT. Information for publication should be submitted to the Editor. One of the sessions during the NWMLS 2018 in Portland Oregon Sheryl Rounsivill, Western District Councillor

Susan Potter, MT - Board Member at the Information Desk

8 Louise Isbell, RMA and Susan Potter, MT

AMT– Oregon State Society Members at the NWMLS 2018

Edna Anderson– NWMLS 2018 Registration

Audrienne Whitley - NWMLS 2018 Registration

At the ORSSAMT Business Meeting held last October 26, 2018 we elected a new board member!

More information to follow on the next issue of our newsletter...

Audrienne and Edna together at the NWMLS Registration Booth

9 Do you really need a friend at work? Recibiste tu vacuna contra la gripe? by Susan M. Beard Did you get your flu shot yet? If you did good job! When I first came to the United States I Here is the GALLUP data and observa- worked as a Medical Laboratory Scientist, tions that report having a best friend at If you haven’t please go the facility that I worked for had a work: get one. Arm yourself for GALLUP survey for the workplace. I was  43% more likely to report having the ones you love... told this was a gauge for the hospital received recognition for their work management to see how successful the organization is and how they can improve  37% more likely to report that things within. As I started to read the someone at work encourages their survey I was struck about one of the development questions “ Do you have a best friend at  35% more likely to report coworker work?” I didn’t understand why this commitment to quality particular question was asked. My initial reaction to the question was very  28% more likely to report that in the skeptical since to me the word last six months, someone at work has “ best friend” is a very singular and talked to them about their progress special relationship.  27% more likely to report that the I am new to the organization and I didn’t mission of their company makes them feel their job is important EDITOR’S Corner know anyone. I was working a 7 on 7 off graveyard shift back then and the  27% more likely to report that their chances of making a best friend is very Hello ORSSAMT members, opinion seem to count at work slim. I answered that particular question Do you have any news and on the survey with a “NO.”  21% more likely to report that at updates that you wanted to let work, they have the opportunity to us know? Or any suggestions on After few years of getting the same do what they do best everyday how to improve our newsletter? survey every year, I have learned that Please let me or the ORSSAMT this kind of question This is true of all of my working officers know. “ Do you have a best friend at work?” is a experiences throughout different I really appreciate your help and great tool for employee engagement and organizations that I have worked for. continued support. this will improve business outcomes and The more friends or “best friends “ I have Thank you to those individuals productivity. at work I learned that I performed better who contributed to our Fall/ and happier within my workplace. Winter newsletter 2018. Know Researchers have repeatedly shown a that you are all appreciated. concrete link between having a Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!! “best friend” at work and the amount of Reference: Best regards, effort expended in their job. Business Journal May 26,1999 Susan M Beard An example, employees who strongly Item 10: I have a Best Friend at Work Editor agree they have a best friend at work are more than twice as likely to be engaged compared with those who say otherwise.

10 Temperature Chart Recorders in Blood Banking

Quality Blood Bank storage is a life Steps in removing chart paper: • Press and hold the C button. saving measure designed to protect When the stylus begins to move • Open the chart recorder door you. The Blood Bank refrigerator right release the button. serves as the main storage facility for • Locate the C button, press and • Close the chart recorder door. all refrigerated blood products hold down (about two seconds), received in the blood bank and are then release when stylus begin to Remember the temperature chart designed for the precise requirements move left. should be read and checked at least of blood banking and processing once a day or on each shift depending • When the stylus stops moving, applications. on the policy in your blood banking. unscrew the stylus knob Blood bank refrigerators feature alarm systems that will alert you of critical • Carefully move the stylus out of power failures or temperature the way and remove the chart deviations and chart recorders. paper. It is very crucial that these charts are Installing the chart paper: placed correctly for the accurate tem- perature monitoring. • Match the chart paper current timeline with the chart recorder When placing and installing a new timeline groove chart paper it can sometimes result in an error. This needs to be avoided to • Place the chart paper on the chart Example of a temperature paper chart in Blood Banking reduce cost and guarantee AABB, FDA recorder and reinstall the chart and Joint Commission compliance. knob Reference: The following are steps in removing • Make sure the knob is locked all Helmer Scientific Temperature Chart Recorder and installing Refrigerator/Freezer Operation and Service Manual the way and make sure that it is Version A 360076-1/L page 7 chart paper. not loose

MICROBIOLOGY: Streaking for Isolation Aseptic techniques are used to maintain microbiological cultures and 2. Quadrant streak method - useful when separating organisms in a to prevent contamination of the growth medium. In microbiology, mixed culture or when the need to study the colony morphology streaking plays an important part to isolate a pure stain from a single of an organism. species of the bacteria or microorganism. The assortment of microbes that exist in the environment and on human bodies is enormous. The human body has billions of bacteria Bacteria are ubiquitous. In many cases, it is difficult to obtain a which creates the normal flora fighting against the invading growth of pure colonies without first separating more than one kind pathogens. Bacteria frequently occur in mixed populations. It is very of bacteria from the a culture. This is often done by streaking the rare to find a single occurring species of bacteria. specimen on appropriate agar, followed by removing specific To be able to study the cultural, morphological, and physiological colonies from the newly grown colonies and then growing new characteristics of an individual species, it is vital that the bacteria be colonies from the first isolate. This is most easily done by aseptically divided from the other species that generally originate in the environ- transferring a colony that has a specific color, or a specific ment. This is important in determining a bacterium in a appearance or a specific size to one agar, and the other bacteria to clinical sample. When the bacteria is other agar plates. The incubation is repeated, then the bacteria are streaked and isolated, the causative stained or grown on agar specific for growth, or inhibition of growth, agent of a bacterial disease can be of specific bacteria. Regardless, this process is a process of isolation identified. of a single kind of bacteria to obtain a pure culture for identification References: and treatment purposes. Black, Jacquelyn G. Microbiology: Principles and Explorations Marymount University, 1999 Different method for bacterial isolation. Beishir, L: Microbiology in Practice: A Self- Above: illustration for the T streak Instructional Laboratory Course, Fifth Edition. 1. T streak method – is the basic, yet crucial skill used by micro- method streaking (Harper Collins: New York) 1991 biologist on a daily basis to isolate, identify and study colonies of

bacteria. 11 PAMA GRASSROOTS UPCOMING EVENTS…. ACTIVITY November 5-16 , 2018

The Clinical Laboratory Coalition is getting ready for another grassroot advocacy on PAMA ( Protecting Access to Medicare Act). During the next two weeks, they will be developing a “ freeze-bridge” proposal to delay PAMA. Laboratory organizations and their members are encouraged to send emails to create a message to Congress on PAMA price reductions, while stake- holders develop a more representation of the market pricing. Please join them in taking part of this grassroots action!

…. IF YOU ARE MOVING and want to continue to receive the The pictures in this newsletter were provided by the members Microscoop and the AMT of the ORSSAMT, President and the Editor. Permission for publications, especially renewal these pictures and graphics was granted to our publication. of your information please notify the AMT home office. Let them know by a simple phone call to 1-847-823-5169 or by email: [email protected] YOUR LOGO HERE