ASCT Executive Council

President – Kalyani Naik

President-Elect –
Brent Brewerton

Secretary/ Treasurer –
Joan Rossi  
Immediate Past President –
Sue Zaleski  
Legislative Consultant –
Janie Roberson

Regional Directors

Region 1 – Dan Cybula

Region 2 – Beverly Resch

Region 3 – Don Simpson

Region 4 – Judy Modery

Region 5 – Joe Walker

Editorial Board

Editor in Chief --
Brenda Schultz
Stoughton, WI

Editorial Assistant --
Beth Denny
Raleigh, NC

Education Editor --
Barbara Frain
Indianapolis, IN

Legislative Affairs Editor --
Janie Roberson
Birmingham, AL

Professional Standards Editor --
Lynnette Savaloja
St. Paul, MN

E-Newsletter Designer --
Nancy Difede
Raleigh, NC

Publication Schedule

Volume III Editorial Deadline
Issue 4 June 1, 2006  
Mid-July available on line

Issue 5 August 1, 2006  
Mid-September available on line

Issue 6 October 1, 2006 
Mid-November available on line

Volume IV Editorial Deadline
Issue 1 December 1, 2006  
Mid-January, 2007 available on line

Issue 2  February 1, 2007 
Mid-March  available on line

ASCT

1500 Sunday Drive Suite 102 Raleigh , NC 27607
800-948-3947 phone
919-787-4916 fax

www.asct.com

 

For the Voice in its entirety (.pdf), please click here...

  
September 2006
The American Society for Cytotechnology, as the collective voice for the profession, is committed to defining and promoting the profession of Cytotechnology
ASCT 2006 Cytotechnology Wage and Vacancy Survey

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.  It was last conducted in 2005 and is being performed in 2006 in order to keep you and other interested parties informed of the current economic status in the industry. Please take a few moments to anonymously answer the following questions.  If you have any questions please contact ASCT at 800-948-3947. 

Screening Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Carol Filomena, MD, FASCP
Lately, I have been flooded with newsletters from various organizations and alma maters about service projects to help victims of the New Orleans flood.  It is great that national disasters spur so many Americans to help those less fortunate than themselves.  But does it take a national disaster to spur us to help those less fortunate than ourselves or can we find opportunities to serve those who exist with bleak routine circumstances?

CLIAC Recommends Overhaul of Cytology PT Regulation
A federal advisory panel meeting in Atlanta, recommended that the federal government completely revamp the cytology proficiency testing regulation written into law nearly 15 years ago and implemented by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2005 to assess the competency of individual pathologists and cytotechnologists
Win Big

Want to win a FREE registration to the ASCT Annual Conference held in San Antonio, Texas April 27-29, 2007 and capture the true spirit of Texas?  Recruit FIVE or more NEW members to join ASCT and both your name and their names will be entered into a drawing to win one FREE meeting registration.   

Normal and Benign Cervical Cytopathology, a CD-ROM Review

This 1st edition of the Normal and Benign Cervical Cytopathology CD-ROM provides comprehensive information aimed at refreshing and updating the knowledge and skills of physicians and technologists. For cytotechnology students, it is an important learning tool that provides fundamental and current information and illustrations on normal and benign patterns in cervical smears while also correlating the cytological features with the relevant anatomy, histology, pathology and various collection techniques.

Interesting Case Report: Wilms Tumor in a Young Male

The patient was a five year old male who presented with abdominal pain in March 2002. Core biopsies were performed on bilateral kidney masses seen on computed tomography (CT).  Biopsies indicated Wilm’s tumor and both kidneys were subsequently surgically removed. Eight months later, a fine needle aspiration (FNA) of a new abdominal mass was performed. From this procedure, slides were prepared and stained with Papanicolaou and May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG) stains.

Spotlight on Region 4

Region 4 Happenings

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Update
On June 16th, 2006 the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its 17 month study Clinical Lab Quality: CMS and Survey Organization Oversight Should Be Strengthened. This study found that CMS, who oversees the implementation of CLIA regulations, was weak in five areas, revealing true and potential flaws in laboratory quality.
ACIP Recommends HPV Vaccination
On June 29th 2006, recommendations for Merck’s HPV vaccine Gardasil® to be routinely given to 11 to 12 year-old girls were made by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The ACIP, an advisory committee consisting of 15 members appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), advises the director of the CDC and Secretary of HHS on control of vaccine-preventable diseases and usage.
Lewis-Gale Medical Center Seeking Cytotechnologist
“Lewis-Gale Medical Center, an HCA 521 Bed Tertiary Care Facility located in the Roanoke/Salem area of SW Virginia is currently seeking a Full-time Cytotechnologist.  At Lewis-Gale Medical Center you will feel like much more than just another set of eyes.  We are looking for an experienced Cytotechnologist, and will consider new graduates.  We are looking for someone interested in working in collaboration with our Physicians and being a resource to them.”

JCAHO Announces 2007 National Patient Safety Goals

The Joint Commission announced the 2007 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) and related Requirements for each of its accreditation programs and its Disease-Specific Care certification program. Major changes in this fifth annual issuance of NPSGs include extension of a Requirement that accredited organizations define and communicate the means for patients and their families to report concerns about safety, across all Joint Commission accreditation and certification programs. 

Gynecologic Cancer Foundation’s (GCF) Anniversary Opportunity

The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation’s (GCF) 15th anniversary provides a special opportunity to make this year’s Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM) the most effective to date.  To help you achieve this goal, a 2006 GCAM Tool Kit is available to partners. In addition to promoting general gynecologic cancer education and awareness for our September campaign, GCF will address issues related to Familial Breast-Ovarian Cancer Syndrome.

An Update from ASCCP
The 2006 ASCCP Consensus Conference on the Management of Cytological Abnormalities and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia will be held September 18-19 at the NCI in Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting will review and revise draft guidelines developed by multidisciplinary committees with internet-based input from the public.  Changes to the 2001 Guidelines will be evidence based, following review of literature published since 2000. 

Coffee May Help Protect Liver
A study in the June 12, 2006 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine found that coffee could help protect the liver against alcohol-related cirrhosis. Investigators at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California, followed the alcohol, coffee and tea consumption of more than 125,000 health plan members who underwent a medical exam between 1978 and 1985.