This is very true. None of our local hospitals outsource their pathology, as far as I know. But...sm

• Pathology - sailing
  • pathology - dls
    • This is very true. None of our local hospitals outsource their pathology, as far as I know. But...sm - former path MT
  • Not sure if... - HMT

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I have done pathology for years; was trained with a state coroner's office and then worked in 2 large hospital pathology offices.  Yes, it can be very repetitive and boring. 

I'll just give you a basic overview for general pathology:

First, you will have the "gross description".  It will be dictated as soon as specimens are received.  It is literally a physical description of the specimen, including color, size, shape, texture, marks, etc.

Sometimes a "frozen section diagnosis" is issued while a patient is in surgery and the surgeon needs to know immediately if carcinoma is present. 

Once slides are made and the pathologist reviews them, then the "microscopic description" will be dictated.  You go back to the same report and below the gross description you type the microscopic.  It will be very detailed with heavy pathology terminology and a diagnosis or diagnoses.  Sometimes it will state that further studies are being done and only give a tentative diagnosis, etc.  You may handle that one report many times before it is completed and ready to be signed off.

There are many different other types of reports you may do including bone marrow aspirations, peripheral blood smears, cytology (pathological review of urine, sputum, and blood - liquids), hormone receptor testing, and even autopsies.

You should invest in a pathology word book and be very familiar with pathology style, which is extremely important.  Become familiar with the names and style to appropriately type bacteria, viruses, various pathogens, stains, laboratory values. 

Overall, I love it.  It is fast-paced and time-sensitive.  If ever I can help you, write me and I will do all I can.

Hi, I am currently a pathology Transcriptionist at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC.  I have been on this job a little over 2 years on a Lanier machine and it has done me well.  It is very repetitious and I have a ton of macros, which affords me to fly through the dictations.  Some of the dictators have accents, but I've come to recognize what they are saying to make the necessary adjustments.  I do like pathology transcription, never done it before this job, however, like I said it is repetitious and monotonous; so if you get bored easily, this is not the job for you.  : )   I also make a good living doing it on site.  I don't know how much you'd make doing it at home.  They are trying to move us home now, so we'll see. 

I wish you luck.

Love pathology, worked in pathology departments (1 year for VA and 1 year for  children's hospital). Pathology is cool.

Am looking for a home-based Pathology MT position.  Tried Medical Examiner's offices also, but they were not looking.  Have over 30 years experinence. 

Hi there,

I do pathology transcription.

Cheryl

Have interview for a Pathology MT.  I am an acute-care MT but have an interview with a pathology group.   I also have another job offer as an IC typing Op reports from my parttime boss. 

The pathology MT job is by the hour with a quota.  I was wondering if any pathology MT would want to share a rough estimate on what they make per hour for MTs that are paid by the hour.  Thanks

Just stopping the flow of records overseas is not going to solve the problem.  There is a special class of visa that industry can turn to if they cannot find enough American workers to do a job.  This has been used for engineers, IT professionals and nurses among others.  It is not necessarily that there are not Americans that can do the job, but that they will not do it for a low wage.  We need to pay attention to the immigration debate as well.  It isn't simply about poorly educated, low-skilled workers being involved in a guest worker program. 

but it seems the experience that I have had with these, they are fairly short.  I guess they could be lengthy, but I would say on an average $3.00 a page should make you a mighty fine living.  You may want to see some samples before pricing this one out.  The experiences I've had were with a hospital, and these were fairly short reports.  The pathology department employed two full-time hourly MTs for a hospital that probably held about 650 beds.  The OR had about 12 rooms.  The ambulatory surgery department had about 5 rooms.  These are all just my opinions though.  Good luck to you!