You have probably seen the notice under “Breaking News” on
the
ASET home page about a survey that I am currently conducting.
The ASET Board of Trustees has requested that
I complete a feasibility study to determine if ASET can offer a specialized
educational program to prepare staff technologists to take on lab management
roles.
ASET promotes professionalism in our field. We strive to ensure that technologists are
recognized in the work place for their specialized skills and knowledge. When a hospital administration is seeking
someone to serve in a supervisory or management role in the Neurodiagnostic
Laboratory, we sincerely hope that the staff technologists are not overlooked
as qualified candidates for this
role. We are considering developing a
special “tool kit”, a package of management skill development resources that
will give technologists the edge when seeking to move up the career ladder.
While some hospitals may have an internal “leadership
development” program, I know that many do not.
Earlier in my thirty-three year career in Neurodiagnostics, by moving to
better jobs, I worked my way up to lab management. I had very few opportunities for specific
training in the new skills that would be required. Other than an afternoon session on how to
write a performance appraisal, I was on my own!
I had to pursue a college degree to take the kind of courses that one
needs to develop essential management skills.
So, perhaps, at some point in the not-too-distant future,
ASET will be able to offer technologists a Lab Management Certificate
Program. The goal will be to create
concise learning modules to cover all the areas of knowledge required to
effectively manage a Neurodiagnostic Lab.
After completing all the modules, learning activities, assignments, tests and skill assessments in the program, the participant would be
awarded a “Certificate of Completion” for documentation. Hopefully, this will lead to promotions. We need to develop more leaders from within
our own ranks.
Some of the topics that we might cover will include:
- Overview of information related to information
resources, websites, organizations, associations etc. that have to do with
neurodiagnostics, allied health, accreditation, etc.
- Legal issues regarding digital records, editing
and archiving of recordings and video files
- Lab and LTM unit set up to address HIPPA patient
privacy issues such as video monitoring screen access and visibility, as well
as patient safety issues
- Capital expense and equipment purchase
- Networking and remote access to recordings
So, please take a few moments and fill out a survey for
me. The survey will be available for
another month before I tally the results. You will find the survey right on the ASET home page, or click here to go there now.
Thanks so much, and as always, I welcome your comments. Once I have more information from the
feasibility study, I will write an update for you all in a future blog entry. As of today, 140 surveys have come back to me, with mostly positive responses, so I hope to have good news for you!
