Comparisons Between Cystology, Histology, and Pathology

While recently putting a puzzle together with my family I realized that we had a very certain way of putting it together. We had the person who laid out all the pieces and was constantly looking for the ones that went together. Another person would carefully put pieces together that the first person had laid out and make sure there were no discrepancies. The last person would oversee everyone else. They would make sure pieces were going where they should be, and everyone would report back to the main person who was overseeing everything. If one was to look at any career or field they have trained in or worked in they would see that there is a hierarchy to each position. It is one person helping the next person to figure out one main objective or goal.

The Careers of a Cytologist, Histologist, and Pathologist work very closely together; so closely it’s almost like they are putting a puzzle together, in such a way one can’t just do all of the jobs but there must be someone in each area of the field to complete the main objective. Cytologists are the people working on the puzzle that lay the pieces out for the person in charge to oversee and direct them at what they should be looking for. They are “biologists who specialize in the study of formation, structure, and function of cells” (“cytology”). I like the fact that they have independent work with very little supervision. There is room for rapid job growth. A reported “14% job growth through 2018” (Tolia). I do not like that cytologists have major exposure to specimens and chemical fumes that can be very hazardous.

There may be rapid job growth projected for cytologists but only “thirty-one accredited cytotechnologist programs are available in the United States” (Tolia). Cytologists can work in many different healthcare facilities. They have the option of working in “hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers and home health care” (Tolia). To become a cytologist, one will need to complete a bachelor’s degree program and finish a one to two year program accredited by the Commission of Allied Health Education Programs in Cytotechnology. Most Employers prefer that the cytologist pass the ASCP’s ational Technologist in Cytoechnology certification exam. A cytologist must complete this program every three years to remain certified (Tolia). “Cytologists are either paid by the hour or through an annual salary.

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According to Salary. com, the median annual income for a cytologist is $62,401, with the least well-compensated quarter of practitioners making less than $56,810 and the highest paid quarter making over $$67,386. According to Payscale, cytologists command an average salary of between $24. 47 and $31. 20 per hour, with standard time-and-a-half rates for overtime” (Wolfe). Cytologists play a large role in medical decisions and work closely with pathologists. “Cytologists can also gain industry recognition by submitting their written articles for publication and applying for front-cover exposure in the ASCT's publication” (Tolia). Cytologists must know how to read the doctor’s orders by using their knowledge of Medical terminology. Cytologists must use and communicate with their knowledge of Medical Terminology because all the work they do ultimately goes back to the doctor and goes along in response to the original order.

When a cytologist is reporting they will also report to the histologist who “plays an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease” (Torres). The next step in putting more pieces of the puzzle together is the histologist. The histologist “examines and analyzes cells and body fluids. They search for parasites, bacteria and other microorganisms” (Torres). I like that histologists “work in medical laboratories with pathologists and other laboratory experts” (Torres). Histology is a very important tool of medicine and biology. I like that they serve as a detective trying to figure out different diseases and cell structures. Histology would not be a job for me because I do not like the many hours spent on my feet observing tiny little particles through a microscope.

I do not have the time, patience, or eye sight for this job. Histologists must have very good eyesight to be able to point out the discrepancies in cells, which good eyesight is something I don’t have. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for histologists will grow about 14 percent between 2006 and 2016. The median hourly wage for histologists in the United States is $22. 68 per hour and their median annual salary is $47,174, according to the Mayo Clinic” (Gray). Histologists have the opportunity to work in many different career settings including; the hospital, diagnostic laboratories, and many different outpatient settings. “For an entry-level position as a histologist, an applicant will need to have a bachelor's degree with a major in medical technology or one of the life sciences.

Bachelor's degrees in this field will usually include courses in chemistry, microbiology, statistics and biological sciences, as well as specialized courses devoted to skills used in the clinical laboratory. However, it is possible to fill some positions while having a combination of on-the-job training and formal education. Generally, one will usually have at least an associate's degree. Many employers require applicants to have certification from recognized professional associations, such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the American Medical Technologist or the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel” (Torres).

Histologists are important to our United States Health Care System because they are like the detectives of disease, and play an important role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease. Histologists use their knowledge of Medical Terminology to read what orders the doctors have given to them. They are able to follow the guidance of the pathologist, who histologists work very closely with, to determine probable diseases and to diagnose a patient. The last person to put pieces of our puzzle together is the pathologist. A pathologist is a physician who examines tissues, checks the accuracy of lab tests, and interprets the results in order to facilitate the patient’s diagnosis and treatment” (“Pathologist”).

They oversee the cytologist and the histologist. I love that pathologists work very closely with the doctor and the patient on a daily basis. Pathology has many different career opportunities including a clinical pathologist, anatomic pathologist and a forensic pathologist. I do not like the scrutiny that is placed on their job. If they mess up one little thing or read a smear of cells the wrong way and give the wrong diagnose it could be fatal for the patient. “There are approximately 13,000 to 14,000 board certified pathologists in the United States who practice their specialty. Starting salaries for newly-certified pathologists can range from about $126,000 to $150,000 per year” (“Pathologist”). Pathologists have the opportunity to work in the community, in universities, in government hospitals and clinics, independent laboratories, or in private offices, clinics, and other healthcare acilities (Pathologist). “In order to work as a pathologist, you must have a successful undergraduate career; score well on your Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and secure a place at a medical school to earn your medical degree (Torres).

Medical school is not easy to get into, but after the student secures a place in medical school and finishes with Doctor of Medicine, they must secure a position in a three to four year residency program (Torres). After the residency program the student will take a national licensing exam to become certified in their state. Pathologists are extremely important to our United States healthcare system. They are the problem solvers to today’s medical mysteries. Pathologists us their knowledge of medical terminology every day by interpreting laboratory tests that are done by a cytologist and histologist and then they relay that information back to the doctor or patient.

The puzzle is now complete with the help of the pathologist. Every person plays an important part of putting the puzzle together. Cytologists help us to identify the different cells and tissues. Histologists help us identify different disease found within the cells and tissues. Lastly, pathologists help us confer all of our results and relay them to the doctor and the patient. All three careers must be able to properly use their knowledge of medical terminology in an effort to communicate efficiently to the doctor. All information communicated to the doctor is in an effort to help save a patient’s life.

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