Expanding the entry-level competencies for cytotechnology programs: Broadening horizons.

Introduction: Faced with rapid changes in the cytopathology workplace, a number of expanded entry-level competencies (ELCs) were developed by the Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee with input from various communities of interest. The Resource Sub-Committee of the Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee was developed to assist the programs in finding appropriate resources to bring cytotechnology programs up to more modern standards of practice.

Materials And Methods: A survey was conducted asking program directors to rank their level of perceived need for each of the new ELCs. Interpretation of the relative need for these resources was based on a 4-tier system. If the program directors' felt they had or could obtain adequate resources, these 2 responses were given a lower weighting in the analysis. If the program was not already teaching the topic and did not have access to appropriate resources, the response was ranked as indicating a high level of need. An intermediate level of need was indicated by a perceived need to strengthen the resources for a topic currently being taught.

Results: A 97% response rate was obtained on the survey and an evaluation of the ELCs, which indicated a high level of need that included telepathology, digital pathology, laboratory information systems, billing and coding, and triage of fine-needle aspiration specimens. Low levels of need were indicated for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act issues, proficiency testing, workload recording, obtaining clinical information, and fine-needle aspiration adequacy reporting. Other topics were ranked as intermediate in perceived need for resources.

Conclusions: Efforts by the subcommittee are currently underway to provide these resources to improve the educational programs in cytotechnology.