Support Proposed Cytology Educational Standards and Guidelines
Dear ASCP Members,
I am appealing to ALL ASCP members to implore you to take action now on behalf of our cytologist colleagues and in support of quality patient care. When a critical issue affects one group of professionals within our member laboratory team, it affects all of us!
The Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) needs your input by July 3 on a new set of
Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Cytology to help modernize education and training requirements for cytologists. This proposal was developed by the Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee (CPRC), and is f
ully endorsed by ASCP, the American Society of Cytopathology, and the American Society for Cytotechnology.
What the new guidelines do
The skills needed today for quality patient care require cytologists to have more training in research, molecular diagnostics, and management acumen. These new standards will ensure cytology programs provide the education and training necessary so that cytologists, working under the supervision of board-certified pathologists, can work to the full extent of their authorized scope of practice, to better help pathologists do what they do best. In addition, updated entry level competencies and the new master’s degree requirement will ensure cytologists have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide outstanding patient care.
Why should non-cytologists care?
The proposed standards unify the professional nomenclature. The terms “cytology” and “cytologist” have replaced the previous terms of “cytotechnology” and “cytotechnologist.” This language reflects a professional designation that more precisely captures the scope, important contributions, and singular value of cytologists to patient care and is a name change that fits better with master’s level education.
Updating and clarifying terminology will help increase the visibility of the entire medical laboratory profession, which is necessary to the address workforce issues of today.
The ASCP Board of Certification has already integrated this nomenclature change into its certification exams and credentials program. In addition, the updated professional terminology is consistent with the University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies-ASCP report “The Clinical Laboratory Workforce: Understanding the Challenges to Meeting Current and Future Needs: Blueprint for Action,” which recommended the use of clear and consistent occupational terminology.
How can YOU help?
To support your profession and advance quality patient care, ASCP urges you to visit the
CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines Comment Portal and show your support for the proposed standards and guidelines. The deadline to comment is July 3 (5:00 p.m. ET). PLEASE ACT NOW. Here’s how you can help:
1. Click
here to access CAAHEP’s Comment Survey Tool starting page.
2. Check the circle for Description of Profession (listed third) and click Next.
3. Enter “50” for the line number for the Description of Profession.
4. Then, provide a comment in support for the proposed standards and guidelines. You can use the following text:
I support the terms cytologist and cytology as the new professional nomenclature. Updating these terms will help standardize the professional terminology for this occupation, bringing clarity and consistency to the field. Greater consistency and clarity of professional roles supports the goal of increasing visibility of these valued professionals and advocates for professional growth and career pathways in the field. In addition, I support the proposed entry level competencies and the transition to a master’s degree. All three of these items are fully endorsed by the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the American Society of Cytopathology, and the American Society for Cytotechnology.
5. After entering your comment, press Next at the bottom of the webpage (this will take you back to the CAAHEP’s Comment Survey Tool starting page).
6. Check the circle next to the option for “I have completed my comments” (listed last) and then press next. This should display a message thanking you for submitting comments.
CAAHEP also plans to hold a hearing on July 21, 2023 (5:15 p.m. CT) on the proposed standards. To register to attend the hearing virtually, click
here.
Thank you for your support of the cytology profession and the patients we serve! When we all unite as one medial laboratory team to support our colleagues, we are StrongerTogether!
My sincere thanks,
Marsha Kinney, MD, MASCP
President, ASCP
