casmet education newsletter february 2014

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VOL. # 3 ISSUE #1

Distributed: February 2014

Inside this Issue

Pg 2 Word from the Liaison

Pg 3 Greetings from Education Committee

Pg 3 New Members of Regional Council

Pg 6 We Appreciate You (RCM 2011-2013)

Pg 7 Feature Article: Emotional

Intelligence in the Work Place

Pg14 Notes on Cervical Cancer

Pg17 BGM 2013 Highlights

Pg 23 Personal Development Quotes

Pg 25 The Road to Suriname BGM 2015

Jamaica

Antigua & Barbuda

Trinidad & Tobago

St. Lucia

St. Kitts & Nevis

Suriname

Guyana

Anguilla

St. Vincent & Grenadines

Haiti

Grenada

Dominica

The Cayman Islands

Bermuda

Belize

The Bahamas

Barbados

The Netherland Antilles

The British Virgin Islands

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Word from the Liaison

Greetings to all,

I must say, the RCM and BGM at the Atlantis, Paradise

Island, The Bahamas, was to say the least, a success for the

Bahamas organization. The speakers and continuing

education presented were awesome. Of course, there were a

few problems. There always are. However, with patience and

perseverance, all issues were eventually resolved. I am

already missing the tropical breezes. For the last few days,

here is what I have to content with in Tennessee.

It is not as cold as other places but it is still cold. This is a

picture of ice on a holly bush.

Before I go further, I would like to introduce the new

Southern District Councilor.

She is Kaye Tschop. She currently serves the editor for the

Tenn-O-Scope. She has served as President and Treasurer of

the Tennessee State Society and in other various capacities.

She has also worked on the national level in AMT. She is

eager and ready to work of the district councilor. She is

hoping to attend her first Regional Council Meeting (RCM)

in Curacao in May 2014.

Speaking of 2014, it was a great honor to be present to see

the new Regional Council being sworn in. Under the new

leadership of President, Mrs. Jasmin Hamlin, I see another

opportunity for CASMET to move to a higher level of

influence in the Caribbean region.

Under this new leadership, the membership support will be so

very essential. It is a joy seeing the collaboration between

AMT and CASMET. It is also a joy to see how CASMET is

making on an impact in the region. The educators, who met

during the BGM, seemed very impressed that AMT would

lend such strong support to CASMET. This relationship

cannot help but grow stronger. Working together this will

happen.

"It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the

prosperous voyage."

— George William Curtis, Writer

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The New Southern District Councilor

Ms. Kaye Tschop

AMT Liaison

Mr. Chris Seay MT AMT

Regional Council CASMET

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Meet the New Members of Regional Council

.

Greetings from Chairperson, Education Committee

. Dear Readers

The Caribbean Association of Medical Technologists, Education Committee is

pleased continue the distribution of the Education Newsletter, with our first issue in this biennium.

Our goal is to keep you, our readers, informed and enlightened as we share with you articles, research publications, interesting facts and a host of other information, scientific to whimsical, supplied to us by friends, colleagues and hopefully you our readers.

We hope you enjoy this issue and also take this opportunity to welcome your

feedback, suggestions and contributions towards the CASMET Education Newsletter. Email addresses of all committee members are listed to the back of the newsletter.

We look forward to hearing from you soon! Delphia Theophane Education Committee Chairperson

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Online BSc Degree Medical Technology Program

The University of Technology, Jamaica is intent on offering an on-line Post-

Diploma/Associate Degree BSc Medical Technology Program. This is in recognition of

Strengthening Medical Laboratories Project which mandates a BSc from a training

program, having the minimum of the basic agreed curriculum and reflecting the required

competencies for certification and registration. To facilitate the decision making process

we ask that you complete the short need questionnaire using the link below.

Link to needs assessment survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_b4jcwnTtbQGwEhA1ImVlme6cUhgXvXx8JX

XlhdKBDM/viewform

Regards,

Janice Wissart

D.MT(CASMET), B.Sc(hons),Dip.Mgt(hons),PSDip.Mgt.,MPhil., AHI(AMT), MAT.

Medical Technologist/Lecturer

University of Technology, Jamaica

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To all the members of Regional Council 2011-2013, our sincerest thanks for all the

work you have accomplished, and taking our profession further.

We hope that you will continue to work close with us and give us the necessary advice

and guidance to take this Association to a higher level and echo our motto ‘Vitam

Excoliomus per Artes,’ (We Save Lives by Our Skill).

We Appreciate You Regional Council 2011-2013

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Feature Article “Emotional Intelligence in the Work Place”

Ms. Greselda Evans

. Emotional Intelligence(EI) stems from a comprehensive theory

proposed in 1990 by Peter Salovey and John Mayer. They defined EI

in terms of being able to regulate one’s own and other’s feelings, and

to use feelings to guide thoughts and actions.

This model was adapted and popularized by Daniel Goleman in the

1995 and in 1998. Emotional Intelligence has been referred to as a

different way of being smart.

In today’s workplace people are being judged not just by how smart

they are by training and expertise but also by how they handle

themselves and others.

Emotional Intelligence refers to the capacity for recognizing our own

feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for

managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships.

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Goleman’s Emotional Competence Framework

This emotional competence framework shows the relationship between five

dimensions of EI, (each with its own set of behavioral attributes) and

twenty five emotional competencies.

It is divided into two categories. Personal competence - how we manage

ourselves and Social competence - how we manage our relationships

Personal Competence

Self-awareness

Self-management or self-regulation

Motivation

Social Competence

Empathy

Social skills

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PERSONAL COMPETENCES

Personal competence refers to how we manage ourselves and involves three

main concepts; Self Awareness, Self Regulation and Motivation.

Self-Awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your moods,

emotions, and drives, as well as their effect on others. It encompasses emotional

awareness which is the ability to recognize one’s emotions and their effects,

accurate self assessment which is defined as knowing one’s strengths and limits

and self confidence which refers to having a strong sense of one’s self worth

and capabilities.

Self -Regulation refers to the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses

and moods and the propensity to suspend judgment (to think before acting). It

factors in attributes such as Self control which is keeping disruptive emotions

and impulses in check, Trustworthiness - Maintaining standards of honesty

and integrity, Conscientiousness - Taking responsibility for personal

performance, Adaptability - Flexibility in handling change and Innovation -

Being comfortable with novel ideas, approaches and new information

Motivation is the emotional tendency that guide or facilitate reaching goals.

Its elements include Achievement drive - Striving to improve or meet a

standard of excellence, Commitment - Aligning personal goals with the goals of

the group or organization, Initiative - Readiness to act on opportunities, and

Optimism - Persistence in pursuing goals despite obstacles and setbacks.

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SOCIAL COMPETENCE

Social competences refer to how we manage our relationships and involve two

main concepts; empathy and social skills.

Empathy may be defined as the awareness of others’ feelings, needs and concerns.

It involves Understanding others - Sensing others’ feelings and perspectives and

taking an active interest in their concerns, Developing others - Sensing others

development needs and bolstering their abilities, Service Orientation -

Anticipating, recognizing, and meeting customers’ needs, Leveraging diversity -

Cultivating opportunities through different kinds of people, and Political

awareness - Reading a group’s emotional currents and power relationships.

Social Skills are defined as the adeptness at inducing desirable responses in

others. It entails concepts such as Influence - Wielding effective tactics for

persuasion, Communication - Listening openly and sending convincing messages,

Conflict management - Negotiating and resolving disagreements, Leadership -

Inspiring and guiding individuals and groups, Change catalyst - Initiating or

managing change, Building bonds - Nurturing instrumental relationships

Collaboration and cooperation - Working with others towards shared goals, and

Team capabilities - Creating group synergy in pursuing collective goals.

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Some misconceptions about Emotional Intelligence;

Does not mean merely “being nice”

Does not mean “letting it all hang out”

Women are not smarter than men when it comes to EI

Level of EI is not fixed genetically nor does it develop early in childhood

Some actions that can be taken to develop EI so that all relationships, including

the difficult ones, are more productive include;

1. Look at yourself honestly and commit to specific areas of self-improvement

2. Think through the possible impact of your words before you speak.

3. Avoid judging the actions of others before you have all of the facts.

4. Be accountable for what you do and follow through on what you say you

will do.

5. Listen to opposing viewpoints and admit when you are wrong.

6. Praise others and give credit where credit is due

7. Analyze your common emotions in times of stress and work to control

them.

8. Be consistently and genuinely respectful.

9. Curb negative thoughts and work to foster optimism.

10. Work at becoming a better listener

11. Agree to disagree with those who have incompatible beliefs.

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Employees with high emotional intelligence can better manage their own impulses,

communicate with others more effectively, manage change well, solve problems and

use humor to build rapport in tense situations. So it's understandable that

Emotional Intelligence is a highly valued skill in any workplace.

“Unless you learn what makes you tick and how your personal style features affect

you in every situation, you have no chance of controlling your behavior, let alone

preventing your emotions control you. But when you know yourself, your strengths

and weaknesses, your boundaries, your breaking points, you can develop strategies

to prevent going over the edge….” (Barbara Prashnig)

Quick self assessment

How aware are you of your emotions and reactions in the workplace?

How effective are you at managing your attitude?

How well do you manage your relationships and connect with people?

References;

Goleman, 1998, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Bantam Books).

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Bio-safety Officer & Program Management Course

March 31 - April 2, 2014 - Atlanta, Georgia or from your own desk*! This course is designed for Bio safety Officers and Biological Safety Program Managers. Bio safety Officers are faced with many challenges today - including increases in responsibility, decreases in resources, quick timelines, and high workloads - feeling undervalued and unappreciated within their organizations. This course is a retreat designed for new and experienced Bio safety Officer's looking for innovative solutions which increase compliance, foster cultures of safety, and produce measurable outcomes. Individuals attending this course will receive over 24 hours of course instruction on the following items: writing effective standard operating procedures (SOPs); identifying effective procedures for disinfection, decontamination, and sterilization; developing and implementing comprehensive bio risk management programs; including risk identification, risk assessments, risk management programs, and risk communication to laboratory staff; review of the four primary controls of bio safety including engineering of facilities, standard operating procedures, personal protection equipment selection, and administrative controls (training, medical/incident surveillance, SOP compliance programs); and bio safety program management, including several tools which can be easily implemented upon returning to your organization – increasing bio safety program effectiveness Course tuition is $2,000.00 USD and includes daily breakfast, lunch, course manuals, comprehensive Bio safety Officer e-Tool Kit, leadership assessment (utilizing MBTI), and an individual mentoring session provided at the Georgian Club. *If you are interested in attending the course from your own desk - course tuition is $1,500.00 USD and includes all items mentioned above (with exception to breakfast and lunch). Participants will attend using a training platform allowing them to interact live with participants and instructors throughout the training program. Click here to complete an online interest form for the upcoming course. If you are interested in more information, please view the course agenda and program overview

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Things to note: Cervical Cancer

Ms. Jasmin Hanley

.

Incidence and Prevalence

• Today in the USA, < 2% of all cancers and < 0.5% of all female deaths are attributable to cervical

cancer.

• In developing countries, cervical cancer remains the 2nd

most common cancer, after breast cancer.

• In the USA in Europe and the Nordic Countries there has been a large reduction in the incidence

of cervical cancer by 75% to 90%.

• Unfortunately the same has not pertained in Latin America and the Caribbean

• There was a small spike in incidence in the USA in the late 1980s, but followed by a downward

trend in the 1990’s. Incidence and mortality have fallen further in women who are screened

regularly.

• While the number of invasive cancers has decreased, there has been an increase in SIL’s,

Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions.

• As much as 10 fold from the 1950’s to 1980’s.

• About 2 % of all Pap Smears were reported as LSIL, (low grade) and 0.5% were HSIL. (high

grade)

• In some clinical settings, abnormal Pap smears were about 10% or higher.

• According to CDC, approximately 20% of Pap smears in women < 30years were abnormal.

Age

• The average age of preinvasive disease has been falling.

• The prevelance of SIL peaks in the 3rd

decade and then decreases with age. SIL’s are now

common in teenagers and even pre-teens. Most of these lesions are however ASC-US and LSIL.

• Most cervical cancers in teens are adenocarcinomas.

• The median age of mortality from Invasive squamous cancer is 62 years.

• 90% of all SIL’s occur before 35-40. Mean age of diagnosis of cancer is age 50.

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Risk factors for Cervical Cancer

• By mid-20th

century, epidemiological evidence suggested that cervical cancer was more common in

early marriage and lower socioeconomic status, with an additional component related to the man (

semen or smegma).

• Factors related to sexual behaviour are now believed to be central to these epidemiological

findings.

• Epidemiological studies have helped establish HPV as the cause of cervical cancer.

• Coitus

• Multiple sex partners,

• Early onset of sexual activity

• Male factors

• Epidemiological evidence for a male role in cervical neoplasia is compelling.

• Geographical clusters of high incidences of cervical cancer and penile cancer exist.

• Wives of men who have had numerous sexual partners, or who have had previous wives with

cervical cancer or men who have themselves had penile cancer

• Male partners of women with genital HPV infections have a high incidence of penile condylomas

• The HPV type is often the same as the woman’s

• Men who have partners who have CIN 3, have a high incidence of HPV

• Male circumcision can reduce the risk of cervical cancer

• Smegma, while in itself is not carcinogenic, could be important in the transmission of the

carcinogenic agent.

• HPV-DNA can be detected in semen.

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Therefore, the penis is a common host to HPV DNA which can infect the female genital tract.

• Contraceptives

• There has been a history of conflicting studies supporting and not supporting the fact that oral

contraceptives are linked to cervical cancer.

• The current concensus is that the long-term use of oral contraceptives by HPV positive women

increases the risk of cervical cancer.[Xi 2002]. There may even be a stronger case for cervical

adenocarcinomas.

• Barrier methods decrease the risk of developing cervical cancer

• Spermicides may reduce risk. Nonoxynol-9, is capable of inactivating many sexually transmitted

pathogens by its detergent effect on the bacterial cell membranes and viral envelopes. Note,

papilloma viruses are non-enveloped.

• Douching, which alters vaginal milieu can be related to cervical cancer

• IUD’s do not increase the risk, infact copper IUD’s are thought to decrease the risk.

• Tubal ligation may decrease risk

• Vasectomy may decrease risk.

• Cigarette Smoking correlates positively with an increase of cervical cancer. Increase is related to

cervical squamous cancer not to adenocarcinoma.

• The risk is dose dependent, and quitting smoking reduces risk.

• Other risk factors

• Early age at first pregnancy

• Short time between pregnancies

• Poor genital hygiene

• Venereal disease

• Multiparity

Biological co-factors may include: immunocompetency, HIV infection, hormones, nutritional and dietary

, and genetic factors

Reference:

De May, Richard, The Pap Test 2005 ASCP Press Chicago.

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BGM 2013 Highlights

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Stay Positive with some

Personal Development Quotes:

.

Personal development is a fascinating and fun journey… most of the time.

Sometimes you become aware of aspects of yourself that you don‟t like. These are usually the things

that need the most attention. If you find yourself denying or dismissing some part of you that you

KNOW needs changing but you‟re resisting it, it may help to read some personal development quotes

to keep you motivated. After all, the work you put into yourself is for your benefit!

Personal Development Quotes

1. “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”- Paulo Coelho,

The Alchemist

2. “As soon as you stop making everyone else responsible for your happiness, the happier you‟ll be.” –

Nina Guilbeau

3. “The word „listen‟ has the same letters as the word „silent‟” – Alfred Brendel

4. “It is more important to be of pure intention than of perfect action.” – Ilyas Kassam

5. “Even in the most peaceful surroundings, the angry heart finds quarrel. Even in the most

quarrelsome surroundings, the grateful heart finds peace. – Doe Zantamata

6. “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” –

Marcus Aurelius

7. “Life was meant to be lived, and curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason,

turn his back on life.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

8. “If there is no wind, row.” – Latin proverb

9. “You are the way you are because that‟s the way you want to be. If you really wanted to be

different, you would be in the process of changing right now.” – Fred Smith

10. “The mind maketh good or ill, wretch or happy, rich or poor.” – Edmund Spenser

11. “What a folly the thought of throwing away life at once, and yet have no regard to throwing it

away by parcels and piecemeal.” – John Hove

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The road to BGM 2015 in Suriname

General information about Suriname

Suriname, officially known as the Republic of Suriname, is a country on the north eastern

Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by French Guiana to the east, Guyana to

the west, and Brazil to the south. Suriname was colonized by the English and the Dutch

in the 17th century. In 1667 it was captured by the Dutch, who governed Suriname as

Dutch Guiana until 1954. At that time it was designated as one of the constituent

countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, next to the Netherlands and the Netherlands

Antilles (dissolved in 2010). On 25 November 1975, the country of Suriname left the

Kingdom of the Netherlands to become independent. As a member of CARICOM, it is

frequently considered a Caribbean country and has had frequent trade and cultural

exchange with the Caribbean nations.

At just under 165,000 km2 (64,000 sq mi), Suriname is the smallest sovereign state in

South America. (French Guiana, while less extensive and populous, is an overseas

department of France.) Suriname has a population of approximately 566,000, most of

who live on the country's north coast, where the capital Paramaribo is located. Suriname

is a mostly Dutch speaking country; Sranan, an English-based creole language, is a

widely used lingua franca. Due to the multi-cultural aspect of Suriname there are also

approximately 20 other languages spoken, some of which are native languages spoken by

native inhabitants of rural parts of the country. Suriname is the only independent entity in

the Americas where Dutch is spoken. The denomination is the Suriname Dollar (SRD)

and the USD exchange rate is 3.35SRD for 1.00USD

2015

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Hotel accommodation

Room rates:

Standard single/double: US$. 140.00 Per night

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Room rates:

Executive single/double: US$ 140.00 per night

Standard single/double: US$ 130.00 per night

Executive triple: US$ 160.00 per night

Room rates:

Riverside single/double US$ 96.00 per night

Standard room single/double: US$ 86.00 per night

Room rates are based on prices per night per room and not per

person

Room availability is based on the occupancy of the hotel

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Airlines options and tickets

NOTE: These are airlines ticket prizes checked six months in

advance to give an estimate of tickets prices from various

destinations with various airlines to Suriname. The prices are in

US$ and for a roundtrip.

Trinidad – Suriname: $348.70 (6-13 apr ‘14)

Guyana – Suriname: $268.80 (5-12 apr ‘14)

Miami – Suriname: $681.90 (5-12 apr ‘14)

Curacao – Suriname: $342.00 (6-13 apr ‘14)

Antigua – Suriname: $698.60 (6-13 April 2014)

Barbados – Suriname: $643.00 (6-13 April 2014)

Jamaica – Suriname: $696.18 (6-13 April 2014)

Miami – Suriname: $642.90 (6-13 April 2014)

Bahamas – Suriname: $906.68 (6-14 April 2014)

Would have to spend 1 night in Trinidad both ways

St. Lucia – Suriname: $555.80 (6-13 April 2014)

Saint Martin – Suriname: $669.91 (6-13 April 2014)

Grenada – Trinidad: $329.52(6-14 April 2014)

Would have to spend 1 night in Trinidad both ways

Trinidad – Suriname: $370.90 (6-13 April 2014)

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Curacao – Suriname: $348.00 (6-13 April 2014)

Jamaica – Suriname: $624.18 (3-14 April 2014)

Miami – Suriname: $626.30 (6-13 April 2014)

St. Maarten – Suriname: $564.31 (6-13 April 2014)

Road to Suriname

.

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. Thank You for Reading

This Newsletter is a production of the Education Committee of the Caribbean

Association of Medical Technologists

All rights reserved @ February 2014 .

Delphia Theophane: [email protected]

Juann Ward: [email protected]

Oseye Andrews: [email protected]

Khalil Lucky: [email protected]

Priscilla Jordan

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casmet education newsletter february 2014

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