The Best of California

Karen DiDonato ⋅ December 10, 2019

California has something for everyone: sun, surf, mountains, deserts, forests, farmland, and more! With 840 miles of coastline, the Golden State is known for its warm Mediterranean climate, but it varies quite a bit. From moist temperate rain forest in the north to dry desert in the interior, as well as snow packs in the mountains. California has both the highest elevation (Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet) as well as the lowest elevation in the contiguous United States (Badwater Basin at -279 feet).

We currently have multiple laboratory jobs in the Golden State. From travel opportunities to permanent positions and everything in between, let us help you find a laboratory job in California that suits you perfectly.

Here are a few locations to check out:

Big Sur

An unforgettable section of the central coast of California with a rugged and beautiful coastline. This popular destination boats stunning views, redwood forests, hiking, beaches, and other recreational opportunities.

Catalina Island

This destination is just 22 miles offshore from Long Beach and about an hour by boat from Long Beach. Get there quicker with only 15 minutes via helicopter. The island is only 22 miles in length and 8 miles across and is stunning. Enjoy its subtropical climate year round with a water temperature as high as 70 degrees in August. Take a Hummer or Segway tour, go scuba diving or parasailing. Consider hiking, ziplining, or paddleboarding, or take it easy by shopping, visiting spas, or lounging on its beaches.

Hollywood

This neighborhood of Los Angeles is an iconic symbol of the entertainment business. Visit the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, Madame Tussauds wax museum, Paramount Studios, and so much more.

Lake Tahoe

The largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada. It is a major tourist attraction in both Nevada and California with winter sports, summer outdoor recreation, and gorgeous scenery.

Los Angeles

With their rich cultural heritage, take some time to visit art galleries and theater productions and enjoy the nightlife and eateries from food trucks to five star Michelin-rated restaurants. Stay active on 75 miles of coastline and hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails.

Monterey & Carmel

This is an outdoor-lovers paradise. Rent bikes to ride along the coastline while gawking at homes worth in the millions of dollars, walk the many trails in Carmel Mission, or stroll the white sand beaches. Be sure to check out the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium (a must see for families).

Pacific Grove

Known for its traditional Main Street, USA feel, Pacific Grove is also a great area for kayaking, surfing, and fishing. Check out Point Pinos, the oldest continuously-operating lighthouse on the West Coast. If you are visiting between October and February, you will be lucky enough to be in the most popular wintering-over spots for the Monarch butterfly.

San Francisco

San Francisco is more than just its well-known year-round fog, iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and colorful Victorian houses. It’s Fisherman’s Wharf with amazing views, sourdough bread, and sea lions abound; it’s the Marina District which includes the Palace of Fine Arts. For the best views, check out Crissy Field for prime Golden Gate Bridge views and Dolores Park for viewing downtown San Francisco. Day trip to Angel Island or Alcatraz.

San Diego

With 70 miles of coastline and warm temperatures, San Diego’s beaches are a top attraction. Go surfing, sport fishing, sailing, paddleboarding, scuba diving, or stay on land for hiking, rock climbing, golfing, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Prefer a higher view? Try paragliding, hang gliding, or skydiving. If beaches aren’t on your to-do list, check out one of 17 museums and performing arts venues. Or spend the day shopping and the evening at Gaslamp Quarter with 16 blocks packed with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Santa Barbara

With over 300 days of sunshine, the climate will call you outdoors. Enjoy the beaches, Channel Islands Marine Preserve, whale watching, biking, kayaking, and so much more. Or check out the urban wine scene with tasting rooms and working wineries, or travel 45 minutes to see rolling vineyards as far as the eye can see.

Santa Cruz

Go to a wine tasting, view redwoods, visit a beach boardwalk, or walk some of the 29 miles of coastline. Delight the child in you at the amusement park at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk that overlooks the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. While you are there, walk the half mile on the Santa Cruz Wharf, the longest timber pile pier in the world. You may see whales, sea lions, dolphins, or sea otters, or surfers ripping the famous surfing location, Steamer Lane.

Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks

Start your trek in the hot foothills and end in the cold alpine peaks, or anywhere in between. You’ll be amazed by the groves of giant sequoia trees.

There is definitely something for everyone in California.

If you are looking for a permanent position, we’ve got it. Prefer a 13-week contract position? We’ve got that too. Check out our open California jobs using this link or give us a call at (954) 346-4475.

Get ready to pack your backs and start singing this tune on your way to the Golden State:

Autumn: A Season Ripe for Apple Picking

Karen DiDonato ⋅ October 1, 2019

The nights are getting cooler now that it’s autumn. And with cooler temperatures comes ripening apples.

As a child I remember stuffing my newly purchased 1 peck bag with the apples I picked myself off the trees heavy with fruit. I recall wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt topped with a warm flannel shirt that I often later discarded after getting too hot from running around the orchard. Once I had filled my bag and eaten my fill of just plucked apples, I’d almost always require a cup of freshly pressed cider (hot or cold; it never mattered to me) and, if I was lucky, a warm apple cider donut.

In North America, apples grow in all temperate zones, but grow best where there is a cold winter and moderate summer temperatures with a good amount of humidity. In Massachusetts, where I lived until adulthood, there were numerous pick-your-own apple orchards from the greater Boston area all the way to the Berkshires.

I always preferred smaller mom & pop orchards that always had cats walking around and invariably a huge one dimensional red apple cut from plywood in which I would stick my head for silly photo ops. There were also huge commercial orchards, some that cordon off sections as pick-your-own areas.

According to USApple, the national trade association for the U.S. apple industry, apples are grown commercially in 32 states. The top ten apple-producing states are Washington, New York, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, Virginia, North Carolina, Oregon, Ohio, and Idaho.

Lucky for you, apple lover, HCI is happy to help get you to these states (and many more) to pick your own!

Let us know where you’d like to go and we’ll be happy to help you find a clinical or anatomic laboratory contract assignment nearby. Prefer a permanent position? We’ve got that too! Check out our open jobs here.

PS, now that it’s fall, it’s time for your flu shot.

Announcing a New Short Term Referral Program

Karen DiDonato ⋅ August 8, 2019

Don’t be like this guy! Upgrade your headphones to the latest Apple AirPods.

I know, they are pricey, but I’m happy to announce our new short-term referral program where you can get a pair for FREE! Need a new cell phone? We’ve got you covered with an absolutely free iPhone XS!

This is a temporary program, so be sure to get in on it soon!

Refer a laboratory traveler to receive a new pair of FREE Apple AirPods!

Need an iPhone XS to go with your AirPods?

To qualify, referrals must not have had contact with HCI within one (1) year. All referred travelers must begin before September 16, 2019. AirPods will be mailed directly upon the completion of, at minimum, six weeks after commencing contract position; iPhones will be mailed upon the completion of the entire 13-week assignment. No purchase or payment is necessary to win.

Raise a Pint: International Beer Day 2019

Karen DiDonato ⋅ August 2, 2019

A typical lazy summer day might including lounging by the pool, going to the beach, having barbecues, and sipping a few frothy brews. There’s nothing wrong with tipping back a few pints. In fact, according to Brewers Association of Australia, beer is actually good for you. They say it contains a high level of silicon which increases the calcium deposits and minerals for healthy bone tissue. They also report a Finnish study found that each bottle of beer you drink reduces the risk of developing kidney stones by 40%. They also say beer is full of several B vitamins (B1, B2, B6 and B12).

But… as with most everything, drink in moderation. Don’t follow the ways of the ancient Egyptians who built the pyramids while consuming about four liters a day. That’s a lot of beer!

The ancient Egyptians apparently were beer lovers. Lucky for all of us current-day beer lovers, August 2, 2019 is International Beer Day!

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In celebration of this day, I’ve prepared a list of beer-related festivals throughout the country in the month of August. Depending on your love of hops, grain, and yeast, you may consider a weekend trip or finding a clinical or anatomic laboratory contract assignment near one of these events.

National IPA Day with Three Floyds 
Where: Thiensville, Wisconsin
When: August 1

Whistle Belly Festival 2019
Where: Williamsburg, Virginia
When: August 3

Wyman Tavern Brew Fest
Where: Keene, New Hampshire
When: August 3

Spirit of Hudson Food & Brewfest
Where: Hudson, Massachusetts
When: August 10

Fresh Fest 2019
Where: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When: August 10

Downtown Brew Fest 2019
Where: Wilmington, Delaware
When: August 10

7th Annual Cape Cod Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
Where: East Falmouth, Massachusetts
When: August 10

LA Taco & Beer Festival ‘19
Where: Los Angeles, California
When: August 10

Kenai Peninsula Beer Festival
Where: Soldotna, Alaska
When: August 10

Great Taste of the Midwest
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
When: August 10

Burning Can
Where: Hendersonville, North Carolina
When: August 10

The Great Taste of the Midwest
Where: Madison, Wisconsin
When: August 10

Oklahoma Born & Brewed
Where: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
When: August 16

Bend Brewfest
Where: Bend, Oregon
When: August 15-17

11th Annual Summer Beer Dabbler
Where: St. Paul, Minnesota
When: August 17

Stone 23rd Anniversary Rare Beer Festival
Where: Escondido, California
When: August 17

Vermont NanoFest
Where: Tunbridge, Vermont
When: August 17

Stone 22nd Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival
Where: San Marcos, California
When: August 18

Foolproof’s Brewing’s Augtoberfest 2019 
Where: Pawtucket, Rhode Island
When: August 18

Thousand Oaks BrewFest
Where: Thousand Oaks, California
When: August 22

Simi’s Endless Summer Beer Fest
Where: Simi Valley, California
When: August 24

BrewFest
Where: Lebanon, New Hampshire
When: August 24

Dauphin Street Beerfest
Where: Mobile, Alabama
When: August 24

Festival of Dankness
Where: San Diego, California
When: August 24

Choctaw Oktoberfest
Where: Choctaw, Oklahoma
When: August 30 – September 2

Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival
Where: Skowhegan, Maine
When: August 31

Hopefully this list will help you enjoy a cold one (or two…). Maybe you’ll find a new favorite commercially produced or craft brew or perhaps you’ll find you love a bitter IPA over a Hefeweizen. There are so many to choose from in the serious and profitable business of craft brewing. According to the Brewers Association  retail dollar sales of craft beer now accounts for more than 24% of the $114.2 billion U.S. beer market. Although ancient Babylonians took the seriousness of brewing to a whole new level. If a bad batch was made the brewer was drowned in it. Yikes.

Let us know which festival you would enjoy attending and we’ll be happy to help you find a clinical or anatomic laboratory contract assignment nearby. Prefer a permanent position? We’ve got that too! Check out our open jobs here.

Mental Health While Traveling

Karen DiDonato ⋅ July 5, 2019

We all know we should be active year round. Staying fit has numerous physical and mental health benefits. But what about when traveling and working on an assignment in a new location without friends and family nearby?

Leaving your usual routine and entering new territory can trigger challenges and could cause symptoms of a mental health condition to flare. What steps can you take to stay mentally healthy while on assignment and during your travels?

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The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) recommends these eight tips to stay mentally fit:

Stress and fear of the unknown can trigger mental health symptoms, so do your homework before you leave. Research your new location online. Keep a map (online or paper) marked with your hotel and work location as well as the places you may need to visit including the grocery store, gas stations, a pharmacy, the hospital, the library, etc. Make a list of the places you’d like to visit for fun. Be sure to have a copy of your traveler information sheet with your hotel and first day of work information, as well as information about your rental car (if applicable).

With hundreds of potential new experiences, you may feel overwhelmed. Allow yourself some downtime to rest and recuperate. If yoga is your thing, be sure to pack your mat and blocks. Tune into Netflix or watch your favorite shows. Pack a book (or an e-reader) or even your knitting or crocheting. Make the time to do whatever brings you peace.

Packing your medications in your carry on bag can avoid a potential problem if your luggage gets lost. Keeping your meds with you during a long day of traveling or sightseeing can help you to not forget to take your medication — especially if you are traveling to a different time zone. Set an alarm on your mobile phone or watch as a reminder.

Music can be particularly helpful in reducing anxiety while traveling. Pop in your earbuds or put on your headset to get lost in your favorite beats or pick something new that is soothing. How do you know which music to listen to? Try these on for size.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America: “Scientists have found that regular participation in aerobic exercise has been shown to decrease overall levels of tension, elevate and stabilize mood, improve sleep, and improve self-esteem. Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects.” If you are feeling apprehensive about your trip, exercise can help get rid of nervous energy and make you feel more at ease. Once at your destination, incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

Even mild dehydration can affect mood, energy levels, and the ability to think clearly, so remember to pack a reusable water bottle. Not a fan of plain water? Infuse it! Add gently squeezed citrus, cubed melon, crushed berries or herbs into your filled water bottle and let it steep for a couple hours. Give it a try with these recipes. Infused water is very refreshing.

Try to maintain healthy eating habits while away from home. Just because you don’t have your kitchen in arm’s reach, you should still make good choices. According to the Mental Health Foundation, “A balanced mood and feelings of well being can be protected by ensuring that our diet provides adequate amounts of complex carbohydrates, essential fats, amino acids, vitamins and minerals and water.” The impact that food has on mood and other aspects of mental illness is still being researched. Learn more about nutritional psychiatry here.

Mindfulness, according to the American Psychological Association, is a moment-to-moment awareness of one’s experience without judgment. Yoga, tai chi, and qigong can cultivate mindfulness. Researchers theorize mindfulness reduces rumination, reduces stress, boosts memory, improves focus, and provides greater cognitive ability.

Adopting these tips can help lower your stress and help you stay mentally healthy while traveling and during your contract assignments.

Click here to find your next travel assignment.

Music Festivals in California

Karen DiDonato • June 14, 2019

Have you considered taking a travel assignment in California?

Sure, it’s one of the most expensive states in the country in which to live, but think of it this way: the pay is also higher. And the more experience you have, the higher your pay rate and per diems could be. Plus, as a traveler, you don’t have to worry about paying housing (thank goodness because the mean home value in California is $509,400 and rent is about $900 above the national median).

The Golden State has something for everyone. From miles of free beaches to the highest peaks for hiking, climbing, and skiing. From Napa Valley vineyards to nearly 850 craft breweries. The climate alone makes California the perfect fit for outdoorsy types: high mountains, redwood forests, foggy temperate areas and desert climates.

The music scene is also outstanding. After all, San Francisco set the stage for the psychedelic 1960’s and they have some of the best music schools and conservatories in the country.

Perhaps you’d like to consider one of several music festivals when choosing your California contract assignment.

Times have changed and the basic urinalysis is getting even easier.

Here are several music festivals happening this summer in California:

Like the Beach Boys said, California is calling.

Our needs change frequently, but at this moment we have jobs in California for clinical laboratory scientists, histotechnicians, histotechnologists, and pathologists’ assistants. While we’re at it, we also have many permanent opportunities for bench techs up to directors.

Check out our California jobs here (maybe while letting the Beach Boys lull you into a California dream state).

Urinalysis via Smartphone

Karen DiDonato • May 14, 2019

The last time I was asked to provide a urine sample, the CNA at my doctor’s office handed me a sealed cup, some wipes, and pointed me in the direction of the bathroom. This particular bathroom had a small metal door, maybe 12 inches square, with a sign that said “specimen here”. After I exited the bathroom, someone on the other side slid open the metallic door, and took the sealed specimen. I thought how handy and less embarrassing it was to be able to leave the filled cup in the bathroom instead of having to walk it through the office and hand it to the nurse.

Times have changed and the basic urinalysis is getting even easier.

An Israeli digital health startup, Healthy.io, created an FDA-cleared at-home smartphone-enabled urinalysis test that lets patients conduct clinical grade urine tests in the privacy of their own home.

Dip.io uses a disposable strip that patients dip into a cup of self-collected urine. After waiting for the strip to develop, they take a picture of it against a card using the company’s app. The image is anonymized and the results are reviewed by a healthcare professional.

It is currently only available in Israel and the U.K. at a pharmacy chain called Boots. In the US, a clinical trial began in April 2018 in conjunction with the National Kidney Foundation and Giesinger, an innovative health service organization serving more than 1.5 million patients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The trial evaluated if home testing strategies (Dip.io) would be useful in improving proteinuria screening adherence since screening rates among hypertensive patients are low.

Proteinuria screening is recommended for patients with hypertension to screen for kidney disease and identify those at elevated risk for cardiovascular disease.

They found a high percentage of the participants were happy with the process and preferred it to getting tested in a medical setting. Of the participants that received an at-home kit, 71 percent adhered to testing, 98 percent succeeded with their test, and 89 percent reported they prefer in-home testing over testing at the doctor’s office. The majority said they would recommend home urine testing to a friend or colleague.

Dip.io integrated Siemens Healthineers urinalysis reagents into the product. According to the Dip.io website, “The dipstick measures 10 parameters, indicating a range of infections, chronic illnesses and pregnancy-related complications.”

While the mobile at-home testing technology is certainly new, the home-based medical test market is not. The first at-home pregnancy test appeared in the late 1970s.

Digital urinalysis is the latest example of a trend toward home diagnostics in the growing medical technology market.

Specimen Delivery by Unmanned Drone

Karen DiDonato • April 24, 2019

Medical samples are now being transported by an unmanned drone across WakeMed‘s flagship hospital and campus. The 941-bed hospital system includes three full-service hospitals and other facilities in North Carolina’s Triangle area.

The program uses a quadcopter powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery made by Matternet, a leader in autonomous drone technology. The drone can carry up to about five pounds over distances of up to 12.5 miles.

A WakeMed medical professional loads the drone with medical samples, such as blood samples, and sends them along a predetermined flight path to a fixed landing pad at WakeMed’s main hospital and central pathology lab.

WakeMed previously relied on courier cars, which were subject to road delays.

UPS said in a statement, “The addition of drone transport provides an option for on-demand and same-day delivery, the ability to avoid roadway delays, increase medical delivery efficiency, lower costs and improve the patient experience with potentially life-saving benefits.

UPS announced the new specimen delivery service as a collaboration with Matternet with oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and North Carolina’s Department of Transportation.

The drone deliveries are part of a pilot program the FAA launched last August to test practical applications of drones and analyze how they could be used safely to speed deliveries and reduce costs.

“Together with UPS, we aim to shift the status quo for on-demand logistics for healthcare systems in the U.S. through drone delivery networks,” Matternet CEO Andreas Raptopoulos said in a statement. “Our technology allows hospital systems to transport medical items at an unprecedented level of speed and predictability, resulting in improved patient care and operational savings.”

This new specimen delivery service is part of a longer-term plan to incorporate drones into its delivery of supplies and samples to medical facilities. Data from those flights will help the companies work on similar drone logistics projects at other hospitals in the future.

To learn more about this drone, click here to watch a short video created by Matternet.

Candida auris:
Emerging Fungus, Serious Global Health Threat

Karen DiDonato • April 12, 2019

What is it?

Candida auris (also known as C. auris) is a type of drug-resistant yeast causing severe illness in hospitalized patients in several countries including the United States. It can cause invasive infections, including bloodstream and wound infections.

What is its history?

C. auris was first detected in 2009 in Japan and has been reported in over 20 countries including the United States. Most C. auris cases in the U.S. have been detected in the New York City area, New Jersey, and the Chicago area. There have been 587 confirmed cases in the States (as of April 11, 2019).

The CDC is calling it a global health threat because multiple cases of C. auris have been reported from Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

The earliest known strain of C. auris dates to 1996 in South Korea.

Why is it dangerous?

CDC is concerned about C. auris as a global health threat for the following three reasons:

• It is often multi-drug resistant, which means it can’t be treated with multiple antifungal drugs typically used to treat Candida infections.
• It is difficult to identify without specific laboratory technology, and misidentification could cause a patient to be treated incorrectly.
• Because it has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings, quick identification is a must so healthcare facilities can take special precautions to stop its spread.

The fungus can cause various infections including bloodstream infection, wound infections, and ear infections (“auris” is the Latin word for ear).

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptoms are fever and chills that don’t improve after antibiotic treatment for a suspected bacterial infection. In some cases symptoms may not be noticeable because patients are often already sick with other medical conditions.

Who is at risk?

At the highest risk are patients who have been hospitalized for a long time; have a central venous catheter, or other lines or tubes entering their body; or have previously received antibiotics or antifungal medications.

How does C. auris spread?

C. auris is spread through contact with affected patients or contaminated environmental surfaces or equipment. To help prevent the spread of the infection, the CDC suggests following proper hand hygiene and infection control measures.

Are C. auris infections treatable?

Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungal drugs called echinocandins; however, some C. auris infections have been resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medications.

More than one-third of patients with serious cases of the blood infection died.

C. auris can be misidentified unless specialized laboratory technology is used. Misidentification could lead to a patient getting the wrong treatment, which could expose more patients to the fungus. It is important to know how to identify this organism.

How to identify C. auris (taken from https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris/recommendations.html)

“Diagnostic devices based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) can differentiate C. auris from other Candida species, but not all the reference databases included in MALDI-TOF devices allow for detection. Currently, accurate identification of C. auris can be performed using the Bruker Biotyper brand MALDI-TOF using the updated Bruker FDA-approved MALDI Biotyper CA System library (Version Claim 4) or their “research use only” libraries (Versions 2014 [5627] and more recent) and VITEK (MALDI-TOF) MS RUO (with Saramis Ver 4.14 database and Saccharomycetaceae update). VITEK 2 with software version 8.01 should also be able to accurately detect C. auris, though misidentifications of strains from certain clades have been reported and all Candida duobushaemulonii should be forwarded for further identification (see the identification algorithm Cdc-pdf[PDF – 9 pages]).

Supplemental MALDI-TOF databases that include additional C. auris strains from all four of the phylogenetic clades may enable users to overcome identification challenges by providing consistently higher MALDI identification scores. MicrobeNet is one example of a free online MALDI database of rare and unusual pathogens that is curated by CDC experts. MicrobeNet users will have access to CDC C. auris MALDI spectral libraries as well as Bruker’s most up-to-date database (all free with your MicrobeNet login).

Molecular methods based on sequencing the D1-D2 region of the 28s rDNA or the Internal Transcribed Region (ITS) of rDNA also can identify C. auris.”

If you or your coworkers identify C. auris, the CDC would like you to notify your state or local public health authorities and CDC at candidaauris@cdc.gov.

For more information about this global health threat, including information specific to laboratorians, visit the CDC’s website on C.auris by clicking here.

According to the September/October 2018 issue of the American Staffing Association’s Staffing Success magazine, the three most common misperceptions about working with staffing companies are:

• Staffing and recruiting companies have selfish motives.
• Staffing and recruiting companies are all the same.
• Staffing and recruiting companies are primarily for people who cannot find a position on their own.

Let’s go through each one separately in the words of our recruiters and account executives.

Jeb Parichy, Recruiter:

“I take that misconception personally because any business has to be money motivated to be successful, but for me it’s more than that. In all of my 27 years of experience, I have done it the same way: I spend countless hours getting to know each candidate personally in order to find a job that fits who they are as people and professionals. I get personal with them by discussing their pets, children, hobbies, spouses, etc. I get to know them to better match their needs to the right job in the right location. Together we spend countless hours preparing. I love doing this because I get to help people support their families, get out of debt, or help them reach their career goals. I know I impact each person I help place. They often send me pictures and notes thanking me for changing their lives. I recently got someone a $50,000 increase from their previous job! One person sent me a picture of her on the Eiffel Tower on her 23rd wedding anniversary. (I have that one hanging on my office wall.) So for me, recruiting has nothing to do with being selfish. Heck, I am here by 5:15 a.m. and I give my cell number to each candidate I work with so they can call me 24/7 (including weekends).”

Kelly Bajusz, Account Executive:

“I work for hours on end matching the exact skill set the client is looking for with the candidate. I take it a step further by ensuring the candidate’s personality will fit in well with the client’s established staff. It’s very time consuming work, but in the end, the match is what drives me to continue. I spend the time getting to know my client’s needs until I find the perfect fit — like a key in a lock. The greatest reward, and what keeps me coming back, is hearing a laboratory manager, for example, thank me for staffing her lab for the best possible patient care. That’s what empowers me to continue. After all, it’s patient care that we’re affecting in the end.”

Jason Malone, Recruiter:

“The biggest difference between us and other firms is that HCI is exclusive to the laboratory industry. We are the industry leader in clinical and anatomic pathology recruitment. That’s all we do. Nobody else has the established laboratory connections we have. We’ve partnered with more than 1,450 clients and serviced over 12,000 lab staffing projects. Our database includes over 100,000 laboratory professionals. We know the industry and the key players in it.”

Antwan Spivey, Recruiter:

“Because of our long history with most of our clients, we have a strong understanding of their needs. We spend the time searching, making phone calls, and setting up interviews for our clients.”

Michael DeQuarto, Senior Recruiter:

“We work directly with lab directors and managers. When we submit a resume it goes directly to them. If a job seeker goes online and applies to a position on their own, it often goes to the black hole that is Human Resources.”

Gene Marks, Consulting Recruiter:

“In my 30 years of experience, I have found that staffing agencies allow people to realize and/or surpass their dreams and ambitions by increasing their marketability as candidates. We help them get superior titles, more money with greater benefits, or better locations in which to work. Joining forces with an agency often results in something better and is often more than the candidate was initially looking for.”

Donato Valera-Teano, Senior Recruiter:

“Agencies are efficient time savers. On your own you can search for jobs and apply to each one individually often without knowing the pay, the culture, as well as many other factors. Working with me at this agency, I can submit you to multiple jobs at once and I’ll already know the salary structure and the other factors not publicized in advertisements. Because HCI only staffs clinical and anatomic pathology, I know the industry, hiring managers, and facilities. I’m able to speak with you and know if it’ll be a good fit, wasting very little time. Plus, I will get your resume in front of a hiring manager instead of in Human Resources’ inbox.”

In summary, I’ll close with what Recruiter Sadie Samuel says are her top four reasons to use HCI for your next job search:

“Free: It does not cost anything to use us.

Feedback: When applying on your own, candidates typically don’t hear any feedback for why they were not selected. I always get feedback and I will share that feedback with you so we can use it to your benefit.

Pay: I believe most people do not know how to negotiate pay. Some people are reluctant about asking for what they are worth. I know how much you are worth and I can get you the pay you are looking for.

Record Keeping: Some candidates don’t recall where they submitted their resumes. This is a negative because some facilities frown upon double submittals. I will ask you where you would like your resume to be sent, suggest other locations, and keep all the records for you.”

Now that you’ve heard from us, give us a call at (954) 346-4475 to discuss any other questions you may have about our services. We will be happy to get to know you so we can find your perfect career fit.

Name:

Sadie Samuel

How long have you worked as a recruiter?

I have been with HealthCare Connections for four years. I’ve been in the recruiter role since June of 2018 and prior to that I was a clinical solutions associate.

Why are you a recruiter?

I work as a recruiter for the clinical and anatomic pathology laboratory because I enjoy helping people and I’m working in my field. I graduated college with a Bachelors Degree in Healthcare Management and prior to that (since high school) I worked in health administration/human resources. It is so rewarding to help people find jobs in their career field. When they fill their goals by finding their dream jobs or going to areas they never thought of going, I am fulfilled.

What’s your favorite part of being a recruiter?

Hiring someone is definitely the best. I love to call the candidate to congratulate them. It is so rewarding to finalize the process after going through the paperwork, preparing for and sending the candidate to interviews, then negotiating the offers. Hearing the person’s smile over the phone is amazing.

What other jobs have you held?

Most of my jobs since high school were in health care, except when I was a college intern for Wells Fargo. I have worked as a hospital administrator, human resources representative, and a staffing coordinator in a nursing home/rehabilitation center.

What do you do when you are not working?

I was born in the US Virgin Islands and have lived in Florida since I was a child. The beach and my culture are very important to me. Celebrating the beach, in my free time I design women’s swimwear. I plan to eventually sell them in an online store called iLLest Kollections, but right now I design and send them to my manufacturer to create. The other thing I really enjoy doing is taking part in Miami Carnival, an annual festival celebrating Caribbean-American communities. I dress up in costumes, paint my face, dance, listen to traditional music, and eat delicious culturally-typical food.

What is your favorite vacation spot(s)?

I love to travel and plan to do more of it. The Caribbean Islands are my favorites because I enjoy beach activities including jet skiing, boating, and riding inflatable Banana Boats. In 2017 I visited Colorado and finally saw snow. It was so pretty, but too cold!

If you worked in the laboratory, where would you want to work and why?

I really respect people who work with human tissues, but that’s not for me. I could work with fluids, but I think I’d prefer to use my managerial skills instead.

How do you respond when a potential laboratory employee tells you they are unsure about using an agency for their job search?

There are so many reasons to use an agency, but HCI is specifically set apart from the rest because we are very unique. We have a market niche that other companies do not. We specialize solely in the clinical and anatomic laboratory, which separates us from others.

Here are my top four reasons to use HCI for your job search:

• • • Free: It does not cost anything to use us.
    • Feedback: When applying on your own, candidates typically don’t hear any feedback for why they were not selected. I always get feedback and I will share that feedback with you so we can use it to your benefit.
    • Pay: I believe most people do not know how to negotiate pay. Some people are reluctant about asking for what they are worth. I know how much you are worth and I can get you the pay you are looking for.
    • Record Keeping: Some candidates don’t recall where they submitted their resumes. This is a negative because some facilities frown upon double submittals. I will ask you where you would like your resume to be sent, suggest other locations, and keep all the records for you.

Using an agency is like having someone there with you the whole time to help. I will get you from point A to point Z.

If you had to give just one tip for interviewing, what would it be?

Never talk poorly about your previous employer. No matter what you went through, just say you are looking for a better opportunity. An employer doesn’t want to hire someone who is very negative. Even if it was really bad, it just shouldn’t be said. Don’t be negative. Try to find at least one positive quality.

A medical center in Los Angeles is piloting a program that allows patients to use Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa to communicate with nurses and staff members.

Cedars-Sinai provided more than 100 patient rooms with the Alexa-powered platform known as Aiva on Amazon Echos. Aiva, the world’s first patient-centered voice assistant platform for hospitals, permits patients to interact hands-free to control their environment and connect with staff.

Cedars-Sinai provided more than 100 patient rooms with the Alexa-powered platform known as Aiva on Amazon Echos. Aiva, the world’s first patient-centered voice assistant platform for hospitals, permits patients to interact hands-free to control their environment and connect with staff.

A press release from Cedars-Sinai explained how the technology works.

“The patient’s request is routed to the mobile phone of the appropriate caregiver, whether a nurse, clinical partner, manager or administrator. A pain medicine request would be routed to a registered nurse, for example, while a bathroom request would be routed to a clinical partner. If the request is not answered in a timely manner, the Aiva platform sends it up the chain of command.”

Sumeet Bhatia, founder and CEO of Aiva, said, “Cedars-Sinai and Aiva are giving patients more entertainment options, more control over their environment and closer communication with their care team.”

To control their environment, patients can easily control their TVs by saying, “Alexa, change the channel to ESPN.” An example of being in closer communication with their care team, a patient might say, “Alexa, tell my nurse I need to get up to use the restroom.”

Being alone in a hospital room can take a toll on a patient. The Echos also include standard Alexa features allowing patients to feel more connected to the outside world thereby helping the patient’s mental health.

The most common request is for the device to play music, followed by content like weather, sports and games.

The nearly three-year-old Los Angeles-based health care startup, funded primarily by venture capital, received separate funding from two rival tech giants in just one week: the Google Assistant Investment Program and Amazon’s Alexa Fund. Amazon and Google are investing in startups using these funds to build up their rival voice assistant ecosystems.

The companies didn’t disclose financial terms of the deals.

Aiva’s other investors include Act One Ventures, Mucker Capital, and Techstars.

An Aiva representative said they are also targeting physician offices, skilled nursing facilities, senior communities, a well as elderly home users.

According to AARP, “Studies show that isolation and loneliness are as bad for health as obesity or smoking.”

Voice assistants can help alleviate social isolation and feelings of loneliness by connecting seniors with friends, family and neighbors using the hands-free phone and video calls. They will also remind seniors about appointments, outings, or other activities, encouraging them to be more social.

One of the major limitations to using voice technology in health care is that it is not yet compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patients’ health information. While some skills can be built into voice technology, patient data cannot be used within it to permit a more personalized experience.

Amazon, Google and Microsoft all have voice-activated smart speakers and they are chomping at the bit to get integrated into the health care realm. If the technology rumors are true, Amazon may soon announce a HIPAA compliant Echo.

The future of medical care is likely full of virtual assistants in any number of health care settings from the doctor’s office to laboratories to the most complex surgical suites. It may not be long before voice-activated technology is in main stream health care.

There is an actual medical condition that can be brought about during long flights. Also known as “economy-class syndrome”, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition that can develop the longer you are immobile. Blood clots form in the deep veins of your legs and can cause swelling and pain. According to Mayo Clinic, DVT can be very serious. Blood clots in your veins can break loose, travel through your bloodstream and lodge in your lungs, blocking blood flow (known as a pulmonary embolism).

How can you prevent DVT? The Centers for Disease Control suggests the following tips when traveling:

• Get up and walk around every 2 to 3 hours.
• Exercise your legs while you’re sitting by: Raising and lowering your heels while keeping your toes on the floor; raising and lowering your toes while keeping your heels on the floor; and tightening and releasing your leg muscles
• Wear loose-fitting clothes.
• Also suggested is to maintain a healthy weight, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, and asking your doctor about wearing maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

Flying is a dehydrating experience. Did you know that when flying at 30,000 feet, for example, the humidity level in the plane could be as low as 10 to 20 percent? That’s desert-level dry. Dehydration can weaken your immune system and even disrupt your sleep cycle. Dr. Oz, a TV personality and director of Integrative Medicine Center at Columbia, suggests drinking eight ounces of water or herbal tea for every hour flying. Sure, that’ll make you have to visit the bathroom a lot, but it will force you to move around the airplane potentially preventing DVT. Plus, the herbal tea can calm the body, which is always good when stuck in a confined space with many other people. Be sure to avoid alcohol, since that dehydrates the body on a cellular level.

Airplanes are notoriously germ-laden places. With the lack of humidity drying out your nasal passages, you’d be surprised how often you touch your nose. The CDC says people touch their eyes, mouth, and nose approximately 25 times per hour without being aware of it. Mucous membranes are the perfect moist and warm environments to host a variety of potential illnesses. Keep your hands away from your face and use hand sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol after touching any surface on an aircraft, as well as before you eat or drink and after using the bathroom.

According to research, disease-causing bacteria can linger for up to a week on surfaces like seat pockets, rubber armrests, as well as nonporous surfaces like the tray table. One study presented by the American Society for Microbiology in 2014 found that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lasted on material from the seat-back pocket for 168 hours while E. coli O157:H7 survived 96 hours on the armrest. Yuck! To protect yourself, use antibacterial wipes to disinfect your seating area, which includes the tray table, remote controls, monitors, arm rests, window shades, or anything else you may touch.

Be sure to get enough sleep prior to your flight to keep up your body’s natural immunity. Your body needs sleep to fight infectious diseases. Studies show that people who don’t get quality sleep or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus, such as the common cold. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.

Are you ready to travel? Let us know where you want to go and we’ll match you to an open position in the clinical or anatomic pathology laboratory.

Contact us today.

Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) recently gifted $1 million to Alamance Community College (ACC), a community college in Graham, North Carolina.

The college, which has a student body of more than 5,000, offers traditional technical courses as well as biotechnology, culinary technology, medical laboratory technology, and other transfer courses.

A portion of the funds was used for new state-of-the-art equipment for the college’s Medical Laboratory Technology program.

The remaining funds will be used to purchase and maintain technology for the $9.1 million Biotechnology and Life Science Center of Excellence set to be completed by August 2021.

The 34,000-square-foot facility will house the Biotechnology, Medical Laboratory Technology, Histotechnology, and Agricultural-Biotechnology programs.

Over the years, LabCorp and ACC have collaborated to launch ACC’s Biotechnology, Medical Laboratory Technology, and Histotechnology programs.

The nearly 50-year-old company, whose corporate headquarters are in Burlington, NC, is an S&P 500 global life sciences company. They provide comprehensive clinical laboratory and end-to-end drug development services.

In total LabCorp employs nearly 60,000 employees worldwide, with more than 100 ACC graduates working in LabCorp’s Burlington, NC laboratories.

Just last month LabCorp was named to Fortune magazine’s 2019 List of World’s Most Admired Companies, making the annual list for the second consecutive year. LabCorp reported net revenues of more than $10 billion for 2017.

Generation Z is defined by Pew Research Center as people born in or after 1997. The consulting firm BridgeWorks estimates that Generation Z accounts for 61 million people in the U.S., a number larger than Generation X and two-thirds the size of the baby boomers.

It is important that employers understand that Generation Z’s life experiences affect the companies they seek. To entice and retain them as employees, companies must shift their practices to what’s most important to them.

Initial studies of this group of emerging employees suggest that Generation Z’s are on track to becoming the most well-educated generation yet. Pew found the oldest Generation Z’s are enrolling in college at a significantly higher rate than Millennials were at a comparable age.

This is good news for positions such as those in anatomic and clinical pathology that require degrees in higher education. In fact, according to studies conducted by Indeed.com, Generation Z’s are focused on finding stable jobs, mostly in tech and healthcare, which they consider to be “future-proof” jobs and with stability.

Research recently published on Forbes.com, which includes recent industry insights, uncovers what Generation Z’s look for in a career.

In a survey of 400 college students, 77 percent of participants said “feeling safe” was their top office environment quality. This may not be surprising since they grew up with multiple school shootings. The Columbine High School massacre occurred in 1999, when the eldest Gen Z’s were only just two years old. Since then, a shooting or killing spree has made headlines almost every year.

Potential Fix: Provide a safe and diverse environment where Generation Z’s can be themselves and express their views. Encourage a culture of open-mindedness and listening while eliminating closed-minded prejudices that can hurt others, outdated thinking and bias.

Generation Z had access to smartphones from childhood and, in many cases, can’t remember life without one. In fact, Apple launched the first iPhone in 2007 when the eldest Generation Z’s were just 10. They were the first generation to grow up with social media, which made it easier and faster to give life to social movements.

Potential Fix: Forbes.com recommended that companies may need to adjust their tactics. They suggest relaxing company standards around social media. Rather than reprimanding an employee for a political post on social media, try to understand their point of view. They suggest using corporate philanthropy days to work with projects and organizations the workers care about.

The “hibernators” typically stay inside warm and cozy and only venture outside to get to and from the car. They count the days until spring. Just the thought of December to March can leave them in a disappointing shiver.

The “embracers” are the ones who get outside and take advantage of the coldest months of the year. They like the cool air and winter sports. Depending on where they are, they enjoy watching the snow fall and taking part in cold-weather activities like making snowmen, sledding, or snowshoeing.

Name: Donato Valera-Teano

How long have you worked as a Clinical Solutions Talent Manager/Lead Travel Recruiter?

I have worked in the staffing industry for 13 years. I am a recruiter now, but in the past I worked as an account executive and manager.

Why are you a Clinical Solutions Talent Manager/Lead Travel Recruiter?

I work as a lead travel recruiter because I enjoy finding positions for people in the clinical and anatomic laboratory as well as filling the needs of laboratories nationwide.

What’s your favorite part of being a Clinical Solutions Talent Manager/Lead Travel Recruiter?

I have worked on both sides of employee staffing: temporary/travel and permanent. My real passion is on the temporary side because I like the challenge of finding someone to fill an immediate short-term position. I like the quick turnaround of temporary positions versus permanent positions which typically take much longer.

What other jobs have you held?

My first job was as a waiter. I was also a mortgage loan officer. Along with my current role as a senior travel recruiter, I am also a martial arts instructor and have been for eight years.

What do you do when you are not working?

When I’m not working I’m training in mixed martial arts, surfing, skateboarding, or break dancing.

What is your favorite vacation spot(s)?

I have two favorites: El Salvador for surfing and Thailand for Muay Thai, a traditional form of close-combat kickboxing that uses the entire body.

If you worked in the laboratory, where would you want to work and why?

I think I’d work in the anatomic pathology side because I would be working hands-on with actual specimens not just fluids.

How do you respond when a potential laboratory employee tells you they are unsure about using an agency for their job search?

Agencies are efficient time savers. On your own you can search for jobs and apply to each one individually often without knowing the pay, the culture, as well as many other factors. Working with me at this agency, I can submit you to multiple jobs at once and I’ll already know the salary structure and the other factors not publicized in advertisements. Because HCI only staffs clinical and anatomic pathology, I know the industry, hiring managers, and facilities. I’m able to speak with you and know if it’ll be a good fit, wasting very little time. Plus, I will get your resume in front of a hiring manager instead of in Human Resources’ inbox.

What is the craziest thing a potential laboratory employee has told you?

We flew a potential employee to an interview, but instead of renting a car he walked — 20 miles — and even slept under an overpass. He said when he came back from the cross-country interview, his girlfriend had cheated on him and drove away in his trailer. He was left with nothing.

If you had to give just one tip for interviewing, what would it be?

Ask questions! Asking questions throughout the interview opens the door to opportunity. You will relate more with your interviewer, sell your skills set and personality, and better determine if the job will be a good match for you.

Packing for a long assignment can be daunting. Heck, even a two-week trip can cause the feeling of dread when you stare at your empty suitcase.

AAA.com recommends starting a few weeks prior to the trip by making a checklist of everything you should pack. As part of your checklist, consider bringing along some items to keep you grounded and give you a sense of home in your faraway location.

And remember, we’re here to help. If something is amiss with your accommodations, give us a ring; we’re here for you.

Not sure where you want to go for your next assignment? Take a look at our open jobs by clicking here.

The 119-minute film is summarized by Sundance.org:

Elizabeth Holmes arrived in Silicon Valley with a revolutionary medical invention. She called it “the Edison”: a small, hyper-sophisticated black box that performed 200 tests in minutes, all from a single drop of blood. Needles, laboratories, and the select few companies that controlled them would become instantly obsolete. Like Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Thomas Edison himself, Holmes intended to tear down and revolutionize an entire industry.

The hitch? All of it was a lie. The system was a hoax. And what began as one of 2014’s hottest tech companies—valued at nine billion dollars—dissolved into a fraudulent, bankrupt scheme that exposed Silicon Valley’s underbelly.

At 19 years old, after dropping out of the School of Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, Holmes used her tuition money to start Theranos in 2003. Her lofty goal seemingly to change the entire lab industry. The Silicon Valley start-up promised to revolutionize laboratory testing.

At its height, Theranos, headquartered in Palo Alto, California, had more than 800 employees and laboratories in Newark, California and Scottsdale, Arizona. The biotech company garnered nearly one billion dollars in venture capital funding from several high-profile investors and was at one point valued more than ten billion dollars.

In 2014 Forbes named Holmes one of the richest women in America. Two years later Forbes revised its estimate of Holmes’ net worth from $4.5 billion to $0.

An investigation by John Carreyrou, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist with the Wall Street Journal, exposed Theranos by raising serious concerns about whether the company’s biotechnology actually worked. His front-page exposé was published in 2015.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March of 2018 charged Theranos, Inc., Holmes, and the company’s president Ramesh Balwani “with raising more than $700 million from investors through an elaborate, years-long fraud in which they exaggerated or made false statements about the company’s technology, business, and financial performance”.

The SEC went on to say:

“The complaints allege that Theranos, Holmes, and Balwani made numerous false and misleading statements in investor presentations, product demonstrations, and media articles by which they deceived investors into believing that its key product – a portable blood analyzer – could conduct comprehensive blood tests from finger drops of blood, revolutionizing the blood testing industry. In truth, according to the SEC’s complaint, Theranos’ proprietary analyzer could complete only a small number of tests, and the company conducted the vast majority of patient tests on modified and industry-standard commercial analyzers manufactured by others.”

There are hundreds of thousands of fonts. Some are installed on your computer, others are available for purchase. Some fonts look great for children’s books or comic books, some for printed newspapers, while others are best suited for electronic documents such as whitepapers or eBooks.

But which ones are the best for your professional resume?

In the example to the right, you’ll notice circled embellishments. Those embellishments make a font a serif typeface. They are not just decorative; they have been credited (and disputed) for increasing readability as well as reading speed because they help the eye travel across a line. But what it really boils down to is preference AND legibility, particularly when you embellish it with italics, bolding, or varying sizes.

Because size does matter, keep the text on your resume between a 10.5 and 12 point font. Anything less than 10.5 will be too difficult for the reader to decipher. Anything larger than 12 makes it look like your resume doesn’t have much to it and you’re trying to fill space.