| For Immediate Release
October 29, 2003
Opportunities in laboratory
sciences continue to grow
November 2-8 is Allied Health Professions
Week. This article is one of a series on issues relating to
allied health professions.
Much has been written about the aging U.S. population
and the increased demand on the health care industry as the
baby boomers head toward retirement. But, another factor is
affecting the health care industry. Many of the healthcare workers
themselves are in that baby-boomer generation.
One group of professionals who are seldom seen,
but who are essential in diagnosing and monitoring patients’
medical conditions and diseases, is the clinical laboratory
staff.
A report from made available by the American
Society for Clinical Pathology estimates that more than 72%
of the current laboratory workforce is older than 40 years of
age. And, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimate that 12,200
new medical technologists and medical laboratory technician
graduates will be needed each year until 2010 to meet the need
of lab services, reports the 2002 Wage and Vacancy Survey of
Medical Laboratories.
These figures come at a time when the workload
in the clinical laboratory is great. An estimated 70% of medical
decisions are based on the results of laboratory tests. The
number of laboratory tests is rapidly expanding, providing earlier
detection of disease and better treatment options for patients.
In addition, the explosion of information in the field of genetics
has increased the demand for laboratory tests based on molecular
methods, explains Dr. Susan J. Beck, Director of the Division
of Clinical Laboratory Science at UNC-Chapel Hill. And, in the
past couple of years, the threat of bio-terrorism has increased
the need for laboratory personnel with specialized training.
The reasons for the ongoing personnel needs are varied. Beck
explains that during the 1990s, many of the hospital-based laboratory
science educational programs closed due to funding issues. And,
some university-based programs closed because, Beck says, laboratory
science is a costly program. The result has been fewer clinical
laboratory science graduates entering the workforce.
And, of those who have completed the remaining programs, many
have found that the highest salaries are in private industry
rather than in healthcare facilities.
“When you have talented people who can get paid more elsewhere,
it’s hard to keep them in the healthcare and hospital settings,”
she adds.
To address these issues at a national level, the American
Society for Clinical Laboratory Science convened a group of
major laboratory organizations, governmental agencies, and industry
representatives. That group, the Coordinating Council on the
Clinical Laboratory Workforce, has been meeting frequently to
identify causes and solutions to the shortage of laboratory
personnel.
North Carolina is fortunate because it has six baccalaureate
educational programs in clinical laboratory science and 12 associate
degree programs for the clinical laboratory technician, Beck
says.
“The shortage of clinical laboratory personnel is good news
for students because they know they will find a job when they
complete an educational program.” And, many health care employers
are offering sign-on bonuses and working to improving salaries
to help retain these highly qualified health care workers.
“The need for laboratory tests and services is great and the
work is extremely rewarding,” Beck says. “Educators and employers
must continue to work together to attract and retain professionals
in this critical area of health care.”
Contact: Vivian Lail-Davis, (919) 966-8566, vlail@med.unc.edu
Dr. David E. Yoder, Executive Director, (919) 843-6176, dyoder@med.unc.edu
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