This October, passengers flying on American Airlines will
be able to hear a report on the growing shortage of clinical
laboratory personnel and what the American Society for Clinical
Pathology (ASCP) and Clinical Laboratory Management Association
(CLMA) are doing about it.
The 3 1/2-minute interview with ASCP Senior Vice President
Kory Ward-Cook, PhD, will focus on the following points:
- The shortage of certified laboratory professionals is as
serious as the nursing shortage--from 20% to 30% for some
categories and in geographic areas.
- The lab staffing shortage will increase turnaround time
for lab tests, delaying treatment in some areas.
- On average, two thirds of patients' medical records are
laboratory test results/analyses.
- Wages are increasing for lab professionals as demand goes
up
"The high level of stress that is placed on the laboratory
workers that are still in the clinical laboratory today to keep
up with the demand could actually result in testing errors and
maybe even job burnout, leading to even longer turnaround times
for test results," said Ward-Cook in the interview.
She added that the ASCP, CLMA, and other organizations are
working to alleviate the shortage by:
- Developing more efficient laboratory equipment and better
technology
- Creating tools for laboratory managers to recruit and retain
workers
- Focusing on increased visibility at school career fairs
- Lobbying for increased federal funding of clinical laboratory
educational programs
The interview will be part of the news passengers can listen
to via headphones and will be mentioned in their program listings.
ASCP hopes to reach hundreds of thousands of people with the
message, particularly junior and high school science students
and the media.
For more information: http://www.ascp.org/general/skies.asp
Taken from: AMA
(MedEd) Health Professions E-Letter, 8/2002.
|
