Introduction Patient care is as vital part in the medical community, the shortage of medical laboratory technicians can jeopardize this care in so many ways. According to ASCP “The number of technologist/scientist and technician education programs has declined by more than 50% since 1970, with the most dramatic decline in technology/ scientific programs, 71% of which closed between 1970 and 2007. In contrast, the number of phlebotomy [Phlebotomy is a procedure that removes blood from the body] training programs increased six fold from 1987 to 2003.” As stated by the Bureau of Labor Statics, “Medical laboratory technologists (commonly known as medical laboratory scientists) and medical laboratory technicians collect samples and perform tests …show more content…
This is because “Delays in diagnosis and treatment caused by the shortage threaten the quality and timeliness of patient care. The scarcity of needed laboratory professionals increases costs to hospitals for recruitment and may even result in additional losses associated with sending tests out. While it is difficult to quantify the impact of the shortage on the quality of patient care, certain problems have been reported – including testing delays, mislabeling of specimens, and conducting the wrong tests. Whether these errors result directly from a lack of full staffing has not been documented. Nevertheless, it is clear that a staffing shortage creates changes in the testing process, sometimes with negative consequences (California’s Other Healthcare Crisis).” The shortage of medical laboratory technicians is so significant, that a lot of attention need to be put towards this issue. In hospitals doctors may have to wait about 3-5 days only to receive feedback on a sample that was delivered a week ago. This problem is life-threatening because doctors have to wait a much longer time to diagnose their …show more content…
The resultant lack of public understanding and recognition of what lab workers do mean that fewer young people are aware of hospital laboratory careers. • The growth of industries such as biotech and laboratory manufacturers – which typically pay better salaries – has increased the demand for skilled workers. • A lack of career development opportunities has discouraged potential recruits and made it difficult to retain qualified professionals. The biggest problem, however, is the small number of accredited education programs in California and their lack of capacity to train large numbers of students. In 2007, the total number of CLS graduates was 119. In 2008, the number of graduates is expected to increase to 125 (California’s Other Healthcare Crisis). Fortunately, this is not a concurring problem in Florida. Solutions Toward Improvement According to mentor Mona Edouard she says “To improve the situation the large multi-national corporations as well as non-profit organizations need to take strategic steps. Working with junior colleges and colleges to bolster and grow new CLS and MLT preparing programs; educating our state council on the requirement for more state financing for preparing; and expanding open mindfulness and enthusiasm for lab science as a profession
This has happened in part because many kinds of jobs now require higher skill levels, but other factors were also important.
Now that I remain in the CLT program, it has actually opened my eyes to a complete different world of operating in the medical laboratory field. Having that chance to be more involved with the breakdown of the process of the clinical laboratory studies is astounding. I ‘am pleased to have prepared myself to travel beyond with a little in order to succeed with wealth of
A phlebotomist will often be on hand nearly anywhere medical treatments are being performed. This is a profession that is necessary as treatments for any illness often require blood tests to determine how to proceed. The cell's or a person's blood are tested to determine the cause of an
In conclusion, I feel that the states should have licensure for laboratory scientist if they choose to work in a clinical laboratory. The arguments for outweigh the arguments against state licensure as well as both ASCLS and ASCP are in support of such action. The laboratory field has a broad range of option for a laboratory scientist to choose with options in research, clinical or even forensic with each having a different impact on the public. The clinical laboratory has the most the most immediate impact on the health of people in the community making the people working in those laboratories responsible for accuracy and quality of the patient testing. I explained that difference between certification and licensure is that the licensure was
The overall position of minorities in society has influenced their cultural development concerning science-related careers. Minorities have always been separated from the dominant individuals, and through time have received less opportunities. This helped shaped some of their culture, where engagement and interest in science isn’t clearly present. Most of the parents are in the service or other industries and don’t expose their kids to science-related occupations on a regular basis. This lack of
My Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis; that’s what set my mind to being a Medical Lab Technician. As an optimistic freshman, I had a mindset that my 4 years of high school would go smoothly with flying colors; I was taking my first college class, AP World History. However, mid-year that mindset changed. I had been having major knee pain for 2 weeks with high fever, it was agony. My parents immediately took me to the hospital because my primary physician thought I had Kawasaki. As we were waiting in the emergency room, I could feel my parent’s consternation. I’m the first born with one younger sister. I can’t picture how distraught my parents would be if their first child passed away at such a young age with so much academic potential. Along with that, it had been less than a year that my grandmother passed away so my mom was truly
Congress held hearings at which people who had been harmed by laboratory errors testified. These hearings revealed serious deficits in the quality of work from physician office laboratories and in Pap smear testing results (R. D. Feld, M. Schwabbauer, and J. D. Olson, 2001, The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act [CLIA] and the physician's office laboratory; Virtual Hospital, University of Iowa College of Medi-cine [www.vh.org/adult/provider/pathology/CLIA/CLIAHP.html]). In 1988, Congress once again responded to public concerns about the quality of laboratory testing by passing CLIA '88. CLIA '88 expanded the laboratory standards set by CLIA '67 and extended them to include any facility performing a clinical test. Currently, under CLIA '88,
The lab technicians or nurses will specifically focus on the patient’s skin, organs, bloodily fluids, and anything that will tell them what might be the problem the patient is facing as well as how to cure/treat the patient. At this point, the patient’s part in decision has
Journal article based on Lisa Epsioteo’s article “Hospital Labs: Behind the Scenes,” posted on 30 January 2015 from U.S News, which demonstrate the importance of lab tech duties like analyzing specimen for the patient safety. It gives basic ideology of lab tech work, also informs, and provides learning experience about covert scientist and phlebotomist working at their respective work
My scope of practice will includes setting up all blood collection equipment and supplies necessary on a tray, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric fingersticks, and venipuncture’s, and neonatal heelsticks for inpatient and outpatient customers. I will also be responsible for labeling, preserving, packaging, and possibly, transporting blood specimen to the lab for analysis. I will also be expected to enroll in continuing education courses, and recertification programs to maintain my phlebotomist credentials once I am certified through the ASCP.
In the article Medical Professionalism in the New Millennium, by Sox, the author’s focus was on the three fundamentals and ten professional responsibilities that are bestowed on medical professionals today. These are principles and guidelines that we, as medical professionals, should consider and adhere to daily while performing our duties. Although all the points made in the article are important there are a few that can be incorporated into the Medical Laboratory Scientist’s everyday performance. In my opinion, these principles are improving quality care, patient confidentiality, scientific knowledge, professional competence, and professional responsibilities. In addition, I would incorporate always having the patient’s best interest at
Consults with physicians, hospital personnel and independent and hospital laboratory personnel regarding common laboratory problems.
Laboratory technicians work on test or diagnosis, treatment, and prevents any kind of other diseases that may be harmful for others, also workers set up the equipment’s. When they are doing the diagnosis they tend to “collect and study blood samples to determine the number of cells, their morphology, or their blood group, blood type, or compatibility for transfusion purposes, using microscopic techniques.”(Medical and Clinical Laboratory Career, 01Apr. 2016.) For them to find the right disease and what treatments that needs to be taken, they must know Mathematics, biology, and the presence of normal or abnormal components. So it is very important for laboratory technicians to work extremely hard on their job because the patient’s life is in
As part of the CLS clinical practicum site preparation, I was granted the opportunity to tour Henry Ford Health Systems Laboratory. Being a patient at Henry Ford Health Systems, it was intriguing to see how their laboratory operates behind the scenes. If my physician ever has to order any laboratory tests, it does not take more than two to three business days to receive my results and feedback from my physician. After touring Henry Ford’s laboratory, there was no longer any doubt as to how I could receive my results so quickly; Henry Ford is very driven and modern. Case in point, their main laboratory was in the middle of cleaning up after a major technological upgrade during the tour. I also observed that every employee seemed to be completely
One thing that is consistent in healthcare is that healthcare is forever evolving. With the concept of evolution, one particular area that plays a major role in how the healthcare system evolves is revenue. In addition, healthcare facilities receive payment for the services provided. When exploring healthcare services reimbursement there are checks and balances that must take place. The healthcare provider orders services such as radiology and laboratory services that can be provided to a patient. Next, the facility sends a claim to the insurance company. Depending upon how the healthcare facility has coded the service and the documentation deeming the service as medically necessary determines if the facility receives payment for those services. This research is focusing on the laboratory in relation to healthcare reimbursement. To start, one must focus on the background of healthcare reimbursement and how it pertains to the laboratory. Next, it is important to look into the practices of reimbursement in the laboratory for the services provided including the rates that are currently enforced. Lastly knowing what fees will aid in the laboratory receiving the maximum reimbursement.