Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Medical technologists wanted

By Justin Schmidt

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Med techs wanted

Med techs wanted

A hospital needs more than just doctors and nurses.

"I wouldn't have gone through the schooling, made it through, if I didn't love this," said medical laboratory technician Lilli Martin.

Martin spends her days in a lab running tests. Hospitals like Coffey County Hospital are having a tough time finding people like her.

Lab supervisor Pam Echton says her staff is rare, because they actually have a full staff.

"One time we had an opening for 3 years. We could not find a qualified technician for 3 years," said Echton.

Coffey Health System administrator Dennis George says the new medical technologist program through Washburn University should make it easier for hospitals like his to fill open positions.

"We always need to look at the future as we need replacements in the next 10 years," said George. "We try to look at the fact that most of our candidates are people that want to relocate here with their families. They might have young children and this is an excellent place to work as well as raise their family."

The medical technologist program starts at Washburn this spring. The program can handle about 8 students per year.

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Comments

aileenhiponia (anonymous) says...

I'm ASCP International certified Medical Technologist in the Philippines. I want to work in the US. How can I apply. I have a hard time looking for a sponsor. Thanks!

May 29, 2009 at 9:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

buffycoat74 (anonymous) says...

The main problem here is that these American hospitals and laboratories still wait for an "American" to apply for the job. They raise the economic crisis issue as an escape goat not to sponsor or hire a foreign applicant even though you already passed their required certification exams such as ASCP. But I guess what they really do have is a "discrimination" issue.

May 30, 2009 at 5:23 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

bbteacher (anonymous) says...

Our hospital in Missouri hired two Phillipino Lab technicians and they are as knowledgeable as US-trained staff. They also work without complaining like most Americans do.
Lab technologists with a BS degree are now called Clinical Lab Scientists because anyone can be some kind of "tech". One problem is that for every 10 CLS, there a 100 nurses, so we are outnumbered and overlooked. Lab staff settle for hand-me-downs from other areas of the hospital because "we aren't seen by the patients." How demoralizing!

May 31, 2009 at 7:11 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

flowgeek (anonymous) says...

Medical Technologists(CLS) have earned a BS or BA degree or more and MT(ASCP) certified or equivalent. In 1973, MT's out of school made $10,000. In 2009 I make over $70,000. My raises are from working at various government hospitals from IHS to VA and back. I also hit DoD for awhile. We are now experiencing a shortage of qualified MT's, or CLS at the VA level for any shift. As we have become "boarded", a situation of basic qualifications within the VA here, many now seeking employment are not educated with college and internship as a MT degree requires. Coing out of the military, one needs to get their degree and internship completed before applying if they are to be boarded and get good raises.
The schools for MT's are diminished, some start up , and some close. The bottoom line as all MT's know-is that we are becoming a dying breed. Our generation, the boomers - will find it difficult to get prompt lab results and may question accuracy of results. Labs are becoming more and more automated, yes, but certain highly complex tests, which are becoming the norm, still require the midas touch of a skilled MT(CLS) who understands theory, technology, computers and electronics to a degree. What we did 35 years ago has changed exponentially! We appear to be technical scientists, who must understand the workings of a complex instrument, a track for high input and output results, plus extraordinary skills in research , problem solving, and deduction. Mt work requires great common sense.
I am concerned about the shortages that are apparent now and will surely increase over the next 10-20 years. We should all worry. Encourage your science minded children to seek out lab work and visit a lab to observe poetry in motion. The behind-the-scenes heroes and willing to teach. I expect all other clinical staff would be hard pressed if clinical OR research labs shut down or eliminated tests because of staffing issues. Think about it...can a diagnosis be made in more cases than not, without the help of the lab???

June 10, 2009 at 8:14 a.m. ( | suggest removal )