Original Message:
Sent: 10/22/2024 7:49:00 PM
From: Michelle Moy
Subject: RE: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
What I am still concerned about, and the reason I posted the comment about the paradox, is that the title is not as clear cut as it should be. Let me explain. Stepping outside the box, the use of the so-called business language of thinking outside the box is somewhat overused. The second concern I have about the title which does invocate very strong response, is alternative careers for laboratory professionals. While we are talking about other areas in which laboratory professionals can thrive and contribute to our own growth, nowhere does it say that we are maintaining our focus That has brought us this far into the profession. Some of the careers you have listed, educator, forensics, etc. those need not only more training, but in some cases, a higher degree than you would have obtained to be a medical lab scientist. It’s about growth of the individual, and not looking for an alternate profession. The conversation needs to continue because many people are not informed nor are they committed to staying “in the lab” .
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 10/18/2024 5:30:00 PM
From: Laura Severs
Subject: RE: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
First, I want to thank all of you for your continued contributions to the discussion. We all have unique perspectives that have been shaped by our personal and professional experiences.
Exploring opportunities outside of the traditional hospital-based laboratory setting does not necessarily mean we are advocating for skilled professionals to leave laboratory medicine all together, rather we are opening the discussion to explore how the unique skills of a laboratory professional can be of value in a variety of settings.
I want to share my own experience and be a little vulnerable here. I knew as a teenager that I wanted to be a Medical Laboratory Scientist. When I was looking at colleges and exploring what my future may look like, this field checked all the boxes and really spoke to my personal mission in life-to help other with science. As I started my career, I absorbed all that I could and eventually found myself more and more intrigued with how the greater health care system works and how medical laboratory professionals can impact the future of health care delivery.
Fast forward ten years and I found myself at a crossroad. I loved working in the hospital, but I had a little voice in my head that kept whispering "What else? What if?". I had to do some serious self-reflection on my career to understand why I may be feeling like I need a change. I needed to reassess my why. In that I was able to find an amazing opportunity outside of a hospital laboratory setting. I was still using my skillset as a medical laboratory scientist, but now I was in academic medicine as a staff scientist. Currently, I am an Operations Director at an Academic Medical School and oversee clinical and research service lines.
I share this to emphasize that everyone has their own journey in their career. Understanding various career option is crucial to empower folks to make informed decisions that contribute to long-term growth. The goal of providing the Round Table was not to advocate for a mass exodus from the laboratory. Rather, it was to share all the wonderful opportunities laboratory professionals have utilizing their education, certification, and unique skill set.
Our work spans the entire healthcare paradigm, and I feel strongly that people should know about their options. For example, a Medical Laboratory Scientist has the qualifications for the following types of roles within healthcare-which are necessary.
· Medical Laboratory Scientist
o Research
o Hospital
o Forensic
o Corporate Laboratory
o Public Health
o Academic Medicine
o Private Practice Laboratory
· Quality Assurance/Quality Control Specialist
· Laboratory Information System Specialist
· Healthcare Administration
· Biomedical Specialist
· Educator
· Technical Sales/Consultant
· Biotech/Pharmaceutical Industry Roles
When we discuss these various opportunities, it is natural to bring up retention of qualified individuals in our field. The CLP did host a Round Table about best practices in retention, the recording is available here on this Community page. As a Council, we are listening to you all and want to provide resources and content that span a wide range of topics that interest our members.
Conversations about the workforce have the potential to be polarizing since we are all so passionate about this field, which I love. I want to emphasize that ASCP does incredible work advocating in a variety of ways for our profession. Their workforce initiatives can be found on the website Workforce Initiatives (ascp.org), and include:
· Publishing the Clinical Laboratory Workforce Study and Blueprint for Action
· Administering the Wage & Vacancy Surveys
· Conducting the Job Satisfaction, Well-Being & Burnout Survey
· Partnered with the CDC for the CDC OneLab™ Initiative that leads the effort to bridge, train, and sustain a community among publish health and laboratory professionals.
o Creation of the Negotiation & Advocacy Toolbox
· ASCP Ambassador Program that provides resources to members to engage with their communities and shares information about the various careers in laboratory medicine and pathology.
· ASCP works with school guidance counselor networks to provide career information and resources for their schools
· ASCP is a part of the Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition assets | Medical and Public Health Laboratory Workforce Coalition (mphlcoalition.org)
Workforce shortages are complex issues with no one right solution. It takes all of us to make a difference. Personally, I've used many of these ASCP resources to make sustainable changes that have translated into more thoughtful recruitment and retention efforts-ultimately expanding my teams.
If you want to share your thoughts we me on content you'd like to see the CLP develop, feel free to send me a private message so we can chat further.
Sincerely,
Laura Severs, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM, CLHP®
Chair, ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals
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Laura Severs Administrative Laboratory Director
Saint Louis MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2024 16:17
From: Peter Brown
Subject: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
Hi I think you are correct, I think the gentleman Benjamin is also correct. All of the comments and suggestions on this thread are very thoughtful, interesting food for thought. peter brown
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Peter Brown Technologist/Scientist, non-supervisor (CT,MLS,MT)
Haverhill MA
(617)816-1664
Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2024 14:45
From: Ayodeji Olawunmi
Subject: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
"Why initiate a conversation about laboratory professionals stepping outside the box to explore alternative careers when there is a colossal shortage of laboratory professionals as we speak?"
A manager of an understaffed department will NOT start a conversation with his/her staff about exploring alternative careers. Now if any member of that department decides on his/her own to explore another career so be it. I would think at some point the manager would rather try to find out why people are leaving and see what he/she can reasonable do within executive powers to stop the "bleeding". Root cause analysis requires we ask the five "whys". My point is the topic of this discussion thread glosses over the problem, and has a high potential of creating more staff shortage than we are currently experiencing.
Respectfully, a similar topic was discussed on this platform in mid-july of this year and if you could take so time to review my post, you will notice I was more than respectful to everyone who commented on the topic before me.
I applaud what you are doing to provide software relevant to laboratory practice. I believe the ultimate goal of your effort is for your products to be used. My point is the field is getting depleted of professionals you hope would use your product and a conversation that encourages the remaining few to explore alternate career is doing a disservice to the efforts in your field.
During the span of my 22yrs, I have worked in 2 different level-1 trauma facilities (Texas and Tennessee) I have traveled as MT in three different state, I watched transfusion service department at two different facilities lose 6 Med Techs each and I had to help train new hires. I do know what burnout is. I know what management being untenable is. Yet, in each of the situations listed above, I did my part to contribute to a positive work environment. I applied Maslow's Hierarchy on Need while working as the QAS in the same transfusion service departments mentioned earlier. Not only was staff retention achieved, I enjoyed the full support of my colleagues during my tenure as the QAS.
I do hope you can find the thread about " Long-term solutions to laboratory staff shortages". You'll see that I did not just point to the problems, I proffered solutions and appealed to ANY individual who is in the position to help push through those solutions. One of the people that responded is on the council of laboratory professionals, that was just about 3months ago. I feel that further discussion should be about implementation, modification of, or some kind of update about some solutions offered by different members on that thread, and NOT a complete deviation to a counterproductive discussion.
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Ayodeji Olawunmi MLS / Med Technologist Supervisor
Antioch TN
(817)718-0129
Original Message:
Sent: 10-18-2024 09:57
From: Benjamin Whitney
Subject: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
"Why initiate a conversation about laboratory professionals stepping outside the box to explore alternative careers when there is a colossal shortage of laboratory professionals as we speak?"
Because people burn out. Because sometimes management is untenable. Because interests and life-needs change. Because you don't want to choose a career and find yourself boxed in with no options. No one is saying there is no need for more laboratory professionals, but if we want to entice people to the profession, it needs to be appealing. Telling them the only job you can ever take is working in the basement of a hospital, over-worked and under-paid, until you retire is not going to get us there.
"No true laboratory professional who has the education, did their rotations, sit and pass their board exams and worked hours, and years in the laboratory at any setting - hospital, reference labs, or donor centers - will ever suggest to their colleagues to explore alternative careers."
This offends me on a personal level, and I suggest you take a hard look at the gate-keeping you are bringing to the profession. I did the education, I did the rotations, I passed the boards, I keep up my credits, and I worked the hours on night shift in a hospital lab. I don't work in a hospital, a reference lab, or a donor center anymore. I work for an EMR company. I use my laboratory knowledge, skills, and expertise daily to impact thousands of patients lives. I am just as much a Medical Laboratory Scientist as you are. We NEED laboratory professionals helping develop the software our colleagues use in the lab. We NEED laboratory professionals developing new testing and instrumentation. We NEED lab folks helping in academic research. We NEED laboratory professionals on governing bodies, both in the hospital and in municipal settings. We NEED to show that our profession is robust, has opportunities, and room to grow as individuals.
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Benjamin Whitney Industry Professional
Olathe KS
(913)226-8137
Original Message:
Sent: 10-17-2024 03:14
From: Ayodeji Olawunmi
Subject: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
The subject of this discussion thread says:
Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
First, this is about laboratory professionals. Are members of ANA laboratory professionals? Are members of AMA laboratory professionals? The simple fact that these organizations got introduced into this discussion thread that has nothing to do with them is totally mind boggling.
Second, why initiate a conversation about laboratory professionals stepping outside the box to explore alternative careers when there is a colossal shortage of laboratory professionals as we speak? In the last 4 years facilities have sources laboratory personnel from the Philippines in increasing numbers. The best members of ASCP council of laboratory professionals can come up with is that laboratory professionals should find alternative careers? Why are we not seeking the root cause why laboratory professionals are leaving the field? Perhaps we can find permanent solutions to the problem that would make the field attractive to entry level MLS.
Third, no true laboratory professional who has the education, did their rotations, sit and pass their board exams and worked hours, and years in the laboratory at any setting - hospital, reference labs, or donor centers - will ever suggest to their colleagues to explore alternative careers. With all due respect it can only come from individuals who were bestowed honorary ASCP MLS memberships for the purpose of taking employment in laboratory leadership. They can't relate to issues facing grassroots medical laboratory professionals.
We are a country that seeks and find permanent solutions to problems. We found solutions through department of homeland security to issues affecting national security. We found solutions through biometrics when we discovered that we cannot tell two black people apart. We found solutions to provide healthcare insurance for every American and many more.
Why is there no solution to shortage of Medical Laboratory professionals - a problem that has existed for over 25years?
Original Message:
Sent: 10/16/2024 8:07:00 PM
From: Carolyn Stout
Subject: RE: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
Hi Michelle, I think recruitment, retention and advancement are essential and critical components of all health professions (e.g. ASCP, ANA, AMA, etc.).
We need qualified and experienced professionals to provide daily medical care consistent with standards of practice. Recruitment and retention of these professionals requires the commitment of management to provide the continuing education, monetary rewards and perhaps the potential for advancement within their organization.
As important, we need to recognize that the knowledge and skills of these licensed/registered professionals provide a wonderful base upon which to build further skills in leadership, management, research, education, etc. We need such qualified and experienced professionals to advance medical practice.
Carolyn Stout, MPH, MLS(ASCP), RN, eCIC
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Carolyn Stout, MPH, MLS(ASCP), RN,CIC
Infection Preventionist, Retired
Public Health Associates
Charlevoix, Michigan 49720
314-517-2397
cjstout@umich.edu
Original Message:
Sent: 10-15-2024 13:16
From: Michelle Moy
Subject: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
Well this is a paradox: exploring alternate careers is certainly important, the other side of our profession keeps asking why do people not stay in the lab and choose to leave creating the shortages that we currently have.
So my question is do we want people in the lab or do we want people to leave the lab?
Michelle
Sent from my iPhone
Original Message:
Sent: 10/14/2024 9:53:00 PM
From: Ryan Tom
Subject: RE: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
I feel that if there is a position that I'm interested in I would just apply for it regardless if it seems like I won't get the position based on my credentials. Most of the lab scientists work in the hospital or reference. Hard to get another perspective sometimes.
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Ryan Tom Supervisor/Lead Med Lab Scientist/MedTechnologist
Jackson NJ
9178362840
Original Message:
Sent: 09-14-2024 14:39
From: Laura Severs
Subject: Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals
You all are invited to register for an upcoming webinar hosted by the ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals titled Stepping Outside the Box: Exploring Alternative Careers for Laboratory Professionals.
The webinar will be hosted on September 25, 2024, at 12:00 PM CST.
We have incredibly engaging speakers, and hope that many of you can attend. If you are interested in registering, please use the following link to sign up. https://ascp-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8CuallShSVS5ikvP0-d4mQ
Sincerely,
Laura Severs, MHA, MLS(ASCP)CM, CLHP
Chair, Council of Laboratory Professionals
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Laura Severs Administrative Laboratory Director
Saint Louis MO
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