Health Careers Spotlight:
Medical Laboratory Technician/Technologist

Medical Lab Technicians perform laboratory testing that helps to detect, diagnose and treat disease. Working under the supervision of medical laboratory technologists or laboratory managers, technicians prepare specimens for study and operate automated analyzers, for example. They may also perform manual tests on blood, tissue and other body substances, following detailed instructions.

Medical lab technicians may work in various areas of the laboratory or they may specialize in one area. For example, histology technicians cut and stain tissue samples for microscopic examination by pathologists while phlebotomists collect blood samples.

Employment for clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow at an average rate through 2010 as the volume of laboratory tests increases with population growth and advancements in medical technology. Medical laboratory technicians can expect to earn between $22,000 and $35,000 per year.

Medical Lab Technologists work behind the scenes of patient care, usually in a laboratory setting. They are the “lab detectives” who perform chemical tests on tissue samples, blood and other body fluids in order to provide doctors, with the information they need to diagnose, treat, and monitor a patient’s condition. They use automated equipment and instruments capable of conducting a number of tests at once, in addition to using microscopes, cell counters, and other high tech laboratory equipment. With the use of technology, the work of a medical lab technologist has become less “hands on” and more analytical.

Medical technologists may also work in a variety of research settings: as writers for medical publications, as educators, and as employees in biomedical technology companies.

Employment for clinical laboratory workers is expected to grow at an average rate through 2010 as the volume of laboratory tests increases with population growth and advancements in medical technology. Medical technologists can expect to earn between $34,000 and $45,000 per year.

For more information on a career as a medical laboratory technician or technologist, or another health career, please call 802-527-1474.

Tim Webster is a Medical Technologist at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, where his actual job title is Histology Specialist/Laboratory Generalist. Tim received his training in England at the Royal Army Medical College in London. We recently visited Tim to discuss his experiences working in the health care field.

Q How did you become interested in becoming a Laboratory Technologist?
A I was always interested in the sciences at school, and my Mum worked for the Blood Transfusion Service in Leeds, England. York District Hospital gave me a tour of the laboratory when I was in high school. I was completely taken with the Histology/Pathology department, and the combination of science and art required to make tissue sections.

Q Did any person influence your decision to enter this field?
A Jack Klugman. Did you ever watch the show “Quincy”, a 70’s forerunner to CSI? I didn’t want to be Quincy, I wanted to be Sam, the super efficient, very cool, laid back lab tech that did the real work.

Q What personal needs are satisfied by your occupation?
A I like knowing that what I do has a profound effect for the patients whose specimens I handle. It’s a great sense of accomplishment, and I enjoy the fulfillment, pressure, and responsibilities that come with working in a Medical Laboratory.

Q In what ways has your occupation changed you as a person?
A It’s hard to work in the medical field and not be affected by the things that you see. We see tragedy and triumph. You feel devastating sadness when a patient you have met, whose specimens you worked on, succumbs to cancer. You also get a feeling of elation when the trauma victim “makes it” because of the work you did in the blood bank. I’m also reminded daily of how lucky I am. I don’t take my kids or my wife’s health for granted. We get to make intelligent decisions as parents, in part based on our medical knowledge. (My wife, Denise, also has a healthcare background.)

Q Can you describe the demands of your job?
A I am fortunate because in addition to being a Histology Specialist (the study of tissue), I am also a Generalist. A Generalist works in the main Laboratory departments of Hematology (the study of blood cells, the solid components of blood), Microbiology (the study of microorganisms), Bloodbank/Serology (the study of serum, the liquid component of blood), and Biochemistry (the study of chemical constituents in serum). This leads to a varied and challenging work experience.

The pressures vary depending on the department you are in. In Bloodbank and Chemistry, for example, timeliness can literally be the difference between life and death. Mostly, however, it means patients receive appropriate care in a short period of time—nobody wants to sit in the Emergency Room all day waiting for a lab result. Hematology is concerned with the correct identification of blood cells. Identifying the white cells may help determine the course of treatment.

Histology’s biggest pressure is the possibility of damaging small tissue fragments. These specimens may be one of a kind, and hold the key to diagnosing the condition. Additionally, we can do “frozen sections” while the patient is in the operating room. Particularly in breast cancer cases, the frozen section may determine the course of the surgery.

The Laboratory is concerned above all with accuracy. We go to great lengths to ensure that the results the physician receives are as accurate as possible. Laboratory tests are used in more than 70% of all diagnoses, so our work is critical to the patient receiving the right diagnosis and treatment.

Q Do you supervise the work of others?
A As departmental specialists, we don’t specifically “supervise” other technicians at Northwestern Medical Center, but we are responsible for the initial training of staff and the daily operation of our departments. We write policies and procedures, investigate new protocols, and perform and maintain quality control to ensure high standards of care.

Q What personal characteristics are desirable to be good at this job?
A You should be conscientious, detail-oriented, organized, focused, artistic, creative, and have a good sense of humor. Some of the things we deal with are tough emotionally. A good sense of humor helps.

Q What do you like best about being a Laboratory Technologist?
A Medical laboratory science is a blend of science, medicine, and technology, of reasoning and technical skills. It’s challenging, interesting, constantly changing, and encourages life-long learning. I’m still growing and evolving as a person, and the medical and technological advances in my chosen career keep me involved, mentally stimulated, and entertained.

Q What aspects of this position cause the most frustration or dissatisfaction?
A Historically, laboratory pay scales have lagged behind other, more visible ancillary departments, and a long way behind nursing. However, as the shortage of both generalists and histology technicians grows, pay scales are coming more into line with comparable healthcare professions, although we still have some catching up to do!

The most frustrating thing is the need to repeat work. It happens every now and then. The combination of science and technology is great, but on occasion, things simply don’t work! The other frustration is present in any occupation, and that comes from dealing with other people. People are individuals, with their own needs and agendas. Interpersonal relations are important.

Q What requirements exist, in addition to schooling—training, experience, certification, license?
A Vermont doesn’t have licensure at the present time. Florida and California are among the states that do have licensure requirements. It’s a topic of debate within the Laboratory community. CLIA ‘88 requires new Laboratory Technicians and Technologists to be graduates of a recognized two/four year degree program, leading to eligibility for ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathologist) Certification. Medical Technologists (MT)
complete a four year degree, Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) complete a two year degree. Alternate routes of accreditation are available for those who wish to enter the field after college.

Q What are the career ladder possibilities in this field?
A After graduating from an approved college or university with either a two or four year degree, the opportunities are tremendous. Most people gain experience as a generalist, then, if they desire more responsibility, specialize in one area, becoming a Section Supervisor. The positions available with the right experience are Chief Technologist, Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) Specialist, or moving into training or education.

Q Can a person specialize within this field? Into what areas?
A In the U.S., most people are either a Generalist or Histotechnician. Some people cross-train to do both. After graduating, the degree of specialization depends upon your facility. Smaller hospitals, such as NMC, require flexibility as a matter of necessity. Then, as you move up the career ladder, you tend to develop a special interest in one area or another. In large hospitals, techs work in a specific department, for example Chemistry or Bloodbank, with little movement between sections until a job opening occurs.

Larger hospitals do offer more specialized testing though as they handle tests that are too expensive for a small volume laboratory to undertake, or that have requirements that make it unfeasible for a smaller hospital to handle on-site. This leads to a higher degree of specialization as a technologist in those areas.

Q Can someone work flexible hours? Part or full-time? Shared time on the job?
A As the need for technicians continues to increase, employers are becoming more flexible in staffing arrangements. Traditional ideas of a specific shift are becoming more relaxed as laboratories find that flexible scheduling makes a laboratory as, or more, efficient. Happy workers are a significant, if intangible, benefit to a facility. Laboratories employ per diem, part and full time technicians.

Q What changes are occurring in this field?
A Improvements in technology allow us to offer more, faster, with less expense. Advances in technology are unlikely to do away with the need for a real person, but they do take away some of the more repetitive tasks. It’s stunning to think that 20 years ago, we could offer seven different chemistry tests “stat” in about an hour. Today, our automated analyzers can perform thirty different tests on a “stat” in as little as 15 minutes. The analyzers can also handle more than six hundred tests an hour!

Q How does the economy impact the field of Medical Laboratory Science?
A Economic demands affect budgeting, the purchase of new equipment, etc., but as a profession we remain short of technicians. There are plenty of jobs available nationwide. Some facilities even offer a four-figure hiring bonus for qualified applicants. Northwestern Medical Center offers a scholarship program for Nursing and Allied Health candidates. The scholarship makes a big difference in college costs.

As the baby boomer generation gets closer to retiring, more vacancies will open in the field, with the older folks also providing the increased workload! Additionally, 70% of all diagnoses require some form of laboratory testing. The budget may be tight, but we are an essential component of the healthcare field. Business is booming for Medical Laboratory Scientists.

Q Do you encounter any problems combining your job with your family life?
A No, other than the occasional need to work unscheduled overime because of an emergency. It helps to know that the job is so important, and what a big effect you could have on people’s lives. Some people struggle with evening or night shifts, but as a new graduate and single person, I loved the excitement and thrill of working “odd” hours. By the time I was married and had children, my experience and career progression enabled me to have a more structured schedule.

Q What advice would you give someone who is planning to enter the field of Medical Laboratory Science?
A Come and visit. The best way to get an idea as to whether Medical Laboratory Science is the right career choice for you is to see what we do up close and personal, and to have a chance to talk to people who already work in the field. Call Bob Bessette, the NMC Laboratory manager at 802-524-1233, or myself at 802-524-1070. We will be happy to give you a tour of the NMC Laboratory and answer any questions you have.