Process Improvement and Advanced Technology to Help Relieve Laboratory Staffing Burden

As we head into the new year, laboratory professionals continue to ask themselves what can help relieve the staffing burden that all medical laboratories face. At LigoLab, we continue to work with our clinical laboratory partners to find answers and LIS laboratory information system (LIS software) solutions to such problems.

To draw awareness to the problem LigoLab CEO Suren Avunjian and Dr. James Crawford (Senior Vice President for Laboratory Services at Northwell Health) contributed to a MedCity News article that explored the issue and offered up a few helpful solutions.

The two lab industry professionals identified process improvements to laboratory workflow management and advanced pathology lab software technology (specifically modern laboratory information systems) as areas for lab directors and managers to focus on. 

Here’s a summary of that article:

Key Points Summary:

Importance of Laboratory Testing:

• Laboratory testing is the highest-volume activity in the medical industry.
• CDC estimates that 70% of medical decisions rely on lab test results.
• Medical laboratory professionals are critical to healthcare but face significant staffing shortages.

Current Challenges:

Staffing Shortages:

• The industry lacks 25,000 workers, with only 335,500 clinical lab professionals as of 2020.
• Vacancy rates range from 7-25% in lab specialties, with a projected 13% increase in demand.

Talent Pipeline Issues:

• Lack of awareness about the profession among potential candidates.
• Declining training programs, with fewer than 240 programs remaining in the U.S.
• High exit rates of experienced professionals outpace the entry of new talent.

Education and Costs:

• A five-year degree and certification (e.g., ASCP) are required.
• Costs for a medical lab science degree average $100,000.

Burnout and Job Dissatisfaction:

• 85.3% of lab professionals report burnout (exacerbated by the pandemic).
• Inadequate staffing and workload are major causes of dissatisfaction.
• The Great Resignation further complicates retention.

Solutions and Opportunities:

Awareness and Recruitment:

• Increase public awareness of the profession and its career growth potential.
• Highlight competitive salaries and clear paths to advancement (e.g., management, leadership roles).

Education and Retention:

• Address starting salary disparities compared to other healthcare roles.
• Ensure adequate training opportunities and make the career attractive to new entrants.

Technological Interventions:

• Process standardization and operational efficiency through advanced pathology software technologies.
• Modern laboratory information systems (LIS systems) streamline operations, reduce manual workflows, and mitigate staffing shortages.

By addressing these challenges, Avunjian and Crawford stated the lab industry can sustain its critical role in healthcare and adapt to future demands.

Here’s a link to the article (first posted November 3, 2022). 

MedCity News: More Talent and Technology Offer Solutions for Medical Laboratory Staffing Shortages

What Steps Need to Be Taken Now to Reverse the Negative Trend?

Dr. Crawford also sat down for an interview with LigoLab. The following are highlights from the interview plus an article link with more quotes. 

Key Points Summary:

Overview of Laboratory Challenges:

Impact of Change:

• Pandemic-driven disruptions have led to unpredictable lab service demand, supply chain issues, and workforce stress.
• Medical laboratory scientists play a critical role in healthcare, performing over 14 billion tests annually across 260,000 CLIA-certified labs in the U.S.
• Despite their importance, laboratory services account for just 3% of annual U.S. healthcare expenditures.

Staffing Shortages:

Magnitude:

• The U.S. is short 20,000–25,000 lab technologists, with only one technologist per 1,000 citizens.
• The workforce has an aging demographic, with high exit rates and fewer young entrants.

Causes:

• Lack of awareness about the profession among potential candidates.
• A declining number of training programs.
• High education costs (~$100,000 for a medical lab science degree).
• Lower starting salaries compared to other healthcare roles like nursing and physical therapy.

Strategies for Improvement:

Awareness and Recruitment:

• Increase professional visibility through better publicity and engagement with educational pipelines.
• Highlight career growth opportunities and leadership roles (e.g., manager, director, VP).

Competitive Salaries:

• Address salary disparities to attract and retain top talent.

Process Improvement and Technology:

• Standardize laboratory software systems (LIS systems, equipment, procedures) to improve efficiency.
• Implement modern laboratory information systems (LIS software) to automate workflows, reduce errors, and minimize manual tasks.

Leadership Development:

• Cultivate leadership roles to replace retiring professionals and guide the next generation.

Role of Technology:

Laboratory Information Systems (LIS Systems):

• Streamline operations, reduce reliance on manual processes, and improve interoperability with EHRs and instruments.
• LigoLab’s all-in-one medical LIS and laboratory billing platform offers customizable solutions, enhanced automation, and integrated lab revenue cycle management (lab RCM).
• LIS system software platforms optimize operational workflows, reduce errors, and increase efficiency during staffing shortages.

Vision for the Future:

• Dr. Crawford emphasizes optimism and advocacy for workforce development.
• The potential for medical science and improved access to healthcare can attract future leaders.
• Addressing social determinants of health and advancing the profession remain key goals.

By combining awareness efforts, competitive compensation, technological advancements, and leadership development, the lab industry can adapt to and overcome current challenges.

Here’s a link to the article (last updated April 11, 2024). 

Learn More: What Caused the Current Shortage of Medical Laboratory Technologists and What Steps Need to Be Taken to Solve the Problem

Highlighting a Lab Partner On the Right Track

Here’s another informative blog post featuring Bri Spencer, Molecular Lab Manager at Avero Diagnostics. In this post, Spencer recalls how LigoLab’s comprehensive informatics platform (laboratory information system, lab revenue cycle management, and direct-to-consumer lab testing modules) helped Avero scale its molecular laboratory for PCR testing to handle daily throughput north of 20,000 specimens to accommodate the pandemic-driven demand. The post also examines how modern LIS systems like the LigoLab platform should be part of all long-term solutions to laboratory staffing challenges. 

Key Points Summary:

Context of Staffing Challenges:

• Medical laboratories face unprecedented labor shortages, with vacancy rates as high as 25% in some specialties.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need to increase the lab workforce by 13%, potentially leaving the industry short of 44,000 professionals.
• Modern laboratory information systems (LIS medical systems) are identified as critical long-term solutions for improving efficiency and reducing reliance on manual processes.

LIS Systems and Automation as Solutions:

• LIS systems like the LigoLab platform, streamline diagnostic workflows by managing data, tracking specimens, and automating processes.
• Automation helps labs address staffing shortages by minimizing manual tasks and adapting to increased demand while maintaining accuracy.

Case Study: Avero Diagnostics:

Challenges and Response:

• Faced with COVID-19-driven demand and staffing shortages, Avero processed over 20,000 specimens daily at peak capacity.
• The lab utilized LigoLab’s LIS system and TestDirectly direct-to-consumer lab testing portal to scale operations and enhance efficiency.

Key Innovations:

• Automated processes replaced manual order entry and removed bottlenecks in specimen accessioning.
• A proprietary interface engine allowed quick integration of new analyzers and robotics to boost throughput.
• TestDirectly (TestDirectly.com) enabled patient self-registration, scheduling, and digital report delivery, reducing turnaround times and administrative burden.

Results from Avero’s Approach:

• Processed over one million tests in the first year of the pandemic.
• Achieved 98% case reporting to patients and stakeholders within 24 hours of specimen receipt.
• Maintained partnerships with public health departments, government agencies, and private organizations to support widespread testing efforts.

Insights on Innovation and Technology Adoption:

• Avero’s success demonstrates the importance of adopting flexible and advanced LIS system software platforms to meet unprecedented challenges.
• Automation and digital transformation in labs improve scalability, accuracy, and responsiveness during public health events.

Conclusion:

• The partnership between Avero and LigoLab highlights the role of innovation and pathology lab software technology in addressing labor shortages and operational inefficiencies.
• The shift towards automated, patient-centric solutions is essential for laboratories to remain effective during crises and beyond.

Here’s a link to the article (last updated May 28, 2024). 

Learn More: Laboratory Information System Software and its Role in Overcoming Laboratory Staffing Challenges