When the Well Runs Dry: How to Survive the Medical Laboratory Science Drought

Abstract

There is a growing shortage of medical laboratory science workers across the United States. Currently, there are not enough graduates of medical laboratory science programs to fill job vacancies in clinical laboratories. There is limited literature pertaining to how medical laboratory science programs are recruiting students and retaining them to successfully graduate. This study evaluated medical laboratory science programs to assess their needs in order to graduate students to enter the workforce. An electronic survey was sent to 230 medical laboratory science program directors across the United States (U.S.), and 81 program directors responded (35.2% response rate). The survey responses were analyzed using quantitative methods with a combination of descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Multiple barriers were found with student recruitment and retention among respondents such as a lack of recognition for the profession as a whole, salary rates for the profession compared to other healthcare professions, students being dismissed from the program due to academic rigors, and lack of clinical rotation sites. Strategies used to overcome barriers were presenting at career fairs, seeking out additional affiliates for clinical rotations, and providing online coursework to give program flexibility. These results provide a starting point on how MLS programs can increase the number of graduates entering the profession.