cheru26 Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Finding a qualified lab tech is extremely hard in rural area. For those who server rural area hospital laboratory how are you managing staffing issue. Do you guys use non lab educated ( Biology, chemistry ) graduate to work as tech? Any comment/suggestion is welcomed thank you SbbPerson 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RRay Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 We allow non-lab degrees for some micro positions only, with the intent they can sit for the micro categorical exam. We also use H1B Visa sponsorship programs. That's a couple things we've done to help. The problem we're running into is that with CLIA competency requirements, we don't have very many people who are qualified to evaluate competency. We have a lot of MLTs and new MLSs. The MLTs can't assess mod. complexity tests and the MLS need 1yr of experience performing the test to evaluate. Blood bank is the most intensive competency to do, so having at least one evaluator per shift is ideal. I'm a BB sup in a small regional med center. jayinsat and SbbPerson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SbbPerson ☆ Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 There has been quite a few H1B Visa lab techs that were hired from the Philippines in the last couple of years. Most of them are pretty good workers. We also have been hiring travellers. That's basically it. The last couple of years have been pretty rough. At least I have been getting so much over time. I was able to buy a bunch of toys like guitars and gadgets and go on vacations and stuff. jayinsat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayinsat Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 6 hours ago, SbbPerson said: There has been quite a few H1B Visa lab techs that were hired from the Philippines in the last couple of years. Most of them are pretty good workers. We also have been hiring travellers. That's basically it. The last couple of years have been pretty rough. At least I have been getting so much over time. I was able to buy a bunch of toys like guitars and gadgets and go on vacations and stuff. Vacation???? I'd settle for a day off without being called in because we have no staff coverage in the blood bank. David Saikin, SbbPerson and AMcCord 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SbbPerson ☆ Posted October 13, 2022 Share Posted October 13, 2022 1 hour ago, jayinsat said: Vacation???? I'd settle for a day off without being called in because we have no staff coverage in the blood bank. I've only had 2 the last couple of years, but I was able to go to different countries, instead of just staying home. jayinsat 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Saikin Posted October 21, 2022 Share Posted October 21, 2022 We have used up to 3 travelers at a time. Every time we get up to staff we suddenly are down 1 or 2. A never ending battle. I'm as SBB in a small, rural hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMcCord Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 We are currently down by 7-8 in our small lab. 3 travelers. We are expecting 3 H1B visa techs from the Phillipines in the next 6-8 weeks. Hoping to keep a student or two. John C. Staley 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auntie-D Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 I worked in a rural lab for some years - with a recruitment and retention premium of one pay band higher Ensis01 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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