Clinical administrators are optimizing their phlebotomy and High Throughput Screening (HTS) to meet constant challenges

Retaining Staff

Blood collection is currently in need of specialists and technicians across the world. Unlike many professions, technicians are unable to work from home as a lot of lab work cannot be automated ^[1]. Being a good phlebotomist requires more than just the ability to collect blood, and hospitals are instrumental in attracting, training, and offering pathways for career progression.
 

Remote working is largely impossible in phlebotomy

Unlike other functions in hospitals, phlebotomy is hands on - whether collecting blood, getting it to the lab, and working with samples within the lab. It cannot be done remotely. It’s a cost that continues to rise and is non-negotiable.

For the staff that remain, the hours are presently long. Advertised vacancies are not being filled and existing, depleted teams need to cover these shifts.

But the roles are valued, and to that end, employers must offer not only secure employment with attractive benefits, they must also offer pathways into the wider or more specialised medical professions.

A steady pipeline of skilled candidates

Gaining hands on training leading to a qualification and a job is vital for replacing sections of the workforce that have either left the profession or are nearing retirement age to ensure sufficient care for an aging population that is requiring healthcare for longer.

Avoiding burnout

Once in the profession, to retain skilled staff requires that existing and new recruits don’t burn out. Burn-out takes considerable time to recover from, and strategies to prevent burnout in healthcare and keeping morale high are equally vital ^[2].

Administrators and executives recognise the value of their workforce and are investing in their staff because blood collection, for the most part, requires a hands-on interaction between a technician and their patients.

Reducing the strain of a patient’s visit, reducing the strain on staff and operating costs

Collecting blood in the hospital and clinics has also been optimised to protect core services. There’s a cost-of-living crisis, parking or transport can be expensive and a visit for the patient may mean missing an entire day off work or having to neglect vital errands. It’s a big expense for patients whose income may have been strained by their illness. It will also cause stress to weakened patients. To address these issues, clinics and hospitals have been implementing the following initiatives:

• Collection is completed early in the morning to free up a patient’s day
• Concentrating collection in the morning to lessen the operating costs for a clinic
• If the patient is receiving attendant treatment/appointments at the same centre; these can be scheduled on the same day

Healthcare will need to be transformed

As expenditure increases, the viability of the present model for healthcare provision is being called into question. The entire model of healthcare is ripe for restructuring, and these will be met by round upon round of optimisations. But right now, the ambition of all hospitals and clinics is to:
 

• Maintain the safety of their staff and their patients
• Maintain their crucial functions

With thanks to Robert E. Del Guidice, Clinical Administrative Director Diagnostic Laboratory Services for the insights that have informed this series of articles.