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June 22, 2020
Over the next month, medical laboratory leaders nationwide will be asked to fill out the ASCP 2020 Vacancy Survey to provide data on recruitment and retention of laboratory professionals at their health systems.
Conducted every two years, the ASCP Vacancy Survey serves as the primary source for industry, labor, government, and academic analysts. The survey, which was released June 22 and closes July 24, goes only to individuals who have hiring responsibilities. The responses—which will be published in 2021—will offer a glimpse into trends in vacancies, retirement, layoffs and shortages in the medical laboratory industry.
This year’s survey includes a set of questions pertaining to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on laboratory staffing and retention of staff. COVID-19 related questions include: How has the pandemic affected your testing volumes? How much has your health system’s testing volume increased? Was your laboratory able to obtain COVID-19 test kits? Where was your COVID-19 testing performed?
“At this point in time, the government has provided information about the overall unemployment rate. However, that information does not provide us a breakdown of the data within the medical laboratories,” said Edna Garcia, MPH, ASCP Director of Scientific Engagement and Research.
Rex Famitangco, MS, MLS(ASCP)CM, QLCCM, Laboratory Administrative Director at Morrill County Community Hospital, Bridgeport, Neb., serves on the ASCP work group that developed the survey questions and underscored the importance of having laboratory leaders compete the survey.
“Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a shortage within the medical laboratory workforce for a long time,” he said. “Some of my colleagues talk constantly about the workforce shortage. However in the past, they failed to complete this survey. We need our unified voices to be heard. ASCP is the only organization in the profession that can dissect and disseminate this information to everyone in the industry.”
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