Your Voice Counts! How ASCP Will Address Laboratory Professional Members’ Top Concerns

ASCP members have identified their top 10 concerns within each of their professions, according to the results of the annual ASCP Hot Topics membership survey.     

The leaders of the Council of Laboratory Professionals (CLP) and the CLMA Council, which focuses on laboratory management, recently talked about which concerns to prioritize and how they will address them.   

“It is very important that we get this timely feedback. It identifies how we, as a professional society, can better serve our members’ needs,” says Brittany Teeter, MS, CLS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, Chair-elect of the CLMA Council.  

CLMA issues: Competency guidelines and team morale 

Ensuring that laboratory professionals, particularly new hires, meet competency guidelines is a top concern among most laboratory managers and supervisors, according to Ms. Teeter. Another is addressing laboratory team morale.    

“The first thing I do as a CAP laboratory inspector is pull all the files of new hires and randomly select 10 files to review and see if their documentation is complete. Were they assessed for competency? More often than not, no one signed off on it,” she says. “This is important because we want to make sure we are providing quality services.”   

Some institutions address this by assigning a staff member to ensure competency assessments are conducted. Also, laboratories need to use a software system that effectively tracks competency requirements. Ms. Teeter says the CLMA Council can begin to address this by discussing this topic with members via the ASCP online community and during CLMA roundtables.   

As for laboratory team morale, Ms. Teeter says, “I now teach the next generation of laboratory professionals and team morale is critical. I have seen these guys get really down on themselves, and they need a boost to get through the day. They approach things as a group; they lean on one another as a group and they expect to continue that group approach when they enter the workforce.” 

Addressing that issue may involve providing opportunities for laboratory teams to come together for snack breaks during the day, which helps break down barriers that can help new hires and others feel like they are part of the team, or bringing in therapy animals to interact with the team during short breaks. Even providing the Gen Z staff members with the opportunity to take the lead in planning annual Laboratory Week activities, with mentorship and guidance, can help them feel more involved, she says.     

Laboratory professionals’ hot topics 

Demonstrating their value on the healthcare team to other healthcare professionals and patients is the top concern among laboratory professionals. They also want to improve workplace culture; address the workforce shortage; advocate for commensurate compensation; and identify opportunities for career growth.  

CLP Chair-elect Melody Boudreaux Nelson, DCLS, CC(NRCC), MS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, commented on the importance of demonstrating the value of the laboratory profession. “Comprehensive and coordinated care emphasizes teamwork and a shared responsibility for the health and well-being of patients. Now is the time for laboratories to study our value in healthcare—what it means, how to apply it, and where we, as laboratory professionals, intersect with other care models.” 

CLP Chair Laura Severs, MHA, MLS(ASCP), QLS, CLHP, appreciates the robust feedback that the Council of Laboratory Professionals has received from the Hot Topics survey.  

“The voice of our members is central to everything that ASCP does,” she says. “Specifically, the Council of Laboratory Professionals represents a broad and multifaceted community. We use this survey as a tool to give us direct insight into the issues and trends that matter most to laboratory professionals across all specialties.”  

From this data, the CLP will craft a roadmap identifying where to focus its energy and resources. “By listening carefully to our members, we are able to design initiatives that are responsive. This includes creating relevant and timely educational opportunities, developing best practice resources, or amplifying awareness around a pressing issue in our field,” says Ms. Severs.  

“Our goal is to ensure that every laboratory professional feels supported, heard, and equipped with the tools they need to succeed, no matter their specialty or practice setting,” she adds. “With our updated Hot Topic list, be on the lookout in the coming year for innovative Round Table series, tools and resources for advocacy, and much more.”   

Watch for updates from the CLMA Council and CLP Council on social media and the ASCP Online Communities!