Many laboratories across the nation are experiencing shortages of lab professionals; however, these shortages are felt even more in specialty areas such as microbiology. To achieve goals with less staff, microbiology labs can boost efficiency and streamline processes through automation.
MLS Shortage
For a decade or more, our healthcare community has faced an ever-growing shortage of laboratory professionals. This expanding shortage is attributed to the profession’s lack of recognition, closing Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) schools, and burnout. While the COVID-19 pandemic brought some much-needed recognition to the profession, there is still an alarming shortage of new graduates. With laboratories performing upwards of 14 billion tests each year, this equates to about one medical laboratory scientist per 1,000 patients.1
Microbiology Specialist Shortage
The staffing shortage is felt even more acutely in specialty areas like microbiology. As of 2023, there were only 3,433 ASCP-credentialed microbiology specialists, and the pass rate for the ASCP Board of Certification examination was only 63% (see Figure 1).2 Many of the 3,433 certified microbiologists are nearing retirement age, with few replacements available due to the rigorous certification process. Additionally, employment of microbiologists is projected to grow 7% between 2023 and 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.3 There are about 1,900 openings for microbiologists projected each year over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or retire.3
Automation Helps Address Staffing Shortage
This staffing shortage, in part, can be relieved by automation, which is critical for microbiology labs. One of the simplest forms of automation is automating data flow within the laboratory information system (LIS). The LIS or data management system manages and processes substantial amounts of data. A strong LIS includes tools that automate and standardize processes with rules-based decision support and report configurability. Workflow automation tools within these solutions integrate laboratory processes and instruments to optimize efficiency.
Orchard Enterprise Microbiology’s Automation Tools
Orchard Software’s microbiology solution includes additional automated tools and processes, such as support for antibiotic use and resistance (AUR), advanced organism search capabilities, and integration to automation lines like WASPLab.
Orchard Enterprise® Lab™ Microbiology module allows users to customize interpretations to instrumentation and/or AUR reporting needs. The solution can receive suppressed antibiotics from instrumentation and send suppressed antibiotics to the EHR for reporting to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Read Our Automation White Paper
To learn more about how laboratories can use automation to help address staffing shortages, read our white paper, Address Lab Staffing Shortages with Integrated Automation Solutions.
References
- Moore N. Our lab testing capacity is getting dangerously low. MedPage Today. April 26, 2022. https://www.medpagetoday.com/opinion/second-opinions/98415.
- ASCP 2023. https://www.ascp.org/content/docs/default-source/boc-pdfs/boc_statistical_reports/exam-stats-2023.pdf?sfvrsn=7&srsltid=AfmBOoqIbXmG7W78kFFei93oNxPx539MLekOJZUipkTWzV34ON8rL1PL.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Microbiologists. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/microbiologists.htm.