How Will EMRs Change Healthcare Staffing?

With the staunch support of federal policymakers, electronic medical records (EMRs) are on their way. In the next two years, the U.S. government will be paying out billions of dollars to healthcare organizations to integrate their current medical record systems, which in many cases now include both paper and paperless applications.  There is no question that EMRs offer benefits to the physician who will be able to get a convenient, comprehensive view the patient’s medical history. It will also mean greater portability. For instance, when a primary care physician makes a referral to a specialist, it will be easier to send the patient’s chart, lab reports, radiology scans and other information to the specialist.

However, the move to EMR will be expensive for healthcare organizations. Forrester Research expects spending to reach $50 billion in the U.S. health-information market over the next two years. Most of the cost will be one-time capital investments in new hardware, applications and networking technology. That includes the time and expense of digitizing paper records. But money will also be needed to train both medical and non-medical staffers in new policies and procedures.

In addition, solo practitioners, physician groups, hospitals and other providers may find it necessary to engage healthcare staffing firms to handle the increased workload during the transition period. From our perspective, it makes sense to treat the conversion to EMRs as a short-term project with appropriate staffing.  That allows the work to be done close at hand under the organization’s direct supervision.  All Medical Personnel stands ready to assist our clients in this process.

Are You the Perfect Lab Technologist or Technician?

Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease – and professionals who perform these tests are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14 percent job growth over the next few years for these positions:

• Clinical laboratory technologists, who usually have a bachelor’s degree in medical technology, biology or chemistry. They usually perform more complex tests and tasks.

• Clinical laboratory technicians, who generally have either an associate degree or a certificate.

In general, laboratory professionals use sophisticated tools, including microscopes, cell counters, and specialized computer applications to prepare specimens, analyze the results and prepare reports for physicians.

What does it take to be the perfect lab technician?

Today’s healthcare employers are seeking professionals with strong credentials who have good analytical judgment and can work well under time pressure.  Clinical laboratory technologists and laboratory technicians are generally people who can pay close attention to the details, since a proper medical diagnosis often depends on getting everything done correctly in the lab.

Some states require laboratory professionals to be licensed or registered. And many healthcare organizations prefer to hire applicants who are certified by a professional association, such as the American Medical Technologists, the National Credentialing Agency for Laboratory Personnel, or the Board of Registry of the American Society for Clinical Pathology.

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a clinical laboratory technologist or technician – or if you want to refer someone to us, please contact us.