By Tammy Renner, MS MT(ASCP), MLT Program Director Rasmussen College
National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
April 19-25, 2009
I was asked to write a blog for National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. Not knowing much about this whole “blogging thing”, I decided I’d give you some medical laboratory information on my chosen profession and how important this week has become in acknowledging the medical laboratory.
This is the 34th year of National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW). NMLPW originated in 1975, as NMLW, under the auspices of the American Society for Medical Technology, now called the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS). In the fall of 2005, National Medical Laboratory Week was changed to National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week to emphasize the person whose expertise is needed in the performance of laboratory testing.
There are approximately 300,000 practitioners of clinical laboratory science in the United States today and nearly 50% are between 46 to 66 years of age. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2000 census, an additional 106,000 laboratory professionals will be needed by 2010 to meet the needs of a growing and aging American population. Approximately 12,200 new laboratory professionals will be needed annually to meet the growing need of the world’s population, but only 4,000 to 6,000 graduates will join the workforce each year.
Since the development of this career group in the 1920s, the clinical laboratory science professional has played an increasingly vital role in the diagnosis and prevention of disease. Today, the clinical laboratorian is a key member of a health care team. With more than 10 billion laboratory test performed in the US each year. New and different pathogens along with the ever expanding medical knowledge and technological developments have increased the need for medical laboratory testing.
As team members of one of the largest industries in the United States, the dedicated efforts of laboratory professionals often go unnoticed by the general public. What 5-year-old declares “I want to be a medical technologist when I grow up!” Our profession is one of “behind the scenes” medical professions. Little public notice, but vital to the well-being of those of us that have sought medical care; and one that has job opportunities throughout the nation!
Rasmussen College, Inc. is doing its part in helping to provide graduates to the medical laboratory work force. Our first Medical Technician Program started at the Bismarck Campus Winter quarter 2007. St. Cloud Campus followed with their first class in Summer quarter 2007. Lake Elmo Woodbury and Mankato launched MLT the fall quarter of 2007. We have now added Moorhead campus with students that started Fall 2008. Fort Myers and Green Bay campuses will have MLT students starting in 2009.
Our Rasmussen medical laboratory team is Lorrie Laurin (Director of Allied Health), Kali Hieb (Bismarck), Tess Schmidt (Bismarck), Susan Finneman (Moorhead), Elizabeth Sobiech (St. Cloud), Laurie Bjerklie (Mankato), Brenda Carlson (Lake Elmo), Breanne Larson (Lake Elmo), and Steven Shelfer (Fort Myers). All of them have had the personal experience of working in a medical laboratory and now have the privilege of teaching a new generation of medical laboratory professionals.
This is a week of recognition for a profession we could not live without!