The shortage of medical laboratory technologists in the Northwest and other areas got some attention in the province's latest healthcare plan, and local hospital leaders have additional ideas about what's needed.
The manager of laboratory services at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is one of the voices with ideas to address the shortage of medical laboratory technologists in the Northwest, which will only get worse in the coming years with looming retirements.
However, by 1996, the institute closed due to saturation in the market and with it went a ready supply of medical technologists from the region, she said. Racette said there needs to be creative ways of bringing in more students into the profession, perhaps with new ways of learning like incorporating virtual and on-site learning.
Michelle Hoad, the CEO of the Medical Laboratories Professionals’ Association of Ontario, said part of her organization's strategic plan is to promote the profession to create the next generation of laboratory technologists. Hoad said there is no lack of interest in becoming a medical laboratory technologist, with all five provincial programs having waiting lists. The closest program to the Northwest is at Cambrian College in Sudbury.
“It is truly the first time in a long time that we're starting to see movement and investment in lab outside of the larger areas, GTA, Hamilton, London,[etc.] We're starting to really see things. When you start to hear from patients that their results are taking longer than normal that is concerning, and I think the government has really started to hear a lot of that input,“ she said.
Hoad said she’s still waiting on details for all these programs and noted that they will help with future needs, but not with immediate ones.
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