Salary and demand of Medical Technologist.

The views expressed by the previous poster represent the biggest misconceptions about this field. First, since there is a growing shortage of laboratorians, most MTs do put in a significant amount of overtime to compensate for staffing shortages. Also, we DO deal with patients and families directly. MTs that work in small doctor's office stat labs often act as phlebotomists are well. MTs in microbiology often collect PNP, nasal, and throat specimens on outpatients sent by doctor‘s offices. And, patients and families often call the laboratory (they are listed in the phone book) for results when physicians refuse to go into specifics with them. As the laboratory cannot give results to anyone but a clinician, this often results in irate patients or families and sometimes even death threats.

I would rather not stoop this low, but this simply is the best way to express this: If MTs simply “push buttons” then nurses do nothing but “wipe asses.” In reality, both are a far cry from the truth. It is so easy to underestimate the complexity and stress involved in another line of work. The only department where MTs even do a lot of “button pushing” is chemistry, and even here there is a lot more than meets the eye. Microbiologists are probably the best example. These MTs use a wealth of knowledge, critical thinking, and a complex set of manual (non-automated) methods and techniques to identify pathogenic bacteria, fungi, mycobacteria, parasites, and viruses. Microbiologists have to be familiar with 1000s of pathogenic and non-pathogenic, commensal microorganisms and be able to determine what in a mixed culture of multiple organisms is significant considering the specimen source, patient’s immune status, and underlying conditions. This doesn’t even include susceptibility testing, drugs of choice, antibiograms, and epidemiological issues or agents of bioterrorism that must be recognized before they are even identified.

continued next post...

If this is what you call “button pushing” then that is one complex button. We may be behind the scenes, but we work just as hard as nurses, physicians, and other members of the divided healthcare “team” to improve patients’ health and quality of life. This phenomenon is not unique to healthcare. Directors, producers, cameramen and other filmmakers work diligently behind the scenes to produce movies such as Avatar only to have others take the spotlight. But in the end, what would the film have been without the brains behind the scenes?

LazaroRGonzalez in Miami, Florida said: I read several of your comments. I want to answer to you directly.
1) When a man is hiden under a ficticius name is less than a roach.
My name is Profesor Lazaro R Gonzalez and my e-mail is LazaroRGonzalez@msn.com
Will you dare to place your real name and e-mail?

You're a professor?? You can't even make a complete sentence, and my 4th grade teacher made sure our class could at least write correctly and finish a proper thought. Professor of what? Where? Lord help us, if you're a professor.

If you are, then next time you consider posting on the internet, please remove your oven mitts. Also, as you make substantive claims, particularly when you reference a hospital's fiscal position, support your position with real data and information we can reference...hospitals don't make Zillions...

This forum is really interesting but it seems a lot of you guys just complain and nothing else. What ahve you done recently to improve teh profession or to raise the status of MLS/MLT in your lab??? If you are not part of teh solution my friends you definitely are part of the problem. Plain and simple.

There is a great blog on ADVACE website. Y'all should visit and add your comments. Plus the level of discussion is definitely higher there than it is on here.

community.advanceweb.com/blogs/mt_2/default.aspx

Advance is a good site, but the comments provide a rosy view of the laboratory. This forum, because of its anonymity, allows laboratorians to really express how they feel including their thoughts on salary and standards in the lab. I'd prefer to see the reality of things rather than a view that might not be as true.

Mitch advance is ok, mainly you are promted to respond based on the article, you cannot create your topic like you can do on this site.

Ariana in Gibsonton, Florida

with all due respect, you have no clue what you are talking about. Check out an MT curriculum and see how it compares to your own. Also,our job is extremely stressful, so you are wrong there too. You, like most others, have no idea what this career entails. Have you ever heard of Microbiology? Can you identify bacterial cultures by genus and species at a glance and based on biochemical results? How about fungal cultures? Have you heard of hematology? Can you identify blood cells at different stages of the red and white cell lineage. Try looking at a bone marrow and differentiated the cells. Have you heard of Chemistry? You see, whe you "put things on the machine" you have to understand why you are doing what you are doing, because guess what, everyday hundreds of samples are abnormal and WE have to figure out why based on our knowledge of the testing theory and body chemistry. Have you heard of immunology? Do you know what kind of skill it takes to perform a Western Blot, Souther Blot, Antinuclear antibodies and many other tests? Oh yes, and you comment about blood banK, LOL. Do you really think that we can trust a machine to perform ABO's, RH,antibody screens, antibody id's, Fetal screen, ANTOBODY PANELS?????? Are you kidding me? Automation in blood bank is PURELY confirmational. Your attitude simply conveys your ignorance and its the reason why many MLS's feel the way they do. You should really educate yourself before making such a passionate comment on a subject you know nothing about.

really tho MT job isn't that stressful. I'm currently finishing my rotations and for most labs except for hem and bloodbank, things get really slow after awhile. Mind you, I'm in a large hospital in Philadelphia. It's only busy on monthly QC days really. I guess bloodbank is more stressful because it has the most impact on the patient, just a little bit of unmatched blood during transfusion is enough to kill. But anyways, MLS, nursing, as well as just about all allied health care jobs are pretty easy in my opinion, all of which don't really need a bachelors degree since it can easily be taught with 6 months of on the job training. Of course our education system is in it for the money, which is why they have 4 year degrees for something that can be taught in half a year or less.

MLS in Gulfport, Mississippi said: Ariana in Gibsonton, Florida

western blot, southern blot?? LOOL those things are the easiest things to do. I did them myself. The hard part is what the PI has to do (the big picture), not the techs. You can train a monkey to do those things. This is why things are getting automated.

[QUOTE who="But anyways, MLS, nursing, as well as just about all allied health care jobs are pretty easy in my opinion, all of which don't really need a bachelors degree since it can easily be taught with 6 months of on the job training. Of course our education system is in it for the money, which is why they have 4 year degrees for something that can be taught in half a year or less.

JoJo,

It is that kind of attitude that will force every other health care professional to deem the CLS role in healthcare to be somewhat unimportant and expendable. Hospitals will agree with your statements, and if left to their own devices might even lay-off CLSs so that they can hire some average JOE off the street without a 4 year BS degree and give them 6 months on the job training.

I mean c'mon, seriously, can you run this country as President, and make executive decisions regarding our military, economic, political, and global standing with your advisory cabinet and commitee to support, guide and provide you with only 6 months of on the job training?! of course! But as a US CITIZEN would you want to have a President representing you to the rest of the world who only has a high school diploma or an Associates degree. PROBABLY NOT. OR I SERIOUSLY HOPE YOU DO NOT WANT THAT.

It is the same thing in the laboratory community. We should all want our CLSs to be educated with at least a BS degree or even prefer them to hold MS degrees as well. They or YOU or I, when I finish, will be representing the profession and its importance. So I think that higher education should be mandated.

Lastly, our education system maybe in it for they money, but there is soemthing to be said when countries all over the world send their children and their representatives HERE to study and obtain doctoral degrees so that they can return that knowledge to better their home nations.

"I mean c'mon, seriously, can you run this country as President, and make executive decisions regarding our military, economic, political, and global standing with your advisory cabinet and commitee to support, guide and provide you with only 6 months of on the job training?! of course! But as a US CITIZEN would you want to have a President representing you to the rest of the world who only has a high school diploma or an Associates degree."

CLS hopeful,

I don't equate what degree you got for level of competence. Book smarts doesn't mean you know what you're doing. Many people who work in the lab didn't even go to school for CLS. Many states don't require it as long as you have a bachelors in something with some science background. But here lies the point, that science background is rarely useful for diagnostic laboratory subjects. I learn more from my clinical rotations than I did from class work. I'm not trying to belittle the CLS profession. Sure I believe there's alot to learn, but I don't think it requires a bachelors degree and in my opinion i don't think it's all that difficult. Similarly I don't see why Med School requires so many years, 4 yrs plus residency when you compare it to Physician Assistant that only needs 2 yrs, but a PA or NP is usually the one you see when seeing your family "doctor". And most people see only their family doctor not a specialist. I wish programs were more specialized, "liberal" education really doesn't amount to much. So what you take a class in western civ, when will you use that as a Medical Technologist? You know what I mean? People think that just because they have a higher degree they're entitled to a higher salary. I don't think so. As long as you are competent enough, pass the boards, you should be able to work in that profession regardless of going to college or not. With the internet age people can teach themselves if they aspire too.

LOL-This could be the best post I have ever read! From your logic we should just give a new pilot a guide book to a 747, he can skim it, and we will throw him up in a jetliner tomorrow with let's just say 150 people? Well at least, you aren't working a job where people's lives are in jeapordy, it's just the medical field!!.... Wait a minute.

No, but I had a great laugh. Don't kill anybody. No but seriously, I hope your copilot is a good teacher. The truth of the matter is a lot of people can be techs. I know a high school educated one. I asked her in my early days as a tech if this was a RBC cast, she looked at me and said "Tim, it doesn't matter what it is.", and walked away. It's the things you don't see, and it's the stories that aren't told that will eventually catch up with the hospitals. There has to be a line, and an education is a good starting place.

JoJo,

I do see some of your point. You ask, what is the point of spending a semester or quarter learning about how a plant has a cell wall and an animal cell does not. Is that what you mean? I suppose, in your perspective, if you can "skip" all the unnecessary academic "fluff," you can basically just finish your career training in 2 years instead of 4. Is that right? Because You mentioned that "book smarts does not mean you know what you are doing." THAT IS TRUE. I believe you. BUT it does show that you have proven that you can LEARN WHAT YOU WILL BE LEARNING.

You see JoJO,it seems you have missed the whole point of earning your undergraduate degree. When I graduated, the speaker during the commencement speech told us that the most fundamental lesson absorbed from the last 4 years is that you went to college to "learn to learn." You spend the first 2 years taking classes like western civilization and basic biology to help you find your niche, trigger a passion, discover a major that to you is WORTH studying. That is why they call it taking your GEs or General Education.

Honestly though, if you took a regular high school senior, an average 18 year old, then told him he/her is going straight to PA school, finish in 2 years, and hit the ground running diagnosing patients, DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT HE OR SHE WILL SURVIVE THOSE 2 YEARS? Unless the kid is Doogie Howser, which can happen but is extremely rare, an 18 year old kid will not last in Medical School straight out of high school, even if you had it cut down to only 3 years of study. I mean some people take general biology or chem 101 and wash out. Why? Because some are just not ready to spend the time studying it and others do not even want to try because their passions lie elsewhere. My point is that there is more to just taking random, pointless classes during someone's undergraduate career. It is not a waste of 4 years of your time.

A lot of what JoJO is saying makes sense. Colleges just wanna keep people in school to make money. You should already know "how to learn" before you go to college. I found a lot of college to be repetition of many things I learned in high school. It's too expensive to be requiring students to take "fluff" classes.

I laugh when I see some of the professions that now are requiring PHD. 6 years to be a pharmacist, please. They just wanna create a shortage to drive salary up and its a good deal for the universities to keep students in longer so everyone wins.

We need an education system much more specialized that allows people to get into the work force faster, especially now with so many people needing to reinvent themselves.

Sam Kaiserblade in Venice, Florida said: A lot of what JoJO is saying makes sense. Colleges just wanna keep people in school to make money. You should already know "how to learn" before you go to college. I found a lot of college to be repetition of many things I learned in high school. It's too expensive to be requiring students to take "fluff" classes.

I laugh when I see some of the professions that now are requiring PHD. 6 years to be a pharmacist, please. They just wanna create a shortage to drive salary up and its a good deal for the universities to keep students in longer so everyone wins.

We need an education system much more specialized that allows people to get into the work force faster, especially now with so many people needing to reinvent themselves.

The purpose of those "fluff classes" is to have a well-rounded education. If you want specialized education then go to a private technical "school" and get your "bachelors" in two years.

Frankly I never found any of the core/fluff classes useful and only an annoyance when I had to deal with my major science courses..

I didn't mind taking the core science classes. Actually I think they are necessary so that you have the knowledge to build on once you get to the more advanced classes and more difficult concepts. I certainly felt like I benefited from taking the intro level science classes. However, taking the general studies classes, like "women's studies" or "intro to theater" was a total waste of my time, and did nothing to help me become a better scientist. In my home country (one of the Scandinavian countries), general studies program is not included in the college curriculum, and you only take the classes directly related to your major. Also, a bachelor's degree is non-existent, and after 4 years the students earn a Master's degree.

nicole in Norfolk, Virginia said: That's the problem...We, as MTs, don't have a union. I think organizing a union would be a great idea.

Nicole, I am with ya! Now... where do we begin?

I have absolutely no idea how unions work, but it really does seem to be our only option. I just reviewed my Hospitals policy on differentials. MT's DO NOT get weekend differentials, short notice differentials, or extra shift differentials. RN's, LPN's, CNA's, Unit Secretaries, and Nursing Aids ALL GET THESE DIFFERENTIALS. We lost our short notice differential last year due to the hospital being in the red.. but no one else lost the short notice differential. MT's salaries were also frozen, while RN's and those mentioned above got their yearly + cost of living raises.

I once had a manager inform me that MT's do not create unions because we are professionals and there are sick people to consider. If we went on strike, people could die. hmm.. When RN's go on strike, people don't die because the hospital is forced to give them what they want/need.

RN's have a very difficult job, they do deserve everything they have fought for. I am hoping someday MT's will also get everything we WILL fight for.

I see no ethical problem in a MT union, does anyone else?

Ariana in Gibsonton, Florida.. Are you a MT?? Do you work in an unstressful lab? (impossible - FYI).. You should reconsider posting on forums, forever. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

Jennifer in Hillsboro, Oregon said: Nicole, I am with ya! Now... where do we begin?

I have absolutely no idea how unions work, but it really does seem to be our only option. I just reviewed my Hospitals policy on differentials. MT's DO NOT get weekend differentials, short notice differentials, or extra shift differentials. RN's, LPN's, CNA's, Unit Secretaries, and Nursing Aids ALL GET THESE DIFFERENTIALS. We lost our short notice differential last year due to the hospital being in the red.. but no one else lost the short notice differential. MT's salaries were also frozen, while RN's and those mentioned above got their yearly + cost of living raises.

I once had a manager inform me that MT's do not create unions because we are professionals and there are sick people to consider. If we went on strike, people could die. hmm.. When RN's go on strike, people don't die because the hospital is forced to give them what they want/need.

RN's have a very difficult job, they do deserve everything they have fought for. I am hoping someday MT's will also get everything we WILL fight for.

I see no ethical problem in a MT union, does anyone else?

Ariana in Gibsonton, Florida.. Are you a MT?? Do you work in an unstressful lab? (impossible - FYI).. You should reconsider posting on forums, forever. You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about.

No, I don't but implementation, and organization are a whole different issue. I would be for it, but how? Most techs are just trying to finish up their last 5-10 years that I know. Can't unite people to a cause when they are about ready to hit the fire exit-Know what I'm saying?

Hey guys there is some truth in these posts, but Lord, some of you are so negative. Do something to better your life to better the profession. Life is what you make it. Read this post

community.advanceweb.com/blogs/mt_2/archive/2010/06/05/a-screw-in-your-tire.aspx

That's a silly stement aquarius.People have already discussed on other threads how to improve the profession.

A union would be nice, not controlled by pathologists.

State laws governing the roles of med techs and technicians so the hospitals would be forced to pay the techs more and not subsitute technicians for medical technologists.

It has been said before.Unfortunately MDs control our profession.

Thank you!!! I've really enjoyed that little post. You are so positive. We need more people like you on this site

I find this forum to be extremely interesting and informative, with some very thoughtful arguments.

To aquarius and others who see this forum as "negative, whiny, or snobby", please go make lemonade elsewhere. We are not children needing little lessons on positivity.

It is a privilege that we have such technology that enables us to connect by profession...voicing our concerns and debating current issues.

im a freshmen student... im taking up BS MED TECH ? DO I HAVE ANY OPPORTUNITIES IN OTHER COUNTRIES IF I PASSED THE BAR EXAM AND I HAVE A GOOD GRADES IN MY COLLEGE?

I have read these comments in some detail and I can only relate my experiences. I have been a medical technologist since 1969 - over 40 years. The them and us comparisons are as hard to take now as they were when I was a shop steward for Office and Professional Employees Union International Local 29 representing tech in the east bay part of the San Francisco bay area. I believe in unions for professionals and the strength is in realizing that as professional health care workers we need to stick together. We worked together with the nurses and they with us. While a nursing strike was bad, the effect was magnified when the lab would only provide staffing for critical patients, not elective, or outpatients. The amount of revenue this would cost the hospitals would be astronomical. Yet I still remember some of the techs back then not wanting to inconvenience the hospital and saying that professionals should not be in unions. Think about that the next time you want to fly. Please consider this as we are becoming a last generation with medical tech leaving school with as much as $100k in loans and a salary which is often less than $40k. This does not work out to a professional career. Either reduce the cost or increase the payback. You are all critical components of the health care system. So stop comparing your contributions and realize that without all of us this system doesn't work. Work together for a better system.

I start working at a hospital soon... anyone give some insight as to what training is like? what I should review? thanks

I think MT should make more money than Pharmacists, because 90% of medical decision are responsible by MT. Without MT, MD or Nurses can't do their job. So, please MT union, stand up and fight for us. I wish one day all MT in the nation stop working and see how MD and nurses do their job.

At Least (or I hope) your institution still recognizes you as allied health. My institution in Temple, Texas just classified us as a general work category along with. Talk about a real slap in the face.

Lazaro R Gonzalez Mino. in Miami, Florida said: Well every thing depending of what you want. I the United States te science never paid unless you are Bombrown or Einstain. If you want to be respect and apreciate $$$$ to be a MT is not the answer. The carrer who give $atisfaction are the carrer relacionate to the money Finacing, Acountan, etc. If you want to do something amusing the arts is the answer but you have to have talent to be an actor, designer, producer, painter, sculptor, etc.
If you want bought by politician is the field.
We live in the same city if you want more information e-mail me.
Profesor LazaroRGonzalez@msn.com

you are a cynical old man who sold his sold and has forgotten what it is to be a scientist if you have a passion for the sciences then this is teh field for you. If you are a cynical old man then just stay out of the lab cause you rune it for all of us comming into the field.

you guys want aunion but dont realize that this will end up makeing you make even less pay because of union dues and fees on top of taxes

SH in Fredericksburg, Virginia said: You're a professor?? You can't even make a complete sentence, and my 4th grade teacher made sure our class could at least write correctly and finish a proper thought. Professor of what? Where? Lord help us, if you're a professor.

If you are, then next time you consider posting on the internet, please remove your oven mitts. Also, as you make substantive claims, particularly when you reference a hospital's fiscal position, support your position with real data and information we can reference...hospitals don't make Zillions...

amen!

gramstain in Scottsdale, Arizona said: you guys want aunion but dont realize that this will end up makeing you make even less pay because of union dues and fees on top of taxes

The union is a double-edged sword. Sure you have to pay dues, and unions foster the type of work environment that allows lazy or stupid people to keeps their jobs (=hard to fire people). But there are major benefits as well. I work as a CLS for the UC system in CA and our union fights to prevent layoffs, keep the UC regents from making large increases in the amounts we pay for our healthcare. They made us start contributing to our retirement, and the union negotiated raises to negate the amount we have to contribute to retirement. The last couple of years while everyone working for the state was getting laid off, pay cuts or furlough? We got raises, and kept hiring. And our union is a smaller one...the nurses union is huge and powerful--why do you think the nurses get everything they want? Why do you think they keep wanting to pick regents that support weakening union power? Because without unions, they are basically free to lay off, cut, and furlough as they please. And I know they would just love to do it to cut costs.
I make $40/hr base, and most of my coworkers who have worked here for a long time make well into $90k/year, almost 6 figures. If paying $50 or so dollars a month is going to help keep my job and benefits safe, then fine with me. I think it is worth it.
I've also worked in private industry, where they lay people off every year at the end of the year. They can also cut your pay, cut your hours, take your vacation hours away, and take your retirement away at the drop of a hat (Beckman Coulter, anyone?). With our union, UC can't do that to us.

Is there an update on salary and demand of Medical Laboratory Scientists for this year??

Hello,
I am currently living in canada, I will be finishing my bachelor degree in medical laboratory sc. in april. I would like to work in the states as a technologist. two problems: 1) i'm looking for a hospital that would provide me with H1B visa to usa to work, #2)I dont meet hte requirements to write the ASCP. However i can write the AMT.
so my questions:

1) what states can allow me to work with AMT? (I heard that there were major regulation changes with accrediting bodies in 2009 but I dont quite understand them). OH, and for the record i'm interested in working in either pennsylvania or neighbouring states.

2)how often do hospitals give out h1B visas for technologists?.

I need as much information as possible about moving ot the states and getting a job. you can email me directly at femaleiam@hotmail.ca

Thank you.

LoveScience in Mishawaka, Indiana said: Is there an update on salary and demand of Medical Laboratory Scientists for this year??

I want to hear more about salary and demand of MT too.

You can expect to make $21-25/hr starting out in the Northeast, West cost $25-30. I believe the avg is at least $25/hr to 30. The field is definitely experiencing a shortage, which is why the demand will be very high. However on the flip side, you'll be expected to do more work to make up for the shortage which can be more stressful. If you have a bachelors as an MT and ASCP certification you will have no issues getting interviews. Every place I've applied to gave me an interview. Growth opportunities are not as great as nursing but I would say it's better than most other allied health fields like X-ray tech etc. You can always get an MBA or Masters of Health Administration and quickly become a supervisor then director of a lab (if you have a couple years experience as lead tech first,then a few more as Supervisor) and then you'll see your salary jump to $70-90K.

I am working for 30 years in a lab as a labtechnician. I received a labform to draw blood from a patient in room 37 bed 4. I went to the room and I did not follow the protocol this time well. I said the name of the patient and she said yes. I took the blood. The labform was not filled in with the wrong room- and bed nr.
Consequent that the blood result was wrong. the doctor saw it right away. no medical consequences for the patient. Lab Director gave heavily tentative fire from the job. If anything similar happened again, I will be fired.

I am working for 30 years in a lab as a labtechnician. I received a labform to draw blood from a patient in room 37 bed 4. I went to the room and I did not follow the protocol this time well. I said the name of the patient and she said yes. I took the blood. The labform was not filled in with the wrong room- and bed nr.
Consequent that the blood result was wrong. the doctor saw it right away. no medical consequences for the patient. Lab Director gave heavily tentative fire from the job. If anything similar happened again, I will be fired.