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Medical lab scientist Dr. Rita Miller, Luverne, gets calls and emails every week from health care providers looking to hire medical lab technicians.
“There is such a critical shortage of medical lab techs,” said Miller, program director at Minnesota West Luverne Campus.
“They want to know, ‘Are you graduating any MLT students? We really need them.’ … They’re giving sign-on bonuses.”
The Medical Lab Tech program in Luverne can accommodate 16 students, but typically there are eight to 10 students enrolled.
This spring, only five graduated from the program.
Miller people don’t know about the program because there’s not enough interest in the career.
“We always say people don’t understand what we do,” she said.
“You don’t hear about lab professions. People think nurses or doctors do all the tests, because we’re not seen. We’re in the laboratory. We call this the hidden profession.”
The MLT shortage among Sanford Health Systems prompted its human resources staff to reach out to Minnesota West about encouraging high school students to consider being MLTs.
On May 26 Sanford Luverne and Minnesota West hosted a lab camp for high school and non-traditional students for a behind-the-scene glimpse at medical lab careers.
The half-day experience included hands-on activities and tours of both Sanford Luverne and Minnesota West in an effort to recruit more students and ultimately more Sanford health workers.
“We’re dealing with a shortage of medical lab technicians across the whole footprint of Sanford Health Systems,” said Sanford human resources adviser Jenny Andersen.
“We feel like it’s an area people don’t think about, and we thought this would be a good way to show students what it is.”
The lab camp attracted 23 high school students who donned lab coats, protective eyewear and latex gloves to make the rounds with Miller and second-year MLT students at Minnesota West.
Andersen said Luverne campus is a feeder program for a good share of Sanford’s hiring among its southwest Minnesota locations. That’s why she looks forward to hosting more lab camps.
“We hope to be able to expand it to highlight opportunities in Minnesota West,” she said. “This is amazing in here, and I bet a lot of people in the area don’t know what a little jewel the Minnesota West Luverne Campus is.”
Miller said she’ll continue visiting local high schools to encourage students to consider careers in a medical lab.
“The pay is good, and it’s going up,” she said. “Starting pay is now around $19 to $25 per hour. And I’ve seen sign-on bonuses of $2,000 to $8,000 … to attract people in that line of work.”
Andersen said she hopes Wednesday’s lab camp sparked interest in students.
“It’s a fascinating career with a lot of opportunities, and every day is different,” she said.
“You get to be a vital part of patient care. It’s one of the main drivers of determining the root cause of a patient’s illness and determining the plan of care. It’s vitally important behind-the-scenes work.”
On the job training, tuition covered
Minnesota West’s MLT program is also a part of the MN Pipeline Dual Training Grant Related Instruction Provider Training Agreement developed by the Minnesota State Legislature. In the Pipeline program, Sanford and the state of MN partner to cover educational expenses.
Qualified students can work in a part time role with Sanford while going to school and have their tuition, books and fees paid for.
Students also are able to participate in a customized on-the-job training program for four hours a month, enhancing their educational experience. As part of the program, the student commits to two years of employment following graduation.
Sanford is accepting applications now for fall enrollment.