This article is second in five-part In-Demand Jobs Week series sponsored by OhioMeansJobs.com. Each story will spotlight a different industry and feature people thriving in high-demand jobs in North Central Ohio.
Citizens often interact with doctors, nurses and physician assistants on the front lines in the healthcare industry. When it comes to sampling blood and biological material, laboratory employees work behind the scenes to investigate and report quality results to aid the physicians in making diagnoses.
Medical laboratory technology ranks as an In-Demand field by OhioMeansJobs.com.
Avita Health System’s 24-hour lab supports emergency room patients, outpatients and inpatients at its three locations in Galion, Bucyrus and Ontario. Trained and competent personnel at multiple levels include phlebotomists, medical lab technicians and technologists, and laboratory managers and directors. At the highest level are Pathologists who are physicians that specialize in diagnosis and management of disease through laboratory medicine.
“We would like the community to know that we have positions open at all three locations,” said Megan Hardin, Laboratory Manager for the Avita Health System – Ontario Campus. “If you love science and math, this would be a good place for you.”
Avita fosters cross training and collaboration among its approximately 80 laboratory employees that might not be possible at larger health systems. Pathologists readily aid and assist laboratory staff members when questionable or suspicious results arise.
“We work together as a team to make sure we are serving our patients in the best way possible,” Hardin said.
Hardin said she would like to increase awareness about the profession. “Most laboratory employees are not hands on with the patient, but they can still have as much patient interaction as they wish to have, by performing blood draws and other specimen collections.”
The educated and highly trained laboratory employees put out quality results and aid physicians in diagnoses for patients.
“The laboratory is a really important part of the medical field and the patient’s care plan,” Hardin said.
According to Quest Diagnostics, 70 percent of medical decisions are based on lab results.
Phlebotomy offers high patient interaction, competitive wages
Madison Adult Career Center graduate Becca Davis was hired as a phlebotomist at Avita Ontario in Nov. 2017. Avita prefers applicants with phlebotomy training, but does not require it. Madison’s phlebotomy students also test for certification as a Registered Phlebotomy Technician through American Medical Technologies (AMT).
“As a phlebotomist, accuracy is the pinpoint of it all,” Davis said. “We draw the blood, receive and distribute specimen collections to the correct departments.”
The average hourly wage for phlebotomists in Ohio is $13.58 per hour, according to indeed.com. Avita offers competitive wages.
Phlebotomists have high interaction with patients in their daily responsibilities, and they even assist with basic life support in code situations. In fact, all clinical employees of Avita are trained in basic life support.
Responsibilities vary between shifts. First shift phlebotomists process inpatient specimens and conduct outpatient rotations to complete routine blood work. Second and third shifts include a lot of processing of surgery specimens and emergency room and inpatient specimens.
The phlebotomy team is the first line of defense and has the most interaction with patients for specimen collections. Customer services is one of the biggest aspects of the job.
Davis’s training included a 10-week training program followed by an 80-hour externship with practical inpatient and outpatient training. One advantage of Madison’s Phlebotomy training program is the fact students practice hands-on skills, including live blood draws and specimen collection and testing early during the classroom training. Students put their skills to work during an externship at a local healthcare facility.
Davis is satisfied with her career path so far.
“I would like to stay where I am at,” Davis said. “It’s a good stepping stone in health care. You get to see a lot.”
Medical Laboratory Technicians perform patient testing and maintain lab
Lori Naufzinger works as a Medical Lab Technician (MLT) and Galion Hematology Supervisor. Lab technicians perform routine patient testing, communicate with ordering providers, and maintain the lab analyzers.
The hematology department performs complete blood counts for patients with a variety of conditions such anemia, blood disorders or leukemia. The department supports bariatric patients and those on blood thinners or undergoing blood therapies, among other disorders.
While she supervises the hematology department and works in other departments as needed. She is responsible for maintaining the laboratory’s accreditation requirements by the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, MLT jobs are projected to grow 13 percent through 2026. With many MLTs retiring annually, employers will struggle to find replacements.
Naufzinger launched her career as a phlebotomist in 1996, and became interested in the process of specimen testing. “I wanted to know what happened when I dropped the specimen off.”
She decided to continue her education at Marion Technical College and graduated with an associate’s degree in Medical Laboratory Technology in 2014. She became a supervisor in 2016.
Hardin appreciates Naufzinger’s attention to detail, ability to train new lab technicians and perform competency, and independently research the appropriate procedures to produce quality results.
“Avita laboratory’s vision for Lori is to become more involved with the training and mentorship of new lab technicians,” Hardin said. “It is a big responsibility to be a department head in a laboratory.”
Avita prefers that Medical Lab Technicians test for an American Society of Clinical Pathology certification and complete continuing education.
With new medical technology being introduced, Avita laboratory employees stay current through training and keep their skills at a high level.
“I get to figure out situations like a detective,” Naufzinger said. “It’s interesting to me.”
Medical Laboratory Technicians have a two-year associate degree in laboratory science, while Medical Laboratory Technologists, also known as Medical Laboratory Scientists, have a four-year bachelor’s degree.
Laboratory Managers manage staff and procedures
Hardin spends her days training new laboratory staff members and collaborating with other managers to create new operating procedures and tests.
She also monitors the budget closely, orders supplies, completes payroll, all while corresponding with other members of Avita’s leadership team to resolve problems and implement changes for improvement.
After attending Marion Technical College, Hardin started as a Medical Laboratory Technician at Bucyrus Hospital in 2009. Galion Community Hospital and Bucyrus Community Hospital merged to form Avita Health System in 2011. By 2012, Hardin became a department supervisor, leading the Point of Care, Blood Bank and Microbiology sections as time progressed.
With the new Ontario Hospital opening in 2017, Hardin moved into the manager position. Most recently on May 5, she earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Science in Allied Health from Youngstown State University.
“I hope to progress to a hospital administration or quality role down the line,” Hardin said. “Remaining involved in the lab would be really important. I hope to grow in my knowledge and skill, and be able to assist in improvements throughout the whole health system.”
Avita Health System will host a health fair at Richland Mall on May 19. Community members will be able to talk with medical professionals and receive vouchers for reduced priced blood screenings.
Additionally, Avita Ontario and Galion laboratories will host an Open House on Tuesday, May 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Avita is inviting middle school and high school educators, students and their families to tour the lab and get information on how to join the laboratory profession. Refreshments will be provided.
