ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence Practice Analysis for Medical Technologists, Medical Laboratory Technicians and Phlebotomy Technicians: Preliminary Demographic and Other Selected Results Laura Culver Edgar, MBA, MT(ASCP) Pamela Frommelt, MS, MT(ASCP) Donna Surges Tatum, PhD, CAE Kory Ward-Cook, PhD, MT(ASCP), CAE

ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence ABSTRACT The ASCP-Board of Registry (BOR) is working on the exciting and important initiative of a Practice Analysis for Medical Technologists (MT), Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) and Phlebotomy Technicians (PBT). The Practice Analysis will examine the tasks performed and their frequency, as well as overlapping responsibilities between the three groups, and the knowledge required to be competent in these professions. It will also compare professionals at various points in their careers to better gain an understanding of what knowledge and skills are required to remain competent in the profession. The BOR developed a job task survey from an ethnographic report which was distributed to more than 17, 000 ASCP-Board of Registry certified laboratory professionals within stratified categories. All individuals who passed the MT, MLT or PBT examination in the last two years received a survey In addition a survey was also sent to a stratified, random sample of those certified for five, fifteen, and twenty-five or more years.

ABSTRACT (CONT’D) The following results are preliminary and based only on the first 100 surveys received. The average annual salary is approximately $35,000. Females make up 76% of the first respondents. The certifications held by the respondents were: MTs 40%; MLTs 36%; and PBTs 17%. (Note: The percentages do not add up to 100 because the respondents can have multiple certifications.) Twenty-five percent or more of the respondents work in the blood bank, chemistry, coagulation, hematology, immunology, microbiology and urinalysis. The laboratory locations are 47% urban, 36% suburban and 17% rural. Day shift is worked by 61% of the respondents. The survey also inquired about continuing education. The respondents were asked to mark what types they participated in and in what types they would prefer to participate. The respondents could mark any of the following: audio conferences, in-services, journals, teleconferences, workshops, self-directed, web based and other. The only forms of continuing education that varied more than 10% between currently participate and prefer to participate were in-services (51% participate, 34% prefer) and web-based (8% participate, 27% prefer). Additionally, the survey asked if their employer currently paid for continuing education or college credit courses; 53% responded yes. ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence

ABSTRACT (CONT’D) Although these results are preliminary, the final results will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current practice of medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians and phlebotomy technicians. As further surveys are received and the data analyzed, the results will be used to verify and maintain the content of ASCP-BOR certification examinations and to help find better ways to recruit and retain these valuable professionals. ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence

OBJECTIVE  The perform a practice analysis for Medical Technologists (MT), Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLT) and Phlebotomy Technicians (PBT).  To examine the tasks performed and their frequency, as well as overlapping responsibilities between the three groups, and the knowledge required to be competent in these professions.  Compare the laboratory professional’s roles and responsibilities at various points in their careers.  To gain a better understanding of the knowledge and skills required to remain competent in the profession.  To allow for a preliminary glimpse at the number of respondents from the various categories (MT, MLT, and PBT), how the data groups will be formed in further analyses, and a review of demographic and other selected results. ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence

METHODS  The BOR developed a job task survey from an ethnographic report. The survey was distributed to more than 17, 000 ASCP certified laboratory professionals within stratified categories.  All individuals who passed the MT, MLT or PBT examination in the last two years received a survey. In addition, a survey was also sent to a stratified, random sample of those certified for 5, 15, and 25 or more years.

ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence RESULTS* *The following preliminary results are from the 2701 responses received. There was a response rate of approximately 16%. Females make up 86% of the respondents. (Figure 1) The certifications held by the respondents were: MTs 47%; MLTs 33%; and PBTs 20%. (Figure 2) More than 97% of MTs earned a baccalaureate degree or higher. Only 20% of MLTs earned baccalaureate or higher degrees. 10% of PBTs earned the same degrees.(Figure 3) The majority of respondents worked at a hospital or at a physician office laboratory setting. Small hospitals ( 300 beds) employed 30% and physician office laboratories employed 14% of the respondents. (Figure 4)

ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence RESULTS* (CONT’D) The laboratory locations are 46% urban, 30% suburban and 24% rural. (Figure 5) Most MTs were employed as a Staff Technologist (65%), MLTs were employed as Staff Technicians (55%) and PBTs were Phlebotomists (67%). (Figure 6) Day shift is worked by 63% of the respondents, 18% work the evening shift, 11% work night shift and 7% rotate shifts. (Figure 7) Most respondents worked more than 9 hours per day at 5 days per week. (Figure 8) The average respondent has worked in the laboratory for 9 years. (Figure 9)

RESULTS* (CONT’D) The primary areas of the laboratory in which the respondents (excluding PBTs) worked were: blood bank, chemistry, coagulation, hematology, immunology, microbiology and urinalysis. (Figure 10) The survey also inquired about continuing education. The respondents were asked to mark what types of continuing education they participated in and in what types they would prefer to participate. The respondents were given the following options: audio conferences, in-services, journals, teleconferences, workshops, self-directed, web based and other. The majority of respondents indicated that they participate in in-services, but would prefer to attend external workshops and seminars or utilize web-based programs. (Figures 11-12) Additionally, the survey asked if their employer currently paid for continuing education or college credit courses. More than 50% do reimburse for continuing education seminars, 60% reimburse for college courses, but fewer than 10% pay for professional association membership. (Figure 13) ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence

CONCLUSION Although these results are preliminary, the final results will provide a comprehensive analysis of the current practice of medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians and phlebotomy technicians.  As further surveys are received and the data analyzed, the results will be used to verify and maintain the content of ASCP certification examinations.  To help find better ways to recruit and retain these valuable professionals.

ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence

PLEASE NOTE ONLY THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES THAT CONTAINED MORE THAN 10% FOR ONE OR MORE CATEGORIES WAS INCLUDED IN THE CHART. THE "OTHER" FACILITIES INCLUDED:PUBLIC HEALTH LABORATORY, ACADEMIC FACILITY, BLOOD CENTER, REFERENCE LABORATORY, RESEARCH LABORATORY, VETERINARY LABORATORY, ENVIRONMENTAL LABORATORY, FORENSIC LABORATORY, INDUSTRIAL LABORATORY, FOOD LABORATORY AND OTHER NON-LABORATORY BASED FACILITIES.

ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence

PLEASE NOTE THE JOB TITLE "OTHER" INCLUDED: EDUCATION CO-ORDINATOR, SAFETY OFFICER, POC COORDINATOR, LIS ANALYST, LIS TECHNICIAN AND OTHER INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS MADE BY RESPONDENTS. EACH OF THE COMBINED AREAS INCLUDED IN OTHER HAD LESS THAN 10% FOR EACH CATEGORY.

ASCP Certification: The Standard of Excellence