Doctors ordering blood tests should try to schedule lab work during business hours on weekdays in light of a “critical shortage” of lab workers, says a memo from Island Health administrators.
“Despite active and ongoing recruitment of qualified Medical Lab Assistants and Medical Lab Technologists, the laboratory is experiencing a critical staffing shortage,” says a memo to health authority directors.
The lack of qualified applicants for several advertised laboratory staff positions across the Island represents a “local manifestation of a recognized provincial and national crisis,” says the memo from Dr. Alexander Finn, medical director and department head of laboratory medicine, and director Catriona Gano.
Neither Finn or Gano were available for an interview on Monday.
Island Health said in a statement that the memo was sent to provide clarity to clinical staff around proper procedures to ensure all critical and time-sensitive sample needs are met.
“Despite the national shortage of qualified staff and the exceptional demand COVID-19 has placed on our labs, Island Health’s labs continue to provide all necessary support through inpatient and outpatient services,” the health authority said in a statement.
“All critical and time-sensitive samples continue to be collected and analyzed to meet clinical requirements and patient care is not being adversely affected,” it said.
Island Health’s online career page has displayed about 50 postings since January for medical lab assistants and technicians.
“A shortage of qualified lab staff is an issue across Canada, not just in B.C. or on Vancouver Island,” said Island Health. The health authority maintains despite the national shortage that it is working on a local response and has had recent success in recruitment but did not have immediate access Monday to staffing numbers.
The shortage is uneven among sites, but all facilities “have some shortages,” the memo says.
“Maintaining adequate coverage during evening, overnight, and weekend shifts is proving to be particularly difficult,” the memo says. “Thus, we are requesting the co-operation of our clinical colleagues in lessening the demands on the laboratory during these times.”
Clinicians are asked to consider deferring requests for routine bloodwork to the next morning or next weekday; between 4 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., only requests for critical-care situations should be made.
Many specimens are already collected after hours and testing is delayed to between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Island Health’s laboratories are processing an average of more than 1,000 COVID-19 tests per day during April, said the health authority, noting it is also screening positive tests to identify presumptive variants.
