Hospital helps train future lab technicians

Developing a strong healthcare workforce in rural settings is often a challenge. However, VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital is investing in the development of pathways to train and recruit employees who want to live and work near the South Hill hospital. This includes lab technicians — most of whom a patient will never interact with, directly, but often play a critical role in care. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 14 billion laboratory tests are performed annually in the United States — and those test results influence about 70% of medical decisions. Despite this being an important healthcare role, hospitals across the country face persistent challenges of recruiting and retaining medical laboratory professionals. “Laboratory science is often a hidden but highly rewarding career,” said Chrystal Winstead, BS, MLS, AMT, director of laboratory services at VCU Health Memorial Hospital.

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