AUGUSTA – Hospitals and medical labs across the state are short 250 employees responsible for carrying out tests used by doctors to diagnose patients, according to a recently released study. The study reinforces a nationwide trend showing a shortage of clinical lab technicians.

Local hospitals said they are coping with the problem by having employees work overtime and hiring temporary workers from out of state, but they expressed concern for the long-term.

“We do have positions open without qualified applicants,” said Donna Beaulieu, a lab manager at Central Maine Medical Center on Tuesday. “Currently, our staff is working overtime and extra hours so patients don’t suffer, but ultimately it wears thin.”

Beaulieu said CMMC has three openings, one a supervisory position and two general lab technician spots, one of which has been empty for a year.

St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Jennifer Radel said the hospital has one and a half positions open.

Suzanne O’Brien, director of medical labs for Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, said while the hospital does not have any openings, she is “very concerned” about the next 10 years and replacing retiring staff members.

Clinical laboratory workers are responsible for collecting and analyzing body fluids, tissues and cells and carrying out other tests that give doctors the information needed to diagnose patients. Qualified lab workers have two- or four-year degrees and starting wages range between $12 and $18 per hour.

Charles Lawton, the economist who conducted the study published on Jan. 30 for Planning Decisions Inc., said the state only graduates 20 students a year who meet the requirements to fill the open positions.

“It’s not a matter of figuring out what we need to do – we need to recruit more kids,” said Lawton on Wednesday. “We need more kids in programs and we need more medical labs willing to provide the clinical training necessary.”

Lawton said hospitals that are already short-staffed find it difficult to train students.

In fact, Central Maine Community College has placed its two-year medical lab technician program on hold because of low enrollment and difficulty finding its few students clinical placements.

“CMMC has been good at helping us out with our clinical placements in a pinch, but we had trouble finding consistent opportunities for students,” said Scott Knapp, president of CMCC. “It’s an incredibly expensive program. We will take the next two years to evaluate and decide the best course of action.”

Two- and four-year degrees are still offered by the University of Maine in Orono and the University of Maine at Augusta working with the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

But with 20 percent of the current work force expected to retire in the next 10 years, Lawton said there are not enough new students to fill the gap that already exists and keep up with the state’s anticipated needs.

“These are important jobs,” said Lawton. “If you are short-staffed in the lab, it affects everybody.”

State Rep. Peggy Pendleton, D-Scarborough, has proposed legislation to organize a study group made up of academic and industry experts to come up with a solution to the shortage. The bill is scheduled for a work session in the Joint Committee of Business, Research and Economic Development on Thursday.

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