Intro: The Missouri Senate Finance Committee heard a bill that would require higher standards for people seeking jobs in hospital labs.
Stephanie Levy (Lee-vee) has more from Jefferson City. The bill, sponsored by Republican Senator Dan Clemens, would require licensing exams for all lab technicians. St. Louis University faculty member Tim Randolph, who testified in support of the bill, says that medical lab technicians in some hospitals can "show up and be hired" without prior training or a college degree.
Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Stephanie Levy. Intro: A Missouri Senate bill that would create a licensing board for hospital lab technicians may hurt hospitals. Stephanie Levy (Lee-vee) has more from Jefferson City. The bill, sponsored by Republican Senator Dan Clemens, would require all lab technicians to take a certification exam. Clemens says the bill would improve patient care in hospitals.
But opponents of the bill say hospitals are already responsible for making sure lab workers have adequate training. Missouri Society of Pathologists spokesman Jeff Craver says similar requirements in other states have led to staff shortages in hospitals.
Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Stephanie Levy.
Actuality: RANDOLPH.WAV
Run Time: 00:18
Description: The whole point of licensure is to ensure legally that every practicitoner has the highest level of, I'm sorry, the minimum level of education necessary and national certification, boards, of that education to verify their body of knowledge.
Opponents of the bill say it would restrict the employment practices of hospitals, making a current shortage of health professionals even worse.
Actuality: CRAVER.WAV
Run Time: 00:19
Description: It's prevented personnel from getting into entry level positions. It's made it difficult for them to rise to higher levels of positions within the laboratory.
St. Louis University Core Chemical Lab Director Mary Mayo, who supported the bill, says higher standards of employment may be used as a positive recruiting tool, especially for college graduates.
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