Critical Values - January 2009 - (Page 22) Communication Communicating with Elected Officials on the Workforce Shortage—Anatomy of an Advocacy Campaign By Shaun Hill T he importance and relevance of advocacy cannot be understated. Indeed, advocacy is touted as the cornerstone of political action. After all, how can legislators or regulators make informed decisions affecting the lives and livelihoods of the citizenry without input from the electorate? The words bear constant repeating—it is only through participation in the political process that social and economic change occurs, for communities, for states, and for the nation. This article is a blueprint of sorts, a “how to” based on what ASCP has identified as an important issue to the profession: the laboratory workforce shortage. The first phase consists of education, not only of targeted elected officials but also of the advocates. It is paramount that advocates have a grasp of the subject matter in order to inform those unfamiliar with the laboratory about the issue and to prompt them to take action. Phase two outlines the strategy of the campaign, the actions we are proposing to alleviate the problem. Finally, the blueprint provides examples of the tangible tools needed to carry out the suggested strategy. Just as various factors have led to the current and projected shortfall in the laboratory workforce, the approaches to solving the problem must also be multidimensional. Seeking aid from state or federal legislators involves a specific request. Some suggestions are as follows: • • • Reauthorization of Title VII under the Public Health Service Act to boost the allied health professions. Legislative hearings to discuss the laboratory staffing crisis. A proclamation recognizing National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. Such a gesture, although it would not solve the crisis, would draw attention to the field and create recognition of the contributions of those in the field. Funding of laboratory training programs. This funding could be in the form of state-funded grants to schools. The creation of a laboratory health services corps whereby students who have received state assistance for their education would be obligated to work in the state for a specified amount of time. The Strategy • • The overarching problem is that the clinical laboratory workforce shortage is not on the radar screens of policy makers. Pathology and laboratory medicine suffer from a lack of name recognition; few are aware of the critical role of the laboratory in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The problem is outlined in great detail in the October 2008 issue of Critical Values. It is evident that there is a problem. However, the question remains, What do we want legislators and/or regulators to do to resolve the crisis? The Issue Pursuit of a funding strategy would indeed have the most direct impact on alleviating the workforce shortage; the concern, however, is asking for money. Because of other constraints on state and federal budgets as well as the existing economic downturn, the argument to legislators would have to be extremely compelling. 22
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