Laboratory apprenticeships: a look back in history or a new paradigm?

The reality of the world and the workplace is changing rapidly, and continuing the "old" ways will not provide the solutions needed to address the problems the health-care industry faces today. "The organization of the laboratory, as we now know it, will change. An environment in which every instrument is run by highly trained medical technologists is not likely to be the norm. Instead, laboratories will be staffed by lesser trained technicians under the direction of a limited number of medical technologists.... Licensing and regulatory trends for laboratories will support the downgrading of the average level of laboratory expertise required to perform tests". Similarly, in 1993 a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that many medical technologists do not meet the NLRB definition of professional because they perform highly automated and routine work that does not require the consistent exercise of discretion and judgment. Does the laboratory industry need to have all of its work done by highly trained medical technologists? A look at current laboratories would seem to answer that question as "no." On the other hand, do we need highly trained medical technologists in the laboratories? The answer is yes, but it is apparent that medical technologists of the future need to prepare themselves in new ways to address future demands on the profession.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)