Nationwide Permanent & Temporary Staffing for Pathology & Histology Labs
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Burnout is a growing issue across the healthcare industry, and pathology labs are no exception. While it’s easy to assume that burnout affects only the more fast-paced areas of healthcare, research shows that Pathologists' Assistants (PAs) and Histotechnologists (Histotechs) also experience significant workplace stress. This article explores the impact burnout has on these key lab professionals, including the consequences for lab productivity, quality, turnover, and absenteeism—along with statistics and data to back up these claims.
1. Decreased Productivity
Burnout often manifests in feelings of mental and physical fatigue, which can directly impact productivity in the lab. Histotechs and Pathologists' Assistants are responsible for crucial tasks such as preparing and examining tissue samples, performing autopsies, and ensuring accurate diagnoses. When burnout sets in, their ability to keep pace with daily workload demands decreases.
Data Insight:
A recent report by the American Journal of Clinical Pathology revealed that 78.1% of Histotechnologists (HTs) and 82.4% of Pathologists' Assistants (PAs) admitted to experiencing at least occasional burnout. This stress can slow down workflows, as fatigued employees take longer to complete tasks, resulting in missed deadlines and potential delays in diagnostics.
2. Compromised Quality of Work
Stress not only affects speed but also accuracy. When lab professionals are overwhelmed or fatigued, they may find it harder to concentrate, which increases the likelihood of mistakes. For histotechs, this could mean errors in tissue sample preparation or staining, while for PAs, it could result in less precise specimen dissections or missed details during autopsies. Over time, this can degrade the overall quality of a lab's output.
Data Insight:
The same study found that despite job satisfaction levels being relatively high (with 65.2% of HTs and 70.9% of PAs reporting job satisfaction), these professionals also acknowledged the toll that stress takes on the quality of their work. Stressed employees are prone to more frequent errors, potentially compromising the accuracy of patient diagnoses and impacting the lab’s reputation for reliability.
3. Increased Turnover Rates
Burnout, when left unmanaged, can lead to high turnover rates. Overstressed lab professionals may leave in search of better work environments with less pressure, resulting in high staff turnover rates. Losing experienced Histotechs and Pathologists' Assistants is costly—not just in terms of recruiting and training new hires, but also in the lost knowledge and experience that seasoned employees take with them.
Data Insight:
According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), laboratory professionals, including Histotechs, had a 13.4% vacancy rate in 2022. This rate is largely attributed to professional burnout and turnover. The financial impact of turnover is significant: each time a histotech or PA leaves, the lab faces costs in recruitment, onboarding, and training, not to mention the productivity losses incurred while new employees get up to speed.
4. Increased Absenteeism and Low Morale
Burned-out employees are more likely to take time off, whether for illness, mental health, or simply to recover from work-induced stress. More frequent absenteeism disrupts lab workflows, placing additional pressure on the remaining team members and further compounding the burnout cycle. Even when present, employees suffering from burnout may exhibit lower levels of motivation, engagement, and overall morale—leading to presenteeism, where they are physically at work but not fully productive.
Data Insight:
In a 2023 survey on lab worker satisfaction, 75% of lab professionals reported taking time off specifically due to stress and burnout, a number that highlights the toll stress takes on absenteeism. The same survey noted that 40% of lab workers experiencing burnout reported feeling disengaged, leading to reduced motivation and focus, which affects their overall performance and the lab’s output quality.
Addressing Burnout in the Lab
Burnout is not just an individual issue—it can have far-reaching effects on lab operations, including reduced productivity, compromised quality, higher turnover, and more frequent absenteeism. Lab directors and managers need to be proactive in addressing stress and burnout within their teams. Offering mental health support, creating a balanced workload, and ensuring adequate staffing levels can help mitigate the impact of burnout on your lab.
Partnering with skilled staffing agencies experienced in lab environments can also help address staffing gaps and ease pressure on overworked employees. By implementing flexible hiring strategies, such as temp-to-perm and permanent placement options, lab directors can maintain the balance between adequate staffing and manageable workloads, helping reduce burnout levels.
Conclusion
The data is clear: burnout among Pathologists' Assistants and Histotechs is not only common but also impactful. To maintain high productivity, work quality, and morale in the lab, it’s crucial to acknowledge the risks and take action to mitigate them. Burnout might be a growing issue, but with the right strategies in place, labs can continue to operate efficiently while supporting the well-being of their staff.
Lab Staffing Recruiters Can Help Alleviate Burnout Impact at Your Facility
Working with a skilled lab recruiter who has direct pathology lab experience can help reduce the impact of burnout within your facility. A PA(ASCP)-certified recruiter knows firsthand how stress and anxiety can influence lab workers and lab output. An experienced staffing firm will work closely with your lab, outlining a flexible hiring plan that uses temp, temp-to-perm, and permanent placement strategies to find the best match for your operations.
Contact Nicklas Medical Staffing Today
Contact Nicklas Medical Staffing to learn more about using our staffing services to keep your pathology and histology lab working efficiently and compliantly. Be sure to download our PDF “Build a Strategic (and Realistic) Pathology/Histology Lab Staffing Plan” for further tips and suggestions on filling in potential hiring gaps in your lab.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology, "Workplace Satisfaction and Burnout in U.S. Pathology and Histology Labs," 2023
American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), "2022 Vacancy Report for Laboratory Professionals," 2022.
National Lab Worker Satisfaction Survey, 2023.
