[Strategies to Cope with the Shortage of Technologists: Facing the Mass-Retirement of the 'Baby-Boomer' Generation].

In Japan, the primary 'baby-boomer' generation, born between 1947 and 1949, is now in its retirement. This has caused a marked shortage of human resources nationwide. Clinical laboratory technologists are no exception, and many clinical laboratories in Japanese healthcare facilities are struggling with management because the number of new graduates, i.e., newly licensed technologists, is mostly fixed and, therefore, their recruitment is becoming more and more competitive. Our laboratory is now facing a wave of mass-retirement associated with our history. In addition, in the early 2000s, there was almost no position for new graduates replacing those retiring because of the change in the social healthcare system as well as our hospital's policy. This resulted in uneven numbers of technologists in generations, and it seemed to be getting worse. Fortunately, five years ago, the direction of social health care was changed and lots of positions became available as a result. We have been trying to recruit new graduates and experienced technologists as well, and were able to hire 18 people. Among them, 8 were non-freshmen. The generation gap has been mostly resolved. We will continue to make our laboratory more attractive not just to new graduates but also to experienced technologists, especially those who wish to return to work after a several-year absence to raise their children. We believe that this will energize our laboratory.

[Laboratory Medicine and Medical Team Approaches--Opening Remarks from the Chair].

Recently, medical team approaches were pointed out to be important in the field of laboratory medicine. The staff working in laboratory medicine needs to participate in various kinds of medical team such as ICT or NST. With such a background, the working group for medical teams was established in the Japanese Society of Laboratory Medicine in January 2012. Special program II was organized by this group at the 60th annual meeting held in Kobe in 2013. People gathered from representative societies related to laboratory medicine and discussed how we should participate in team approaches. Based on the results of meaningful discussions, we have reached a strong consensus to pursue team approaches in the future.