Coronavirus reared its ugly head by the closing of 2019 in Wuhan. Early on, Chinese doctors did not delve deeper and let the virus off the hook by calling it pneumonia. And how quickly things went out of control from that point onwards. Just a few months down the road, and we were living in a different world altogether. However, a vast majority of the world population kept the virus at bay, staying indoor.
Contrary to other professions, workers in the medical labs become more active during the lockdown. They not only walked the extra mile to seek a coronavirus antidote but also facilitated the governments with better testing equipment, diagnostics, and top-notch research. Guess what? Medical labs are overburdened with responsibilities to date because coronavirus is powerfully looming around the horizon, with thousands of people still getting infected worldwide daily.
There is no denying the fact that medical labs are trying tooth and nail to meet unprecedented demand. But that does not mean you have to overwork the staff necessarily. There are other smart ways to yield the maximum productivity out of medical labs. We have outlined them in the following section:
1. Capitalize on digitization
Medical labs typically use papers to document the research work. The practice has been existing for decades. Well, it is about time medical labs start storing the data in digital form. First and foremost, digitization will minimize the physical contact between workers and reduce the chances of getting infected by the virus.
Besides, going digital streamlines all the information. Anyone with permission to view data can access it without delay because everything will be at the fingertips. Just punching a few codes is probably all a lab professional will have to do. With digital tools’ help, you can generate a robust communication network like Primex Labs throughout the workspace. That way, solutions are more likely to be innovative because everyone will chip in with basic ideas.
Arguably the most significant upshot of digitization is that it heavily decreases the odds of misplacing or unintentionally destroying the critical research work. The reason being, digital storage space will take papers entirely out of the equation. Though cybersecurity attacks are a point of concern, you can create multiple backups to be on the safe side.
2. Provide high-quality equipment
Using outdated equipment in the medical lab is a double-edged sword. It increases the odds of producing false results and consumes more time to get the job done. Worse yet, you can’t be sure about the durability of the low-quality gear. It can break down at any moment and leave you gasping in the middle of an important assignment. Sometimes you will have no other option but to undertake the experiment all over again from scratch.
All these issues should be at a safe distance by investing in top-quality equipment. Apart from that, superior machinery barely needs any upkeep, thereby saving some more time and money down the road.
3. Expand workforce
Currently, many medical labs have deemed it mandatory for employees to work for extra hours. This strategy could go down well for the time being. But you can’t expect workers to continue their job with utmost precision in the long term when they are physically and mentally exhausted. A burned-out team of professionals could commit severe medical lab errors, affecting the quality of work significantly. Increasing the pool of employees is the best way to ensure every worker gets the due share of rest and always remains on top of his performance.
Taking more employees onboard does not seem to be a budget-friendly measure. It will pay off big time over time. You may also consider outsourcing some of the administrative responsibilities so that lab experts can steadily focus on core jobs.
4. Organize frequent training sessions for employees
Lately, industries have started to allocate a reasonable budget to train employees because they have realized that the trained workforce exactly knows how to go about the job. As a result, productivity goes through the roof. The same applies to medical workers.
The training programs are not merely limited to technical learning. You can also infuse interpersonal as well as time-management skills in the workers through appropriate coaching. It is recommended not to design a one-size-fits-all coaching roadmap. Evaluate the efficiency level of the staff members and train them accordingly. Personalized training is hands down an ideal method to address individual flaws.
5. Ensure an organized atmosphere
Nothing irritates a lab employee more than a piece of equipment blocking his walkways when he is rushing towards something. On the surface, it might look like a negligible factor but ends up lowering workers’ morale. Besides, there is also a likelihood to get an injury if the workspace is full of clutter.
The takeaway message
We are going through an extraordinary phase of our life. Coronavirus has caught us off guard. Yet, the battle against the virus remains continued with medical workers leading from the front. They are torchbearers in this dark hour. Thus, medical labs should take necessary steps to multiply productivity instead of putting too much load on employees’ shoulders.
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