SCC’s phlebotomy program page says that the program is currently on hiatus, however phlebotomists are in high demand all around the country. The phlebotomy program at SCC was scheduled to open during spring quarter but according to the program’s director, this is not happening.

Phlebotomy is the process of making a puncture in a vein, usually in the arm, with a cannula for the purpose of drawing blood. The procedure itself is known as a venipuncture, which is also used for intravenous therapy. A person who performs a phlebotomy is called a phlebotomist, although most doctors, nurses, and other technicians can also carry out a phlebotomy.

“In light of [Jennifer Stevens] leaving, the program re-opening will be delayed until someone new is hired… To be honest, I haven’t run a phlebotomy program yet. So even though it is kind of like the MLT program in a lot of ways, it’s going to be another shoe that I would fill in, and I’m just unprepared for that right now,” says Esther Lim, head of the MLS program at SCC.

One of the challenges with hiring someone to come run the program is “You can make more working clinically than you can as an educator or working for the state as a staff member,” said Dean of Health Mary Burroughs. To help combat this, funds were approved across most health programs at SCC to raise the salaries of the instructors teaching the classes to be roughly equivalent to what they would be making if they were to work in a hospital.

Medical Laboratory Scientists in health settings play an important role in the diagnosis of disease conditions. American Society for Clinical Pathology estimates 70% of medical decisions are based on laboratory test results and MLS contributions affect 95% of a health system’s costs

Phlebotomists are in such short supply that the University of Washington is willing to give people on-the-job training as long as they agree to work full-time.

For now if you want to get a phlebotomy certification there are two options. Either go to Edmonds Community College and get your certification there, or get a full time job at a hospital. As of now, Shoreline Community College does not have any intention of re-opening the phlebotomy program.