Each year, the last full week of April is a special time to honor medical laboratory professionals who dedicate their lives to helping others. Lab professionals provide as much as 70% of the information doctors use for diagnosis.
This year, we would like to recognize MANA lab professionals for their hard work and sacrifice. “Thank you” seems so small for what they do for us every day, but we hope it will help them know how much we appreciate them.
Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
There are over 300,000 medical lab professionals in the United States. Since 1975, Medical Laboratory Professionals Week has been an occasion to honor them.
MANA lab professionals conducted thousands of COVID-19 tests during the pandemic. Lab Director Tara Lindstrom, MT, (ASCP), served on MANA’s COVID Task Force. Often, our lab professionals performed the tests curbside so patients could stay in their cars.
COVID-19 is still with us, but as we move through the pandemic, lab professionals may go back to being behind the scenes much of the time. They are still an essential part of your care team.
MANA has lab technologists onsite in small labs at most of our clinics. The lab technologists collect the lab samples from patients and process them to submit to the main lab. We often hear from patients how comforting and professional our lab team was during their visit.
The main MANA laboratory is located at Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic and holds a Certificate of Compliance by Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) as a highly complex laboratory in the areas of chemistry, hematology, diagnostic immunology, urinalysis, and coagulation. MANA laboratories perform over 1 million tests each year aiding in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Back to the lab
“Back To The Lab: Celebrating Our Past As We Look Into Our Future” is the theme for lab week this year. As lab professionals get back to the lab, they’re celebrating the 100th anniversary of the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).
In 1922, an American Medical Association (AMA) survey found that fewer than half of American hospitals had labs. Now, more than 7 billion lab tests are completed each year in the United States.
As they get back to the lab, our medical lab professionals may face calmer schedules and fewer crises, but their work continues to be essential and lifesaving.
Let’s say “thanks”
Let’s all say “thanks” to these important medical professionals. It is a great time to give them some recognition for their work and thank them for all they do. MANA phlebotomists often receive compliments on their efficiency and compassion. We have the best lab team at MANA!
