National Medical Laboratory Professionals play a vital role in HealthCare

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW) is a time of recognition for more than 300,000 medical laboratory professionals and 15,000 board-certified pathologists who interpret more than 10 billion lab tests in the U.S. every year and play a vital role in every aspect of health care. Lab Week is held annually during the last full week of April. This year's observance takes place April 22-28. The theme is: "Laboratory Professionals Get Results."

The week celebrates laboratory medicine, the professionalism of the lab personnel as well as to recognize their efforts. And, with somewhere between 60 and 80 percent of all healthcare decisions driven by laboratory diagnostics, there is a great deal to celebrate.

Since laboratory professionals often work behind-the-scenes, few people know much about the critical testing they perform every day. NMLPW is a time to inform and educate medical colleagues and the public about the medical laboratory.

Some Lab related jobs include:

• Cytotechnologist

• Histotechnologist and Histotechnician

• Medical Technologist and Medical Laboratory Technician

• Phlebotomy Technician and Donor Phlebotomy Technician

At USA MEDDAC, Fort Drum, the Laboratory staff provides the following services and support: Clinical Laboratory Science, which deals with the performance of laboratory analyses used in the diagnosis and treatment of disease and in the maintenance of health; Reception (phlebotomy area), Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology, Blood Bank, and a Shipping Department. Twenty civilian employees and two Soldiers comprise the MEDDAC Laboratory staff, and two locations – Guthrie and Conner Troop Medical Clinics, where laboratory technicians rotate between the two each Monday through Friday.

The goal of the Laboratory Service Section is to ensure Soldier medical readiness and to facilitate total beneficiary health care through a customer-focused commitment to quality care. vide laboratory services that set the standard for medical readiness, integrated health care, and service member and family support," said MEDDAC Laboratory Chief Tina M. Allen. "We treat our customers and ourselves with dignity and respect, courtesy and compassion, honor and integrity, and are committed to those we serve."

The expanding lab field has opened many doors for trained laboratory professionals.

According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), a tremendous shortage of laboratory professionals is anticipated in the decade ahead. Many now working in the field are approaching retirement and there are not enough new graduates entering the profession to adequately meet the needs of our nation's healthcare system. In addition, the demand for laboratory testing is on the rise for a number of reasons.

For instance: As Americans continue to age, more testing is required more frequently.

• Beginning in January 1997, one baby boomer is turning 50 years of age about every 7 seconds;

• Almost 13 percent of the U. S. population is now over 65 years old;

• The over-85 category, which requires the greatest amount of health care services, is also growing rapidly

Demand for medical laboratory testing is increasing due to:

• Increases in the world population;

• Stronger emphasis on preventive medicine, including early detection and patient responsibility;

• An explosion of new medical technologies, such as genetic testing.

Expanding medical knowledge and technological developments have increased the need for medical laboratory testing.

New and different pathogens are contributing to increased needs for laboratory testing. The identification of new diseases, like AIDs, Lyme disease, and hepatitis C-and the resurgence of old foes like tuberculosis-pose serious threats to the public health.

Unprecedented increases in international travel (including our Soldier deployments) and immigration are resulting in the importation of rare or previously unknown diseases, especially parasitic infections and inherited disorders, which increases the need for laboratory testing.

More than 10 billion laboratory tests are performed in the United States each year.

To learn about career preparation, educational requirements, scholarships, salaries and job opportunities for a career in laboratory medicine, go to www.ascp.org .