From April 14–20, IQMH is joining the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) to celebrate National Medical Laboratory Week. This week highlights the indispensable contributions of Medical Laboratory Professionals (MLPs) in the health care system.
This year the CSMLS is focusing on recognizing the MLPs ‘Behind Every Patient’. MLPs play a crucial role in the health care system by performing millions of laboratory tests every day, which are vital for patient care. They are often the first step in a patient’s health care journey as they analyze blood, body fluid samples, tissues, cellular changes, abnormalities in chromosomes and DNA to find the necessary information for diagnosis and treatment.
MLPs consist of Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) and Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) that both require a high degree of technical expertise, attention to detail, and adherence to strict protocols and procedures. MLTs have a significant role in the process of medical diagnosis and treatment. They are responsible for analyzing various types of samples and reporting the results to physicians, pathologists, and other healthcare professionals.1 While MLAs are responsible for collecting samples directly from patients, preparing and labeling them for analysis, and ensuring that all the necessary information is documented accurately1.
MLPs work often goes unseen behind laboratory doors, however, #BehindEveryPatient there is an MLP who is dedicating their time to meet the needs of the health care system. Their role is critical in providing accurate, timely and reliable test results that aid the early detection and treatment of various illnesses and conditions.
IQMH thanks all Medical Laboratory Professionals for their tireless efforts in delivering essential laboratory services that are an integral part of patient care.
To learn more about National Medical Laboratory Week visit: https://labweek.csmls.org/
To learn more about the work of Medical Laboratory Professionals, visit: http://www.wearelab.ca/
Reference
- National Medical Laboratory Week. [Internet]. CSMLS. 2024 [cited 2024 Mar 07]. Available from: https://labweek.csmls.org/