Medical Laboratory Professionals Week Highlights the Laboratory Medicine Profession April 18-24, 2021
Medical Laboratory Professional Week originated in 1975 by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science.
The week is an annual recognition of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in health care and patient advocacy.
The medical laboratory profession is one that is often behind the scenes of medical care but plays an integral role of the diagnostic team. Pathologist and laboratory professionals comprise the backbone of the medical laboratories throughout the country. During this unprecedented time in our nation and our world’s history, they are working to respond and mitigate the spread of the pandemic, known as COVID-19. Since March 2020, Clinical Laboratory Scientists became one of the first professions to help fight and develop a diagnostic test for the coronavirus. Clinical Laboratory Scientist are working around the clock, seven days a week, to process thousands of tests daily.
“Every patient is touched by the laboratory, we provide data to ensure that patients are treated properly, and we are trained to jump into action to work with our colleagues, especially during a pandemic,” says Margaret Sims Ph.D MHA, MT, MLS, (ASCP), Director of Granville Health System Laboratory. “Our team at Granville Health System is an important part of taming the pandemic. If we are able to quickly identify a COVID- 19 positive case, we play a vital role in helping prevent that person from spreading the virus.”
Medical laboratory professionals often identify the condition of a patient without actually seeing the patient- they are essential in disease research, patient care, treatment, and diagnoses. A Medical Laboratory Technologist requires an average of 5 years of college education and certification in hematology, immunology, urinalysis, microbiology, chemistry, parasitology, toxicology, transfusion medicine, and lab safety and operation.
About the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) is the world’s largest professional membership organization for pathologists and laboratory professionals. With more than 100,000 members, the society’s influence has guided the application and evolution of the pathology and laboratory medicine specialty since 1922. For more information on the Medical Laboratory profession go to: ascls.org.
About Granville Health System
For more than 100 years, Granville Health System has been delivering quality health care close to home. To meet the growing needs of its community, Granville Health System has expanded its services throughout Granville County, offering convenient access to medical care where its citizens work and live. Together, our team promotes well-being, accelerates healing, and inspires hope for the communities we are honored to serve. The GHS main campus is located at 1010 College Street, Oxford, North Carolina. For more information about Granville Health System visit GHS online at ghsHospital.org.
