Lab professionals across the island celebrated National Laboratory Week yesterday with a special opening ceremony in the foyer of the Rand Memorial Hospital.

Technicians from the Grand Bahama Health Services, Sunrise Medical Centre, Chela-Tech Laboratory and Lucayan Medical Centre were a part of the program which highlighted their role in medicine.

Assistant lab manager Meritta Strachan brought welcoming remarks and reminded the public that the laboratory is like the black box in a plane, to the passenger it is just there but becomes highly sort after when a plane crashes.

Lab professionals, she said, provide answers and unlock important medical information in confirming or ruling out diagnosis. Additionally she said that lab professionals monitor chronic disease changes and analyze the effects of medical therapies.

"Without us medicine would simply become guess work."

Strachan noted that because of the vital role lab technicians play, one would think that a qualified professional would be easy to find, but this is not the case.

"Worldwide there is a major shortage. Student enrollment in the Clinical Laboratory Science programs is steadily declining and some colleges and universities have budget cuts for the programs and some have closed them altogether," Strachan said.

She pointed out some reasons for the shortage and said that the primary reason is that a vast disparity exists in salary compared to other health care workers and there is also a lack of public view for the profession. She added that hospitals and clinical laboratories prefer to cut costs in ways that are less obvious to patients.

Senior Assistant Hospital and Area administrator, Sherone Singh, also brought remarks and said that the laboratory professionals are among the dedicated staff who work very hard behind the scenes on a daily basis.

"This week gives us a unique opportunity to show our appreciation for this profession. This week also allows us to educate the public on what work you perform. I congratulate you for the hard work that you continue to do which impacts the type of health care that our clients receive."

Singh challenged the group to maintain accurate reliable and timely results that are essential in a patient's diagnosis.

"I also challenge you to remain committed to your profession by maintaining the necessary criteria needed to stay current in your career ... and to maintain the collaboration with other health care professions to ensure that the quality and continuity of health care is at a high standard throughout the Grand Bahama Health Services."

Today celebrations continue for Lab Professionals week with a pizza treat and treasure hunt at the Rand Memorial Hospital. On Wednesday lab professionals will hear from motivational speaker, Pastor Ricardo Grant, on Thursday is customer appreciation day and the activities will end on Friday with a blood drive in the training centre at the Rand Memorial Hospital.

SOURCE:genea@nasguard.com