Baptist Celebrates National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

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Jackson, Miss. – April 4, 2006 - Baptist is recognizing National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW), being held this year from April 23-29. In its 31st year of celebration, the name changed from National Medical Laboratory Week to National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week to emphasize the people of the laboratory not the laboratory itself. The week began in 1975 by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) to honor the laboratory professionals for all their hard work in aiding physicians to diagnose diseases for quick patient recovery. In that essence the theme for this year’s National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is “Laboratory Professionals: Providing Answers. Guiding Cures.”

There are approximately 300,000 clinical laboratory science practitioners in the United States. The clinical laboratory professional has continued to play an increasing role in the diagnosis and prevention of disease since the 1920’s when this career group began. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics more than 10 billion lab tests are performed in the US each year. More testing will be required more frequently as Americans continue to age. One baby boomer has been turning 50 years old about every 7 seconds since January 1997. Thirteen percent of the US population is now over 65 years of age. Demands for medical laboratory testing are also increasing due to the ever expanding medical knowledge and developments. Now there is a stronger emphasis on preventative medicine which in part is provided by fast and accurate laboratory testing. Genetic and molecular testing is more readily available now giving physicians more options in patient diagnosis. Laboratorians are also involved in public health through the identification of disease such as AIDS, Lyme disease, hepatitis, and tuberculosis.

Seventy percent of the patient’s medical records consists of laboratory tests results. It is no wonder that medical laboratory professionals are vital to the diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease. Therefore, National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week gives the much needed spotlight to this behind the scenes group of professionals.

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