1. Importance of the Clinical Laboratory 2014 Community Advocacy Committee

2. How to Best Utilize This Presentation: How to Best Utilize This Presentation: Target Audiences:  Civic Organizations  Community Groups Goal of Presentation:  Champion the Role of the Clinical Laboratory in Obtaining Great Healthcare

4. In the Community you live in With other health professionals With your family and friends At your kids’ school With anyone who will listen! In the Community you live in With other health professionals With your family and friends At your kids’ school With anyone who will listen! Importance of the Clinical Laboratory “Talk it Up”

5. Here is a way to explain how Everyone Benefits from Good Lab Work Use the example in the following slides (borrowed from Labs are VITAL) Any Laboratorian can do this! Here is a way to explain how Everyone Benefits from Good Lab Work Use the example in the following slides (borrowed from Labs are VITAL) Any Laboratorian can do this! Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

6. What would your Healthcare Provider do… if they did not have accurate and timely laboratory results?

7. Q: How would Clinicians make critical decisions about your healthcare------ -----------without the laboratory? Q: How would your doctor obtain important test results without highly skilled laboratory personnel? Q: How would Clinicians make critical decisions about your healthcare------ -----------without the laboratory? Q: How would your doctor obtain important test results without highly skilled laboratory personnel? Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

8. Laboratorians play a VITAL ROLE in everyone’s health care! Laboratorians play a VITAL ROLE in everyone’s health care!

9. "Your test was out of the normal range," your doctor says to you, handing you a sheet of paper with a set of test results, numbers on a page. Your heart starts to race in fear that you are really sick. "Your test was out of the normal range," your doctor says to you, handing you a sheet of paper with a set of test results, numbers on a page. Your heart starts to race in fear that you are really sick. Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

10. But … what does this statement mean, "Out of the normal range"? Is it cause for concern? But … what does this statement mean, "Out of the normal range"? Is it cause for concern? Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

11. The brief answer is that a result out of the normal range is a signal that further investigation is needed. Tests results—all medical data—can only be understood once all the pieces are together. The brief answer is that a result out of the normal range is a signal that further investigation is needed. Tests results—all medical data—can only be understood once all the pieces are together. Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

12. Have you had a blood test performed within the past 1-2 years? Do you think that the healthcare system will take care of you? What could go wrong? Do you understand what it takes to advocate for excellent health care in the United States today? Have you had a blood test performed within the past 1-2 years? Do you think that the healthcare system will take care of you? What could go wrong? Do you understand what it takes to advocate for excellent health care in the United States today? Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

16. Points to Emphasize: The Clinical Lab helps to REDUCE Healthcare costs Timely and Accurate Laboratory Testing leads to:  quicker diagnosis  faster treatment  shorter hospital stays Points to Emphasize: The Clinical Lab helps to REDUCE Healthcare costs Timely and Accurate Laboratory Testing leads to:  quicker diagnosis  faster treatment  shorter hospital stays Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

18. We need More Lab Techs… Not Less! We need More Lab Techs… Not Less! Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

19. Will YOU be an Advocate for the IMPORTANCE of the Laboratory? Will YOU be an Advocate for the IMPORTANCE of the Laboratory? Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

20. Importance of the Clinical Laboratory TALK IT UP !!!

21. Lab’s Role in Diagnosis and Treatment More People to Train as Laboratorians Emerging Technologies and Lab Medicine Lab’s Role in Diagnosis and Treatment More People to Train as Laboratorians Emerging Technologies and Lab Medicine Importance of the Clinical Laboratory

22. 2014 Community Advocacy Committee