Aspirus Media Center

Lab Professionals Get Results

4/26/2023

Michael Hawks, Director of Laboratory Services with Aspirus Riverview Hospital & Clinics

Your health care provider would like to run some tests; so you’ve had your blood drawn, and your sample has been sent to the lab. You met the phlebotomist who drew your blood, but have you ever wondered who receives the sample and conducts the tests?

In honor of Medical Lab Professionals Week (April 23-29), Aspirus Health would like to shine the light on the skilled laboratory professionals who, as a patient, you may never see but play a vital role in your care.

Medical lab professionals conduct tests that provide crucial information for detecting, diagnosing, treating, and monitoring disease. They use specialized instrumentation and techniques to analyze patient samples, such as blood, urine, body fluids, tissue, and stool. They work in hospitals, clinics, blood banks, research and reference labs, and even forensic labs.

“Each year, about 14 billion lab tests are ordered in the U.S., and 70 percent of medical decisions depend on those test results,” said Michael Hawks, Director of Laboratory Services with Aspirus Riverview Hospital & Clinics.

The need for lab professionals is rising due to population growth and aging, increased coverage of screening tests, and the development of new tests. It’s estimated that demand for lab professionals will increase by 24% by the year 2025.

“The U.S. is already experiencing a shortage of lab professionals,” said Hawks. “This provides an outstanding opportunity for those who enjoy math, science, chemistry, biology, and helping others. Common traits of a lab professional include problem solving, an interest in technology, reliability, integrity, and attention to detail.”

Because the results they produce impact medical decisions, lab professionals are specially educated and trained. They possess a wide range of education levels including certificates, two-year associate degrees, bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and doctorate and medical degrees.

“Please join Aspirus Health in thanking the medical lab professionals who work every day and every night to provide reliable, timely results so our health care providers can accurately diagnose and care for us all,” said Hawks.

To learn more about laboratory careers and other medical and non-medical opportunities with Aspirus Health, visit careers.aspirus.org.


 

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