Celebrating National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week – April 19 - April 25
By Gregory Kendall, Public Affairs Specialist
The VA laboratory network is the largest clinical diagnostic system in the nation, encompassing over 1,000 laboratories that process nearly 300 million tests a year.
Although they frequently work behind the scenes, our laboratory professionals play a vital role in every aspect of healthcare.
VA laboratory professionals include phlebotomists, specimen management technicians, clinical laboratory scientists, histotechnologists, cytotechnologists, pathologists and other support staff. The laboratory provides diagnostic data to providers for determining the best treatment for Veteran care. The VA laboratory network is the largest clinical diagnostic system in the nation, encompassing over 1,000 laboratories that process nearly 300 million tests a year. The Atlanta VA Health Care System laboratory processes over seven million tests annually.
“National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week honors laboratory professionals by showcasing their invaluable contributions which directly impact Veteran health care, and I couldn't be prouder of our laboratory team,” said Steve Ugbo, Atlanta VAHCS Chief Medical Technologist & Laboratory Manager.
For many Veterans, the impact of laboratory professionals is both personal and profound.
“I may never meet the people running my lab tests, but I know they’re the reason my doctors caught my condition early and got me the treatment I needed,” said Army Veteran Ramon Sims. “They’re a critical part of my care team.”
Another Veteran emphasized the reassurance that comes from accurate and timely lab results.
“Every time I get my labs done, I feel confident knowing there’s a dedicated team making sure everything is accurate,” said Navy Veteran Linda Jackson. “Their work gives me peace of mind and helps me stay on top of my health.”