Estes Park Health Recognizes the Behind-the-Scenes Work of Lab Professionals

Estes Park Health is joining laboratory professionals across the country to celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week.

This annual event, which is recognized this year from April 20 to 26, honors the medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play an integral role in patient care and patient advocacy from behind a microscope and rarely in front of a patient.

Lab professionals, who often work behind the scenes at hospitals, medical centers, doctor offices and laboratories, provide the precision, quality and care that goes into every diagnosis. From genetic testing and microbiology research to cytology and pathology diagnoses, these teams play a critical role in healthcare.

Started in 1975 as National Laboratory Week by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, the celebration now includes a wide variety of organizations whose members play various roles in the diagnostic and research fields. Some of these include the American Medical Technologists, Association of Public Health Laboratories, American Society of Cytopathology, College of American Pathologists and more than a dozen other organizations.

Today, approximately 14 billion laboratory tests are performed annually in the U.S. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, approximately 70% of medical decisions across the country rely on the accurate and timely results of these tests.

At EPH, the laboratory and diagnostic staff continue the tradition of supporting the medical team to ensure professional and vital patient care.