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Medical Laboratory Professionals Week 2021

April 20, 2021

 

DOH-Miami-Dade Recognizes Medical Laboratory Professionals Week – April 18-24                                                                                              
Contact:
Communications Office
786-336-1276                                                                                               

MIAMI – During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 18-24, 2021 the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County recognizes and honors its medical laboratory professionals who play a critical role in every aspect of health care, safeguard the public’s health by continually improving quality and safety, informatics and data science, laboratory preparedness and workforce competencies.

This year will be remembered in the context of an unprecedented time when laboratory professionals stood united on the front lines of the worldwide effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.  The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a strain on medical resources throughout the world. Clinical laboratory professionals are emerging as the unsung heroes of the crisis helping to protect communities from this novel disease threat, working tirelessly to test hundreds of thousands of specimens. Now, more than ever, it is critical to have a strong public health and laboratory system that detects, monitors and facilitates immediate responses to emerging diseases. The outstanding efforts and behind-the-scenes work of laboratorians are indispensable to protecting public health from this pandemic and other emerging health threats. 

Nationally recognized Medical Laboratory Professionals Week is a time to show support and gratitude to the laboratory professionals who work tirelessly to ensure the quality and safety of patient care, who protect public health from emerging diseases and strive for a better preparedness for future outbreaks. Today, medical laboratory professionals continue to safeguard patient and public health by providing an essential contribution to the diagnostics, managed care and therapeutic monitoring of the vast majority of human diseases, including infectious diseases and particularly COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Each day laboratory professionals save lives, reduce morbidity, and help control the cost of healthcare,” said Yesenia Villalta, DNP, MSN, APRN, Health Officer/Administrator of the Florida Department of Health on Miami-Dade County. “Even with increased lab automation, tests cannot be performed without the hands-on skills and knowledge of laboratorians. Lab professionals are a vital part of the care each of us receives and serve as part of the health care team to guide ongoing treatment and care.”

Laboratory tests are the most cost-effective, least invasive source of the objective information used in clinical decision-making and drive 75% percent of clinical decisions from diagnosis through therapy and prognosis, according to the College of American Pathologists. 

Because of the significant contribution diagnostics provide to delivering the right care to the right patient, laboratories will be key to driving the needed changes to achieve system-wide excellence that improves patient outcomes.

We genuinely believe heroes are among us and applaud their tireless work and commitment to protect public health, the quality and safety of patient care. 

During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County salutes its laboratory professionals’ team. 


About the Florida Department of Health 

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts. 

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.  

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