Contact: Olga Connor                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                     Rosa Oses-Prealoni             

                                                                                                                                 (786) 336-1276

MIAMI – During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 19-25, 2015, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County recognizes its medical laboratory professionals and pathologists who play a vital role in every aspect of health care. This is a great time to honor and thank the health professionals who work tirelessly to ensure the quality and safety of patient care.

 

Each day the work of lab professionals saves lives, reduces morbidity, and helps control the cost of care in thousands of hospitals. They are a vital part of the care each of us receives as they deliver accurate test results every day and serve as part of the health care team to guide and assess patients’ ongoing treatment and care.

 

“The clinical laboratory professional is a key member of today’s health care team,” said Lillian Rivera, RN, MSN, PhD, Administrator of the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County.  “Laboratory professionals have the skills to unlock important medical information that is pivotal to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.”

 

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.

 

The department 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.