Meeting Needs

The field of laboratory medicine has been subject to dramatic changes over the last decade. Changes in technology, supply/demand, the regulatory environment, the roles of laboratory testing in good medical practice and the volatility of a prospective payment environment are a few of the factors which have influenced what we are today. They changes have modified our scope of practice, roles and responsibilities. Mental dexterity has largely replaced manual manipulation. Laboratory professionals are becoming process and information managers. Success in this field now requires a clear understanding of the diagnostic sciences and the incorporation of this knowledge into the social, public policy and strategic issues of healthcare. The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS) has recognized this transition and in response has recently rewritten the guidelines used to develop and evaluate educational programs with this field. The primary difference between this and previous versions is an emphasis on management, supervision, budgeting and the application of educational methodology. The need for these skills has also been recognized by professional societies representing the field as well as other general health care organizations which indicate individuals capable of interfacing technical expertise with business prowess are a rare commodity. The goal of the Professional Masters Program in Biomedical Laboratory Operations is to produce graduates to meed these demands.

Further information in this area can be found at:

Sloan Foundation
http://www.sloan.org/programs/supresearch_cmb.shtml
http://www.aps.org/jobs/dcc/pd2.html