CLEARFIELD – Clearfield Hospital will recognize the contributions of its laboratory team during National Medical Professionals Week, April 20-26.
“The clinical laboratory professional is a key member of today’s health care team. Laboratory professionals have the skills to unlock important information that is pivotal to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Studies show that more than 70 percent of medical decisions made by physicians are based on laboratory findings,” stated Wilhelmina P. Cruz-Vetrano, M.D., chief of pathology.
Every day, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals depend on laboratory test results to get a clearer picture of a patient’s health. Using state-of-the-art equipment and complex analyses, Clearfield Hospital laboratorians perform approximately 500,000 tests annually to provide this service.
Cruz-Vetrano leads the laboratory team, which is made up of medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians, histotechnologists, histotechnicians, phlebotomists and secretarial support.
In addition to providing services at the hospital, Clearfield Hospital’s Laboratory collects specimens at Philipsburg Outpatient Services, Curwensville Family Medical Services, Clearfield Family Practice and the Nathaniel D. Yingling, M.D., Cancer Center.
The laboratory also partners with community organizations to offer multiphasic blood screenings throughout the year.
Yvonne Lansberry, laboratory manager, said the job outlook for laboratory professionals is excellent.
“There is an increasing demand for laboratory staff, especially medical technologists. Laboratory careers are rewarding and challenging, and there are many opportunities for advancement,” she said.
For more information about careers in medical technology, Lansberry suggests logging on to the American Society of Clinical Pathology Web site or the American Medical Technologists site, www.amt1.com.