Many of you may know that I started my Stony Brook Medicine career as a medical laboratory technologist in the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory, after working for two years in a clinical pathology laboratory at another facility. Performing laboratory testing is extremely rewarding, as there is an opportunity to participate in the diagnosis and treatment of disease with the healthcare team. I continue to witness firsthand the vital role the laboratory plays in supporting the health of our patients and the community. The actions of those working in our laboratory contribute directly to quality strategy outcomes.
As we celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week this month, it is an opportunity for us to reflect on the invaluable contributions of our laboratory professionals and their unwavering dedication to excellence in healthcare.
It’s estimated that 70 percent of medical decisions are made after reviewing laboratory test results. At Stony Brook Medicine, the laboratory provides valuable results and influences quality outcomes for multiple health conditions, including sepsis, diabetes, C. difficile, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) and surgical-site infections.
Here are a few examples that showcase the laboratory’s impact on patient care:
- Completion of sepsis specimen processing. Lactic acid testing is critical to meet the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ SEP-1 compliance for severe sepsis/septic shock bundle management. The Sepsis Workgroup recognizes the laboratory for processing and testing specimens, which positively contributes to sepsis management compliance and identification of severe sepsis/septic shock, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
- C. difficile protocol enhancement. To improve early identification, isolation and treatment of C. difficile, the hospital’s C. difficile Team implemented a nurse-driven protocol that relies on rapid testing and results from the laboratory. The laboratory’s engagement in this process can lead to the identification of community-acquired C. difficile cases and increase the timeliness by which C. diff. is isolated and treated.
- Assessment of CAUTI and CLABSI. Due to efficient and effective testing practices, the laboratory has played a pivotal role in the assessment and identification of patient infections, including those related to CAUTI and CLABSI cases throughout our hospitals.
- High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assay. The indication of cardiac troponins assists the Chest Pain Team in identifying patients requiring treatment. Last year, the introduction of the high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assay led to earlier detection of acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and allowed for timelier rule-out of AMI in patients suspected of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). These enhancements contributed to a successful Joint Commission recertification.
- The Massive Transfusion Protocol, through the coordination and assistance of the hospital’s Blood Bank with other members of our healthcare team, ensures blood is expedited and available in emergencies.
As we commemorate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, we are also recognizing the contributions of other Stony Brook Medicine faculty and staff across various departments during April and May. They include:
- Occupational Therapy Month (April)
- Patient Access Week (April 1-6)
- National Cancer Registrars Week (April 8-12)
- Volunteer Week (April 21-27)
- Administrative Professionals Day (April 24)
- Critical Care Recognition Month (May)
- Oncology Nursing Month (May)
- Mental Health Awareness Month (May)
- National Speech-Language-Hearing Month (May)
- Biomedical Engineering (Healthcare Technology Management) Week (May 19-25)
- National EMS Week (May 19-25)
We end the month of April with our celebration of Patient Experience Week, taking place from April 29 to May 3. This week is a time for us to acknowledge the significant impact you all have on the patient experience. Your dedication to our patients does not go unnoticed, and I am deeply grateful for your steadfast commitment.
We continue to reinforce Compassionate Connected Care® as our guiding Patient Experience framework, as it aligns with our goals of providing high-quality, compassionate and safe care. As a result, we’ve seen great improvement in our scores for HCAHPS Nurse and Physician Communications, a reflection of the ongoing system-wide work of our Emergency Department and Inpatient Quality Improvement teams. Through patient survey feedback and ongoing collaboration with our Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC), we know that it is those personal connections that make a difference when interacting with our care teams. Remember, research shows that it only takes 56 seconds to make a connection!
And although it’s called Patient Experience Week, your well-being is important to ensure an optimal experience for our patients. I encourage you all to prioritize self-care and hope that you take advantage of the activities and offerings planned throughout the week, which are also designed to offer you support and care.
Patient Experience Week marks the beginning of our organization-wide employee recognition weeks and is followed by Nurses Week (May 6 to 12) and Hospital Week (May 12 to 18). Stay tuned for further details on the events we have lined up for these weeks.
On behalf of the leadership team at Stony Brook Medicine, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your dedication to outstanding results and your considerable efforts to ensure the compassionate care of our patients every day.
Thank you.
Carol