Behind the scenes: Hospital lab plays critical role in patient care

BY BECKY UEHLING

GRANT TRIBUNE Correspondent

While patients at Perkins County Health Services (PCHS) may not always see what happens beyond the laboratory doors, the work taking place there is essential to diagnosing illness and guiding treatment. PCHS is honoring their lab staff this week during Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 19-26.

The laboratory team at Perkins County Health Services includes six employees - five full-time staff members and one part-time tech who helps as needed. The team consists of one Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and five Medical Laboratory Technicians (MLTs), including Lab Director Chasity Knoles MLS and her staff, Kim Bassett MLT, Alicia Brown MLT, Heather Cockerill MLT, Kimberly Waltman MLT, and Cathy Miller MLT. Most positions in a medical laboratory require at least a two-year associate degree in laboratory science.

On any given day, the lab is responsible for performing a wide range of tests on blood and urine samples. These tests help providers detect infections, monitor chronic conditions such as diabetes, support emergency room diagnostics, and assist with preventive health screenings, Knoles said.

According to Knoles, the most common tests are the Complete Metabolic Panel, which evaluates kidney and liver function as well as electrolyte levels, and the Complete Blood Count, which helps identify anemia and infections.

The process begins when a sample is drawn—either by a lab technician or a phlebotomist—and transported to the lab for processing. Once analyzed, results are verified and transmitted to the ordering provider to aid in patient care.

Despite the critical role they play, Knoles said their work is often misunderstood.

“Most people think we are a type of nurse, and this is not correct,” Knoles said. “We are the ones who process the lab results, making sure they are matched to the correct patient and reported accurately so the provider can treat the patient properly.”

Working in the lab requires attention to detail and a preference for behind-the-scenes work. Staff members focus on analyzing specimens rather than providing direct patient care, allowing them to identify what may be wrong by examining blood and other samples, Knoles said.

Technology in the lab has also advanced significantly over time. According to Knoles, the lab at Perkins County Health Services has consistently added new equipment and expanded its testing capabilities, allowing for more timely and efficient results.

Accuracy is a top priority in every test performed, Knoles said. Each specimen is labeled and verified at the patient’s side before being assigned a unique barcode. That barcode is used throughout the testing process, ensuring the correct tests are run on the correct patient. Results are then reverified before being reported. If a result appears questionable or critical, additional checks are performed before it is finalized, Knoles said.

Lab professionals work closely with nursing staff, physicians, and other departments to ensure seamless patient care, Knoles said.

Their work is especially important in a rural setting, she said. As a critical access hospital serving Grant and the surrounding Perkins County area, Perkins County Health Services provides access to essential healthcare close to home. Having a skilled laboratory team onsite allows for faster turnaround times, quicker diagnoses, and improved outcomes for patients, she said.

While much of their work happens out of sight, staff emphasize the importance of teamwork within the lab.

“Teamwork is always needed,” Knoles said. “We work together to complete the work that needs done and help each other.”

National Lab Week serves as a reminder of the vital role laboratory professionals play within the healthcare system, said PCHS CEO Neil Hilton. Though their work may take place primarily behind closed doors, it is highly technical and essential in  support of the entire hospital, the clinics, and the community it serves, Hilton said, adding “PCHS is so very fortunate to have such an outstanding collection of lab staff that support virtually all aspects of care here…individually and as a team, they are fantastic.”

To contact the lab at PCHS, located at 900 Lincoln Avenue, Grant, call (308)-352-7200.