CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

xxvi
PREFACE
that are not revenue generating. Therefore, the medical center provides for the
administrative support of departments such as the laboratory on a facilitywide
basis.
Safety in the Laboratory and Patient Areas
Safety is the responsibility of everyone in the laboratory, and at times it extends
to the patient areas where the laboratory worker or phlebotomist might visit
to collect specimens or to take possession of specimens collected by physicians
and other health care workers. Safety in the laboratory includes handling of
specimens and disposal of specimens after processing. The proper manner in
which to dispose of specimens is thoroughly covered in this book, delineating
the responsibility of the student, the instructor, and the health care workers with
whom laboratory personnel interface. Not only biohazardous wastes, such as
blood and other body fluids, but also bacterial growth for identification and
sharp instruments must be discarded properly after use. Any accident that could
include exposure to biohazardous or toxic materials must be investigated and
documented properly, as well as other injuries that may occur in the course of
the laboratory worker’s duties. Other areas included in an overall safety plan are
those related to adverse weather conditions, fire, release of toxic materials, and
outbreaks of contagious illnesses that are treated in the hospital.
Infection Control
Infection control is a two-prong responsibility. Both health care workers and
patients must be protected from becoming infected as a result of working with
other patients or with equipment and wastes generated by providing patient
care. Some of the requirements are mandated by government agencies for certain
organisms called “covered” organisms (e.g., tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency
virus, and hepatitis B virus). Large multidisciplinary committees
within health care institutions have responsibility for developing policies and
procedures for preventing and eliminating threats to those working in, visiting,
or being treated in health care facilities. Representative samples from a simulated
infection control manual are provided in this book to make the orientation
to infection control more realistic and to avoid gaps in coverage of the topics
that should be taught in this important area of health care.
Laboratory Economics
The economics of the laboratory are complex and contain a number of components.
The laboratory exists primarily to serve the physician in diagnosing and
treating various maladies. But in the economic scheme of the medical facility,
the laboratory is mandated to be efficient and economically viable, contributing
to the overhead for the entire facility. The methodology for testing, the equipment
used, and even the manner in which the equipment is bought or leased are
essential components of the laboratory’s ability to fulfill its dual role as a major
provider of diagnostic information and a “cost center.”
Copyright 2010 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.