QCH's EORLA Lab: A partner in our midst
Happy National Medical Laboratories Professionals week!
Since the onslaught of the pandemic, everyone has been working hard to do their part to keep our patients safe and help them recover. To manage the 700,00+ tests related to COVID-19, the EORLA lab has transformed its whole system. They brought in so much new test equipment in one lab, there were issues with the weight capacity on the floors!
The majority of the COVID tests were originally performed by the EORLA Virology lab. The lab also transfers positive results to the EORLA team at QCH, who then communicates to the physician, nurse and IPAC, and enters the data into Meditech.
Before the pandemic, the QCH EORLA lab received an XN Series Complete Blood Count (CBC) Analyzer. This incredible tool improves blood test accuracy using additional parameters that enable more advanced analysis. It helps automate the process that creates test slides and catalogues abnormal results to allow faster identification for future analysis. A technologist reviews these slides and refers any abnormal findings to a hematologist for review.
In high school, Monica Salt discovered that she was well-suited for a career in medical laboratories. “My aunt, Kathleen Yang, was a ‘med lab’, but I never gave it much thought until I got the results of a career survey. She worked at QCH as a senior in microbiology when it was just opening, and I would come to watch her work. My aunt was at QCH for 32 years.”
In 1991, Monica started part-time as a Medical Laboratory Technologist (MLT), giving her time to raise her family. In 2006, she became full-time, and then in 2011 a Senior MLT.
Monica is a Senior Medical Laboratory Technologist for Biochemistry and Point-of-Care. She oversees biochemistry lab processes, performs testing, provides technical information for staff, and works on the bench (patient bloodwork). She also oversees all lab testing performed by nursing at the patient’s bedside (e.g. glucose metering).
Adapting during tough times
“During the pandemic, we adapted really well — our team worked hard to get things done with a shortage of staff. The rapidly changing information was hard to keep up with. Details shared the morning huddle changed by the afternoon — including the supply change. We were on the floors collecting blood, not knowing how safe we were, and we supported the Moodie clinic when it opened, receiving and batching 450 orders in 8 hours.”
The QCH EORLA staff take teamwork to new levels, some devoting decades of their careers to the position. Even under difficult circumstances, “we always have each other’s back,” Monica emphasizes. They are the subtle, driving force behind QCH that works in tandem to create the best outcome for their patients — no matter what.
