E. Blair Holladay

Workforce and Technology

![Graphic][1] In the past decade, the laboratory has undergone changes so profound that it may appear almost unrecognizable to some today. We as pathologists and laboratory scientists are changing the face of healthcare. The work we do accounts for 70 percent of a patients medical record, and influences diagnostic procedures and treatments. The many advances in laboratory technology in recent years have streamlined many pathology and laboratory services, and in turn have enabled us to provide better, more precise patient care. Some worry that this progress could replace the need for people in the laboratory. But even the most … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif

Leadership in the Laboratory

![Graphic][1] For decades, pathology and laboratory professionals have often been taken for granted as silent partners in patient care. As healthcare in the US moves toward a system that emphasizes value over volume, with the expertise that we bring to the spectrum of care, we can remain silent no more. Diagnosis starts with the laboratory, and our duty is to be—and remain—at the forefront of care, working with both patients and multidisciplinary teams to better foster evidence-based outcomes. Our leadership extends beyond the laboratory. As pathology and laboratory professionals, we must be vigilant in our efforts to educate stakeholders in medicine and advance the technologies and diagnostics needed to provide better patient care—both locally and globally. Last October, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) launched a major initiative in … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif