Blog

The Role Lab Techs Play in Healthcare

Have you ever wondered about the unsung heroes in the healthcare system, who work behind the scenes to ensure that diagnoses are accurate and treatments are effective? We’re talking about lab technicians (also known as lab techs) whose crucial role can sometimes go unnoticed. While they may work a tad behind the scenes, employment of medical and clinical lab techs is projected to grow 7 percent from 2020 to 2030, faster than many occupations. That’s because their role is one that many healthcare professionals rely on to diagnose and treat patients.

When healthcare is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, it’s essential to recognize the critical importance of lab technicians in supporting other healthcare professionals and ensuring positive patient outcomes. This post will closely examine lab techs’ growing and fundamental roles and explore how these allied health professionals impact the healthcare system beyond their technical duties.

What is a Lab Technician?

If you’ve ever needed a test to identify a health condition or measure the effectiveness of a treatment plan, you’ve been impacted by a lab tech. Using a combination of machines and software, they are the healthcare professionals who conduct patient testing to accurately diagnose medical conditions. Common examples of lab tests include:

  • Thyroid test
  • Basic metabolic panel
  • Complete blood count
  • Glucose test
  • Lipid panel
  • Urine tests
  • Tissue sample

But they do more than running tests. Lab technicians may also analyze and interpret test results, maintain laboratory equipment, and report findings to physicians and other healthcare professionals. They’re essential to developing and improving new medical treatments and technologies.

Plus, they regularly help researchers conduct experiments and analyze results, which can lead to breakthroughs and advancements in the medical field.

Where Do Lab Techs Work?

Lab technicians work in various settings that require laboratory testing and analysis. Most notoriously though, they work in hospitals, research labs, diagnostic centers, and doctors’ offices. And their location is likely to impact the types of tests and analysis they are performing, equipment they are maintaining, and records they are keeping.

When working in hospitals, diagnostic centers, and clinics or offices, lab techs perform various diagnostic tests including blood tests, urine tests, and tissue samples to diagnose various illnesses and provide vital information for other providers to build an effective treatment plan for that patient. They are also responsible for maintaining accurate records and ensuring that laboratory equipment functions properly.

In research laboratories, lab techs work in teams with scientists and researchers to conduct experiments and analyze data. They may also be responsible for managing laboratory equipment and maintaining supplies, as they would in the other settings. The types of research conducted in labs vary widely and can include everything from genetic analysis to the development of new drugs and medical devices.

Lab technicians can also specialize in various areas, such as hematology, microbiology, pulmonology, or immunology, depending on their education and experience. The hematology lab analyzes blood samples to identify and diagnose blood disorders such as anemia, leukemia, and hemophilia. In microbiology labs, they study bacterial cultures and identify the presence of pathogens that cause infections. And immunology labs analyze blood samples to identify antibodies and other immune system components that can help diagnose and treat autoimmune diseases and allergies. When working in pulmonology, their tests will work to identify pulmonary conditions, namely those that affect the respiratory system such as asthma, bronchitis, or underdeveloped lungs.

What Role Do Lab Techs Play in Healthcare?

Lab technicians are crucial to the healthcare system because their work enables accurate and timely diagnostic information used by physicians and other healthcare professionals. They perform laboratory tests that help diagnose medical conditions such as infections, anemia, cancer, and diabetes. And they conduct analysis and data interpretation from these tests that is central to physicians who are working to determine the most effective treatment plans for their patients.

As you may have already gathered, a lab technician’s work doesn’t end with performing tests or maintaining machines, and they are a critical part of most healthcare teams. They can also have a profound impact on the lives of patients. Let’s take a look at how lab techs influence both healthcare professionals and the patients they treat:

Impacting Other Healthcare Staff

In coordination with technologists and their colleagues, lab techs are trained to manage patient and corporate information with compassion and confidentiality, ensuring that quality is always at the forefront of their work.

Further to supporting the overall team’s objectives in determining the best possible treatment options for the patient, lab techs are important for their direct and indirect assistance with a fundamental healthcare team.

Professional lab technicians will go above and beyond their role, making inferences and extrapolating their results meaningfully to their audience. This means they are experts at reading the current audience and situation, providing only the most relevant and compelling information when needed.

Beyond this critical information, lab technicians educate and train other healthcare staff on laboratory testing and analysis. They work closely with nurses to ensure patients receive the correct medication dosage and promptly identify and address any side effects. This ensures that all healthcare team members are informed and knowledgeable about the testing process and the results.

Lab technicians may also collaborate with nurses to collect and prepare samples for laboratory testing, ensuring that accurate and timely results are available for the healthcare team to make informed decisions.

 

hands holding heart with healthcare device
Fighting burnout among your healthcare staff? Check out this resource: Preventing Healthcare Burnout.

 

Patients and Treatment Plans

Lab technicians are an integral part of the healthcare system, and their work directly impacts patients’ treatment and care. By providing accurate and timely laboratory testing and analysis, lab technicians help physicians develop and adjust treatment plans, monitor patients’ progress, and make informed decisions about their care.

Lab technicians are responsible for contributing to the overall team’s goal of maintaining a sterile environment, especially with work that directly impacts the patient. Specifically, lab techs take the lead in ensuring that equipment is kept clean for use and that samples are not contaminated—which could otherwise negatively influence a patient’s test results or render them useless.

In complement to providing critical information to physicians, lab techs collaborate with other healthcare professionals to monitor a patient’s progress and adjust treatment plans. For example, if a patient is receiving chemotherapy, lab technicians may perform blood tests to monitor the patient’s response to the treatment. They may also work with nurses to ensure that the patient receives the correct medication dosage and that the treatment is not causing adverse reactions.

Lab Technicians Are Vital!

Lab technicians are vital in the healthcare industry and their importance truly cannot be overstated. They are a necessary part of any healthcare team, providing invaluable support to doctors and other medical professionals. Through various tests and other duties, they help doctors diagnose and treat patients accurately, making their work is essential to diagnosing and treating illnesses.

At Insight Global, we understand the importance of having the right lab technician and finding the best candidate. Work with our team today to ensure you receive the best prospect pool and the right fit for your organization.

Hiring in Healthcare?

We've got you covered. Questions? Call us toll-free: 855-485-8853