2018 Lab Tours

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IN FOCUS COVER STORY SOCIETY NEWS

4 19 27 Message from the Is Health Care Thank you, Mary Costantino Chief Executive Offi cer Really Equal? 28 Message from the President by Lisa Bendall 2018 Founders’ Fund Award Winners: A cross-Canada snapshot of the 2018 5 Founders’ Fund Award winners The Inbox 29 The Educator Committee 7 How to Create a 30 Conference Poster Getting to know... by Laura Zychla 31 8 Season 3 of The Objective Lens Is Working Alone in the Lab Risky? Lab Week 2019: Save the Date! National Medical Laboratory Week April 21–27, 2019 by Eoin O'Grady COMMUNITY 32 10 23 2018 Lab Tours Smoke and Mirrors: The Teddy Bear Clinic An Inside Look at a Live 34 Blood Cell Analysis Clinic Thank you, Tom Stowe by Tiff any Clouston 35 Membership Survey

New Course Available: Introduction to Basic Electrocardiography (ECG)

LabBuzz

36 Mental Health Survey – National Indicators

24 37 Leadership Is Everyone’s Game: 33rd World Congress of the International 12 How to Become a Leader at Any Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science Choosing Wisely Canada: Stage in Your Career 38 It’s Time for Medical By Meagan Homer Laboratory Professionals Student Perspectives on the to Join the Movement IFBLS Student Forum by Denise Evanovitch 25 39 My Leadership Enlightenment National Voice 15 at the LDI Conference From Lab to LIS Analyst By Hansika Deepak by Heather Black

17 26 Be Engaged: Opportunity Abounds: Positioning Yourself My BD Young Leaders for Success Scholarship Story by Kate Hendriks By Krista Urchenko ENGLISH EDITION | WINTER 2018 csmls.org 3 MESSAGE FROM THE MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PRESIDENT Time to Get on the Bus A Year in Refl ection

n September, I had the honour of attending t’s hard to believe that the year has the IFBLS World Congress in Florence, Italy. almost come to an end. Time  ashes It’s a special time for me because we truly by in a blink of an eye and, if you Isee the world of biomedical laboratory science Idon’t use your time wisely, you might come together in one place. Many of us travelled miss some great opportunities. Over halfway across the globe to be there! the past year, I have been privileged A er several days of meetings, presentations, to be a part of amazing initiatives and poster judging and networking, it was time to activities. I would like to use this space take a road trip to a private laboratory. At every to re ect on these moments. world congress, the delegates can opt to see an Christine Nielsen One of my objectives this year Lisette Vienneau CHIEF EXECUTIVE 2018 CSMLS active laboratory, and this was no exception. OFFICER was to facilitate the government’s PRESIDENT What happened, though, was not the usual understanding of the health human sequence of events. We had a unilingual (Italian) bus driver drop a bus full resource (HHR) shortage of medical laboratory professionals. of international delegates at the wrong lab. As soon as we realized we were As President, I was able to achieve this goal in a couple of ways, at the wrong place (a closed collection centre), we tried to get back on the including conversations with Members of Parliament (MPs) and bus and on to the right location. Members of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly (MLAs).  e bus driver wasn’t cooperating and refused to let us back on! In his During Lobby Day, I was fortunate to have face-to-face meetings mind, he did his job (he delivered the people), but the people were in the with MPs as well as participate in a press conference, which was wrong place. It was frustrating to say the least!  e common language broadcasted across Parliament Hill. spoken by all the passengers was English, except for the driver. Everyone I was able to help spread awareness of the medical laboratory wanted the same thing, and we had one thing (person) standing in our way. profession through two separate lab tours in BC, one with MP Bob At the time, it was anything but funny. “International incident” came to Zimmer and another with MLA Dan Davies.  ese tours helped mind. We did get back on track, when someone drove over to our location to provide greater insight into the important work performed by and shepherded our bus to the correct spot. YAY! medical laboratory professionals.  e results of these tours were Once I travelled back to Canada and told my colleagues about the amazing! MP Bob Zimmer and MLA Dan Davies assured me that situation, it made me think how similar our situation was to health care they would continue to promote the work we do. in general. When looking at our health care system, we can get really As CSMLS President, I represented CSMLS and Canada at the frustrated when things, or people, stand in our way. On the outside, the IFBLS World Congress in Italy, where I had the great honour of solutions look clear. Everyone thinks we all have the same objective. We carrying the Canadian  ag! At LABCON, I was able to forge new can help reduce wait times, reduce sta shortages and keep Canadians relationships with other medical laboratory professionals who are healthy with a whole host of solutions. What can you do, however, when just as passionate as I am to promote our profession nationally someone won’t let you back on the bus? and globally. At the CSMLS, we are working to break down barriers with tangible I looked for and welcomed opportunities to promote solutions. We have several initiatives in the works that are taking aim our profession throughout my Presidency. Just recently, my at systems change. Changing the entire health care system seems an employer, Northern Health, asked me and two other people to impossible task, but the Board of Directors and sta of CSMLS are ready participate in a commercial on why Northern Health matters, for the challenge. where I would declare, “I want all patients to receive high quality We are taking on the giant: the health human resource shortage in our laboratory services.” I said, “Yes!” If someone approaches you occupation. Big changes are needed, and it’s complex. As I have always to do something similar, I encourage you to jump at the chance. said: If it was easy, we would have solved it by now. CSMLS initiatives, You can also seek these opportunities on your own. One thing such as the Call to Action to counter the health human resource shortage I have learned is that people are pretty receptive to helping you in the laboratory, are our game changers.  e Simulation and Clinical share your message with others as long as you are con dent, Placements initiative, designed to get more students into placements, is forthright and passionate. It might sound cliché, but it’s true: Be another massive goal. We have projects underway to assist professionals the change you want to see. in workplace integration, and projects in the concept phase to address As my Presidential term winds down at the end of this the speci c challenges of health care in Indigenous communities across year, I hope I have been able to inspire you to discover your Canada. All of these are looking to move the dial towards a better health professional mission:  at you create new occasions to meet care environment, for both medical laboratory professionals and the other lab professionals and look for opportunities to engage and patients we serve. We hope you will come on this journey with us as we promote your profession. Everything you do matters...big or take on some ambitious targets. Get on the bus and lend your voice to small.  ank you all for your support and trust in this amazing make change happen. adventure.

4 CJMLS Winter 2018

The Inbox EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICE 33 Wellington Street North The Inbox is meant to provide a public forum for us to address questions, concerns Hamilton, ON L8R 1M7 or issues that are raised by members. CSMLS receives feedback through written Phone: 905-528-8642 Fax: 905-528-4968 Email: [email protected] correspondence, email and through our various social media portals. If you have a question or comment you would like to have addressed in an upcoming issue, Editorial Team Cathy Bouwers Michael Grant talk to us on Facebook, Twitter (@csmls) or through email at [email protected]. Christine Nielsen Contributors Lisa Bendall Heather Black Tiffany Clouston Question: Why am I not receiving any CSMLS documents in the mail? Hansika Deepak Denise Evanovitc Kate Hendriks Great question! We understand how frustrating it can be not to receive an item in the Meagan Homer mail, especially if you have been expecting it to arrive. Eoin O'Grady An explanation could be that we do not have your correct contact information on fi le. Krista Urchenko Laura Zychla It is possible that your suite or apartment number was omitted from your street address. Without your full home address, we cannot guarantee that you will receive mail from us on time. PUBLISHED BY: You can update your contact information either by email at [email protected] or by changing your profi le online. Once you are on the CSMLS website (csmls.org), hover your mouse over Membership on the menu bar. You should see “Manage My Profi le.” Underneath this heading, click on “Update My Profi le.” You will need to log in with your CSMLS username and password. Dovetail Communications Inc. 30 East Beaver Creek Road, Suite 202, While you are updating your profi le, be sure to check your email address and update Richmond Hill, ON Canada L4B 1J2 if necessary. In the event of a Canada Post strike, it is crucial that we can contact you via Phone: 905-886-6640 www.dvtail.com email. Managing Editor Popi Bowman Art Director Katrina Teimo Associate Publisher Chris Forbes Director, Sales Operations Beth Kukkonen V.P. Production Services Roberta Dick Production Manager Crystal Himes

Dovetail Communications Susan A. Browne, President

PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT AND POLICY The editorial team determines and edits content for the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science. Contributors include staff, partners and CSMLS members. Although CSMLS encourages the sharing of various opinions and perspectives in an effort to promote thoughtful discourse, contributors’ views do not necessarily refl ect the views of the Society. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for length and clarity. Contents may be reproduced only with permission. Scientifi c papers are accepted by the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science on the understanding that they have not been published elsewhere. The Journal is a quarterly publication and is owned and published by the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS). Canada Post Publications Mail Agreement #40063021. For subscription information contact [email protected]. Advertising inquiries can be sent to [email protected]. RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

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Free_Courses_Winter_V2.indd 1 26/11/2018 12:25:02 PM How to Create a Conference Poster

asically, a conference poster is a summary of research or a project that you led or helped support, displayed on a big piece of paper; however, it has more importance than this simple definition. When you create a research poster, you are making a concise and LAURA ZYCHLA Binteresting way to advertise your hard work and findings that will help further laboratory Researcher, CSMLS processes, science and policy in the future. Displaying information using a research poster is a great way for students and young professionals to attend conferences with a purpose, start conversations, get exposure through networking and expand their CV for employment purposes. For established professionals, it can highlight major projects, such as a new automation process in the lab or validation of a new point-of-care device, helping to support career expansion and workplace recognition. Lastly, for researchers, the poster signifies a way to present research that may not be big enough for a presentation but is still important enough to share with peers. It simply provides an avenue for a presentation that may be most appropriate (e.g., describes a project mid-process, provides exciting preliminary data and/or fills in an information gap). Once you have finished the conference, hang your poster in your department and spend time discussing your work with other health professionals to show them that medical laboratory Do you need help structuring professionals are active in, and conducting, the text and visual components research. of your LABCON presentation The poster itself is usually a mix of pictures, The reader should be able to graphs and text, which are displayed in poster? Download and read our understand your project within the same type of layout as an abstract. The comprehensive “How to Create a three minutes of glancing at design you use depends on the type of image Conference Poster” instruction you are selling and the type of research you your text and should be able manual by visiting: have conducted. Think of the poster as a to read the entire poster in five marketing tool, with a strong focus on design. go.csmls.org/ConferencePoster to seven minutes. As we know, the presentation of commercial products brings consumers to the table.

csmls.org 7 IN FOCUS

IS WORKING ALONE IN THE LABRISKY?

hat is really meant by “working alone”? Legislation in your province or territory defines the term: In most circumstances, this means when a person cannot be seen or heard by another person, and emergency assistance is not readily available.1 WThis has implications for your organization, management and all members of the laboratory. Management has the responsibility to identify and control hazards when you and your colleagues are working. It’s important to remember that a person may be working alone in the lab, even when others are in the building; for example, when there are multiple rooms, labs and offices spread throughout several floors. When work involves interacting with patients, the risk of bullying, harassment or violence may increase, and this impacts the risk associated with

8 CJMLS Winter 2018 working alone in this setting.2 You may also be considered to be working alone in a vehicle when you are required to drive between sites as part of your duties.3 Having a plan in place to cover this scenario is critically important, especially when your lab duties involve travel to and from rural or remote areas. Appropriate management and control of hazards means that labs are not workplaces we normally consider “high” risk. However, working alone in a lab may change the risk rating. One responsibility of management is to identify those critical tasks that require extra attention. Management must consider key factors when assessing the risk of working alone. These factors include the length of time spent alone, communication “One responsibility of management is to identify those options, location and type of work, as well as worker critical tasks that require extra attention. Management qualifications and training. It’s also management’s responsibility to ensure that the workload is manageable must consider key factors when assessing the risk of and that the long-term psychological impacts are working alone. These factors include the length of time adequately addressed. If a task requires a pair of workers, then it must not be assigned when a worker is alone in the spent alone, communication options, location and type lab; for example, dispensing large volumes of flammable of work, as well as worker qualifications and training. or cryogenic liquids. For tasks like these, it’s necessary to have standard operating procedures and documented It’s also management’s responsibility to ensure that training records. This is a management accountability to the workload is manageable and that the long-term ensure that lab personnel are appropriately trained and have demonstrated competency in completing the task. psychological impacts are adequately addressed.” On an individual level, this also helps to ensure that you feel comfortable in performing the task and confident to pause if you realize the hazard is inadequately controlled. An organization with a strong safety culture welcomes the opportunity for workers to highlight concerns and address them in a positive manner. Some workers are more vulnerable to injury and illness when working alone in the lab. Generally, trainees are more likely to have an incident than more seasoned colleagues. Trainees are those individuals who do not yet have adequate qualifications, suitable training and enough experience to perform a task with minimal or no supervision. While management has accountability for protecting workers, you can improve your workplace by helping to improve the existing controls in your lab: Be part of a group of coworkers involved in revising procedures, and offer to help increase the awareness and training REFERENCES requirements for those working alone. Often, there is a need for management and workers  1Working Alone – General : OSH Answers. to implement additional hazard controls to minimize the potential risk of working alone. (2018). Retrieved from https://ccohs.ca/os- Below are some examples that could be used: hanswers/hsprograms/workingalone.html  2Working alone or in isolation – Work- • Establish clear policies and procedures outlining expectations of supervisors and workers SafeBC. (2018). Retrieved from • Identify critical tasks where working alone is more risky https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health- safety/hazards-exposures/working-alone • Ensure critical tasks are completed during regular business hours  3Drivers - Distance (General) : OSH An- • Work in pairs when needed swers. (2018). Retrieved from • Perform a check-in/check-out procedure https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/occup_ • Participate in training related to working alone workplace/drivers_distance.html • Ensure “close calls” are reported, investigated and corrective actions implemented

Working alone in the lab is not always risky; in fact, it can be both safe and enjoyable, EOIN O'GRADY but implementing additional hazard controls is essential. Technological improvements PHD, CRSP provide new means to keep in touch via apps that track activity, location and one-touch Occupational Health and “help” buttons to signal an emergency. Adequate preparation will help ensure that the lab Safety Consultant to CSMLS experience is a positive one, both for you, your coworkers and the organization.

csmls.org 9 IN FOCUS

Smoke and Mirrors: An Inside Look at a Live Blood Cell Analysis Clinic

e are living in a world of uncertainty. Public figures and personal friends are continuously sharing information that may or may not be true Wvia multiple social media platforms. It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction through the many gigabytes of information that bombard us on our screens every day. The same is true in health care. Between family doctors, nurse practitioners, naturopaths and other alternative medicine practitioners, who do we believe when it comes to doing what is best for us? How do we know what is sound medical advice and what is based on half-truths? What is the “fake news” of health care, and what is genuinely beneficial to our well-being? Recently I stumbled upon a business that provides “live blood cell analysis.” As a registered Medical Laboratory Technologist, who regularly analyzes blood through a microscope, I was naturally curious about how this specific technique worked. I immediately called and made an appointment to see it firsthand. When I arrived I was immediately struck by the comfortable atmosphere. Far removed from the clinical feel of a hospital room or doctor’s office, I felt like I was in a friend’s living room. There was a comfortable couch in the waiting area, and essential oils gave the room a welcoming feel. When I was led into the exam room, however, my feeling of comfort disappeared as I quickly realized that live blood cell analysis is definitely not a valid scientific method of diagnosis. The kind of microscope used by live blood cell analysts is known as a dark field microscope. In a typical clinical lab this would only be used to look for a small organism called a spirochete, which causes syphilis. In a clinical setting, blood is most commonly examined using light microscopy, using visible light and optical lenses to make very small objects apparent to the human eye. Our slides

10 CJMLS Winter 2018 MLTs spend between two and four years learning how to go through a process where they are dried, fixed, and stained in contrasting colours perform a wide array of tests to assist in the diagnosis so that different cells can be identified and analyzed for abnormalities invisible to the and treatment of patients, and we are governed by naked eye. national and provincial societies that have a set of In the examination room, the woman drew some blood from my finger using standards in place. The woman who owns this business a lancet and placed my finger directly on took a one-week course in live blood cell analysis and a slide, gently eased a coverslip onto the drop of my blood and placed it on her does not answer to a regulatory body. microscope. Using a camera attached to a computer monitor, she successfully pointed out my red blood cells and white blood cells. Her first alarming comment to me was that some of my red blood cells were reflecting light, which meant that I had a deficiency of vitamin B12. Unbeknownst to her, I had a blood test performed at an accredited lab the week before as per my family doctor’s orders, and my vitamin B12 was well within the normal range. Furthermore, a lack of vitamin B12 makes your red blood cells larger than normal-sized red blood cells, but has no bearing on how much light they can reflect. She then proceeded to point to miniscule cells on the screen and informed me that they were the bacteria in my blood. I was told not to worry because I had “just the right amount.” The cells she was pointing at were actually my platelets, which are not bacteria at all but rather they help with the process of blood clotting whenever my body needs to stop bleeding. Furthermore, blood is a sterile site which means there should never be bacteria present. Individuals with bacteria in their blood can become septic and need to be treated by a physician immediately. I was also told that I had spicules in my blood that were caused by liver stress. Spicules are particles that are present in bone marrow and never in peripheral blood like the kind that came out of my finger. She also pointed to some larger shiny particles that she identified as cholesterol crystals (they were actually large platelets), but immediately advised me that cholesterol medications can cause heart attacks and never to take them. I hope the same thing has never been said to a person who genuinely needs cholesterol medications. The final comment she made was that my cells were sticking together in a pattern that she called aggregation. She attributed this to high saturated fat content in my diet, infections, poor digestion or several other vague causes. The truth is my blood had started to clot on the slide, which is a natural process that happens regardless of how fatty my diet may be. I was offered a prescription that recommended I take several over-the-counter medications, paid the fee she charged to give me these blood results and was sent on my way with a recommendation to return in four months to see how my blood had improved. It was a very interesting experience to say the least, where medical terminology is thrown around out of context, and well-studied disease processes are being mentioned without actual evidence. MLTs spend between two and four years learning how to perform a wide array of tests to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients, and we are governed by national and provincial societies that have a set of standards in place. The woman who owns this business took a one-week course in live blood cell analysis and does not answer to a regulatory body. Whenever you are getting any kind of medical testing done, I urge you to verify the credentials of the health care practitioner. If you are ever in doubt about a procedure, TIFFANY CLOUSTON diagnosis or prescription, please check with your family doctor, pharmacist or other health BSc, MLT care provider who you trust. It is okay not to accept everything at face value, especially when it pertains to your own well-being.

csmls.org 11 IN FOCUS

Choosing Wisely Canada:

It’s Time for Medical Laboratory Professionals to Join the Movement

he Choosing Wisely movement began in the U.S. in 2012 and was physician driven. Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC) was launched Tin 2014 by a small group from the University of Toronto, the Canadian Medical Association and St. Michael’s Hospital. It is now a global program that includes 20 different countries across five continents. The purpose of the Choosing Wisely campaign is to bring attention to and reduce unnecessary tests, treatments and procedures that do not add any value and worse, may cause patient harm. If these processes are unnecessary, then why do they occur? There are many reasons. A few of them are:

1. Practice habits are difficult to change, even when faced with new evidence. 2. Patients and their families can be misinformed and demand extra tests. 3. Lack of time for shared decision-making between health care professionals and their patients/families. 4. Outdated computer and decision support systems that encourage over-ordering. 5. Fear of malpractice. 6. Payment systems for clinicians that reward “doing something” rather than nothing.

I first became involved with CWC in my work with the Ontario Transfusion Quality Improvement Plan (OTQIP) Committee, ORBCoN and its associated working groups. We collaborated with CWC in the

12 CJMLS Winter 2018 “The purpose of the Choosing Wisely campaign development of the “Why Give Two When One Will Do” OTQIP toolkit.1 is to bring attention to For the transfusion specialty, Choosing Wisely statements were originally developed by AABB.2 The Canadian Society for Transfusion Medicine has and reduce unnecessary also developed 10 statements, some with videos.3,4 A few of the CWC recommendation statements related to transfusions tests, treatments and include: procedures that do not add 1. Don’t transfuse more than one red cell unit at a time when transfusion is any value and worse, may required in stable, non-bleeding patients. 2. Don’t order unnecessary pretransfusion testing for all preoperative cause patient harm. patients. 3. Don’t routinely order preoperative autologous and directed donations. There are many other fields incorporated in the CWC program. Physicians If these processes are and their professional associations have developed a myriad of Choosing Wisely statements. Nurses in Canada have developed their own profession’s unnecessary, then why Choosing Wisely statements.5 A complete list of CWC recommendations covering a wide variety of health care specialties can be found on their do they occur?” website.6 At LABCON (the annual Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science- CSMLS conference) this year, I facilitated a session where I presented our CWC for transfusion’s progress to date, and also a session to begin the process of developing Choosing Wisely statement ideas from a Medical Laboratory Technologist’s/ professional’s point of view. Some examples included transfusion, but we also examined the different laboratory specialties to begin to include all laboratory aspects. The ideas generated at the conference session are summarized below by themes:

1. Patient identification a. Correct patient identified when ordering tests/products. b. Correct patient identified when sample taken (blood, urine or other). c. Results attributed to correct patient. d. Report on correct patient. NOTE: One idea generated by SW ORBCoN’s Regional Advisory Committee for patient identification during sample collection was the catchy phrase: “Don’t attach if it doesn’t match.”

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2. Appropriate test requests 5. Culture change a. Restrict specifi c tests to specifi c indications. a. Health care and legal system should support physician’s b. Does the test/request (e.g. transfusion request) meet change to a more restrictive practice. Stop penalizing for current/organizational guidelines? NOT doing something. c. Review inpatient standing orders. Cancel aft er a set time b. Other health care professionals need to be educated period. about this as well; for example, medical directives for d. Urine cultures are over-ordered. Increase requirements nurses who “automatically” order tests. to restrict this test. Are patients symptomatic? Do not c. Assess which tests are actually used by physicians to need a urine culture AND a nitrate test. infl uence their treatment plans. e. MLTs should never assume orders are correct. Have a dialogue with the clinical side. 6. Patient education a. Patients need to know that more is not better. 3. Appropriate timeline for ordering test b. Educate patients about laboratory procedures (MLT a. Frequency of HbA1C tests, CBC, CBC post-transfusion. initiative?). For many non-urgent cases, there should not be multiple c. Patients should be encouraged and feel safe to ask requests for the same test to be performed on the same questions about their treatment and tests. day by single or multiple physicians/clinicians. Th e CSMLS also will be looking for new laboratory ideas in the 4. Interprofessional collaboration future. You may have already completed a survey released in the fall a. Opportunities for professions to interact to problem of 2018 on this topic. Hopefully you provided your feedback. solve and educate each other. Don’t forget the lab! CWC has specifi c requirements for their recommendations. Th ey must be evidence based, so current, supporting literature must be provided. Th ey must also be phrased in “don’t” or “avoid” language, which can be somewhat counter-intuitive. Some examples include:

“When health care • Don’t routinely screen women with Pap smears if under 21 or over professionals work together 69 years of age. • Don’t routinely measure vitamin D in low-risk adults. in quality improvement, our • Don’t do annual screening blood tests unless directly indicated by patients are the benefi ciaries the risk profi le of the patient.

of improved health care.” Do you have ideas for Choosing Wisely statements for technologists and other laboratory professionals? Please send your ideas and references to Laura Zychla, CSMLS Researcher, at [email protected]. When health care professionals work together in quality improvement, our patients are the benefi ciaries of improved health care. Isn’t that why we selected our profession in the fi rst place?

REFERENCES  1 http://transfusionontario.org/en/documents/?cat=quality-improve- ment-plan  2 https://www.aabb.org/pbm/Documents/Choosing-Wisely-Five- Things-Physicians-and-Patients-Should-Question.PDF  3 http://www.transfusion.ca/Education/Choosing-Wisely  4 http://www.transfusion.ca/Resources/CSTM-Blog/April-2018/Choos- ing-Wisely-Canada-s-transfusion-recommendation  5 https://choosingwiselycanada.org/nursing/  6 https://choosingwiselycanada.org/recommendations/

DENISE EVANOVITCH Regional Manager, MLT, Dipl. Adult Ed. Ontario Regional Blood Coordinating Network (ORBCoN), South West

14 CJMLS Winter 2018 FROM LAB TO LIS ANALYST

s a member of CSMLS for 28 years, I have seen many changes are sometimes your best resources when you stumble upon an issue in the lab, especially as a cytotechnologist. With these that is diffi cult to resolve. Report-sharing among users of the same changes, I began to refl ect on my own career paths, which database can be a mutually agreeable arrangement, but do not let this Aeventually led me to a role as a full-time Laboratory Information become a crutch. You want to make sure that you learn along the way, Systems (LIS) Analyst. rather than let others do the hard work for you. LIS Analyst is a role that many lab technologists would be naturally inclined to do well in, because we are usually very analytical and are 2. Hone your communication skills used to looking for problems, ruling out our diff erential diagnoses Make sure that you understand the importance of being a good and not making assumptions about the source of the problem. When communicator. You will probably be expected to train people at your someone calls you with an LIS issue, you have to respond in the same organization, and should be sensitive to the learning curve and the way and do so quickly but calmly. Technologists are also familiar diff erent learning styles of the adult learner. with testing, failures in testing, performing validations and working You will also be sending internal and external emails frequently. through problems until they are resolved. Make sure you understand when this communication tool is most useful and when you need to employ other methods. When PROFILE OF AN LIS ANALYST communicating with others, make sure you have patience. Keep If you fi nd yourself in an LIS support role, here are some areas of in mind that good phone manners can make a diff erence in de- professional development that you can experience: escalating a situation.

1. Get to know databases If you have already begun a position as an LIS Analyst or support person, research online forums that are specifi c to “Networking with other LIS support people will your LIS system. A course or two in Microsoft Excel and/or give you quick and easy access to experts in the Microsoft Access will also help. Your LIS vendor and LIS team will most likely provide training specifi c to your role, but an fi eld. Other LIS Analysts are sometimes your understanding of a relational database will get you started. best resources when you stumble upon an issue Networking with other LIS support people will give you quick and easy access to experts in the fi eld. Other LIS Analysts that is diffi cult to resolve.”

csmls.org 15 IN FOCUS

3. Be open to change Change is inevitable as we interface more instruments and add more technically sophisticated tests. Listen to your users, involve them in upgrade testing and ask them what they need from the system. Sometimes users fall into old methods because they are not aware of what LIS can do to help them. Upgrades are oft en a good opportunity to look at what the LIS system can do to improve workfl ow.

4. Familiarize yourself with project management Start out with understanding the basics of project management, and see if your organization off ers training. Th ere is also soft ware out there to help you track a project, such as Microsoft Project, but you must fi rst understand what it is you are trying to accomplish.

5. Be a good record-keeper Access to the database itself is oft en the LIS department’s responsibility, and such documentation is usually held in the LIS department. During a lab inspection or IQMH (Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare) assessment, the LIS department will be asked to provide documented proof that requirements are being met. “In summary, there are many LIS OPPORTUNITIES transferable skills that MLTs can use Th ere are a few diff erences between LIS Resource and LIS Analyst. You also may be partially seconded to LIS, or work as a dedicated when transitioning into LIS, and a lot of full-time analyst. Th ere are a few diff erences in the job descriptions: learning along the way!”

LIS Resource: Supports day-to-day issues in the LIS, learning middleware program functionality, and serves as the specialist in user functionality. A portion of your job may include data entry, dictionary statistical purposes, such as Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care maintenance and defi ning tests in the LIS and /or middleware. You volume reports. will be involved in testing new functionality, training staff to new system features and being the contact person when issues arise. If the EVOLUTION OF AN LIS ANALYST problem cannot be resolved, you may be the liaison between the lab In summary, there are many transferable skills that MLTs can and the soft ware vendor, the IT department and/or the LIS Analyst. use when transitioning into LIS, and a lot of learning along the way! Remember, you don't have to know everything about all the LIS Analyst: In addition to the duties described for LIS Resource, this disciplines in the lab to be qualifi ed for this role. Specialized lab role usually requires additional training, provided by the soft ware areas will have senior technologists to assist when implementing new vendor or management. You will be given additional levels of security instrument interfaces, creating references ranges and understanding within the LIS database and have access to some programming the testing and reports needs specifi c to their area. Th is role has aspects. If you are also responsible for some hardware support, been both challenging and rewarding for me. It is an exciting career your institution’s IT department may give you access to secured opportunity that will continue to evolve, and I believe we can look server rooms for troubleshooting and maintenance. Interfacing new forward to many future developments in this fi eld. instruments to the database and middleware is done with assistance from the soft ware vendor. Any upgrades will also require a test plan and go-live implementation plan. Analysts are required to write and run database reports. Daily HEATHER BLACK , BSc, MLT, maintenance of the system includes daily check of backups of the LIS Analyst, DG-12 database, troubleshooting failures and correcting issues. You also will Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre be expected to produce reports for numerous decision support and

16 CJMLS Winter 2018 Be Engaged: Positioning Yourself for Success

hen people speak about employee engagement, management and supervisors are oft en noted as bearing the brunt of the responsibility. It is the upper echelons who are supposed to be responsible for fostering employee engagement, right? While Wthey do have a part to play, it isn’t solely up to them. Don’t forget that you are in charge of your attitude and reactions, and you can have autonomy over your own career. It helps to know what is and isn’t employee engagement. A happy employee might enjoy team outings to the bowling alley, but that doesn’t equate to engagement.1 Engaged employees have demonstrable dedication to their organization’s mission and core values. Th is doesn’t Take the right mean that they never have a bad day, or that they have to be perfect all the time. It does mean, however, that they willingly, and without prompting, put forth their best eff ort to support the step to employee organization in reaching its goals. engagement! So, how do you take employee engagement into your own hands? Listen to our DO YOUR RESEARCH Engagement begins before you even enter the interview room. Be sure to visit the organization’s #podcast episode website to learn its mission and core values prior to shaking hands with the human resources “Fostering the manager. Ask yourself if your values fi t with those of the organization. Tom Clancy, the Operations Director of the Laboratory Medicine Program at Toronto’s People” on University Health Network (UHN), explains, “What really impresses me about a candidate coming in for an interview is how well they prepared for the interview. Have they done any podcast.csmls.org. research on the position, and have they done any research regarding the organization? When I see that coming out in the interview, I am generally pretty impressed because it shows a diff erent level of professionalism and maturity that you may not see in other candidates. For me, it’s really about fi t. If you don’t have that fi t, it could be problematic.”

PARTICIPATE Find opportunities where you can constructively share your ideas on how to improve or address issues in the lab. Christine Bruce is the Administrative Director of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario. At her hospital, there is an “idea board” where employees can open a ticket to voice their concerns. Th e employee who opens the ticket needs to explain what the challenge is, why they think it is happening Do you want to learn more about and what they are hoping to gain by changing the process. Th is allows employees to take employee engagement? ownership of the process. Visit webinars.csmls.org to You can share ideas in other ways, including newsletters, huddles or team meetings. Join and be active in one of your organization’s committees. Positioning yourself for success in the register online for Christine lab requires personal engagement, which can be as simple as raising your hand and saying you Bruce’s webinar, have something to contribute. Do this, and you might be pleasantly surprised to see how far “Chicken & Floor Wax: The secret you can go in your career. to employee engagement.”

REFERENCE  1 What is Employee Engagement KATE HENDRIKS You will earn CE hours for Marketing and https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevink- successful completion of this ruse/2012/06/22/employee-engagement- Communications Associate what-and-why/#3edeeb987f37 at CSMLS webinar.

csmls.org 17 DESIGNING A SHIFT BETTER What Can HAPPENS: DRUG Zombies Demystifying the Teach Us? Processes Driving Lab TEST Protocol Changes

CSMLS Call The Path to To Action Enlightenment HHR Shortage of Technologists (MLTs) Lobby Day 2018

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CJMLS_18_ReaderSurvey_Ad.indd 1 10/16/18 8:32 AM Cover Story

Is Health Care Really Equal? The health status of rural Canadians doesn’t often capture front-page headlines. But a few months ago, an alarming study released by Simon Fraser University made national news. »

csmls.org 19 COVER STORY

LEFT IN THE LURCH It’s expensive to transport specimens across great distances – Researchers analyzed thousands of HIV samples in rural especially now that Greyhound has announced cancellation of Saskatchewan and discovered that a high number of potent mutated numerous routes in western Canada. Gosnell’s team relied on the bus strains are clustering in remote communities. In some areas of this service to fi ll the gaps of their semi-regular medical courier service. province, the HIV infection rate is 10 times the country’s average.1 Now, in an emergency, they must splurge for a private “hotshot” Th e worst news is that these infections frequently go undetected (express delivery service). or untreated. Why aren’t rural residents seeking regular testing – or When patients themselves must travel to access tests or receive taking the antiretroviral therapy that can protect them from AIDS- results, this can be a hardship as well, especially for older patients related complications and prevent transmission of the virus to others? or during bad weather. Many people living in isolation can’t aff ord a Th ose who work with rural Canadians will tell you there are vehicle at all. multiple complicating factors. And it’s not just patients with HIV who are vulnerable. People in remote and small communities face PRIVACY CONCERNS challenges when accessing all kinds of lab services. According to a 2014 Canadian AIDS Society report, the lack of Although every province and territory is required under the anonymity in rural communities oft en causes people to avoid HIV Canadian Health Act to provide its residents with reasonable access testing.3 Th at can hold true for any health care in a place where every to healthcare services, the reality is that delivery is uneven.2 “We have face is familiar. “I fi nd that personally, when I get my own lab work a relatively small population, over a relatively large area,” says Dr. done,” says Gosnell. “I work with professionals, but it’s still in the Fergall Magee, pathologist with the newly established Saskatchewan back of my mind: ‘Everybody knows.’” Some provinces have laws Health Authority. “Our problems are lack of resources and lack of governing confi dentiality of health information, but it doesn’t mean access. But the problems we have are not unique.” Typical barriers patients feel safe. include the unavailability of certain tests outside of bigger cities, and When patients can’t or won’t come in for their testing, we should limited lab hours in rural regions. “We have to embrace the concept be innovative in fi guring out a way to get the testing to them. For of patient-centered in a better manner,” Magee notes. instance, a mobile testing unit might improve screening for those How can we get vital medical lab services to more rural Canadians? HIV mutations in Saskatchewan. Currently one in 10 mammograms in B.C. is performed by a mobile service, and it’s well received. OVERCOMING DISTANCE “Th ey’re objective, and not from the community,” says Gosnell. “It’s Rural communities can be particularly hard hit by tightening not your neighbour who’s doing this test for you.” health care budgets, especially if they’re already grappling with fewer services and shortages of medical laboratory technologists. POINT-OF-CARE TESTING Equipment may border on the obsolete. “We’re using an analyzer that Point-of-care diagnostic testing (POCT) can eliminate the need for is past its best-before date,” says Hilary Gosnell, chief technologist travel and speed up turnaround time, providing access to health care in B.C.’s rural district of Chetwynd. “We want to get our patients the where otherwise there would be none. It’s increasingly being applied best technology and provide them with top-notch results. When you in rural settings. get hit by budget restrictions, it’s really disheartening.” If it’s going to replace traditional diagnostics, however, it’s Many sparsely populated areas of Canada are forced to share lab imperative that technologists continue to play a role to assure quality resources with the next-closest larger town. But it can mean lengthier control. “If you’re going to be reporting results from a point-of-care waits for results. “Th e larger hospitals are overworked as it is, and their analyzer, it has to be monitored in the same way that any piece of more urgent samples are done fi rst,” says Shirley Roebuck, a recently major lab equipment does,” says Gosnell. retired nurse in Port Lambton, Ontario. She’s been advocating for Other health care professionals may lack the training to perform equity in health care with the Ontario Health Coalition. “Small rural accurate tests. In the small hospital where Roebuck worked, nurses hospitals play a vital role within the health care system. I don’t think had to carry out POCT when technologists weren’t on duty. She they should be shortchanged.” says the risk of inaccurate results was higher. “Lab technologists are

20 CJMLS Winter 2018 experts and know how to keep blood samples safe, and to perform the tests well.” these settings because they’re more oft en A 2017 report on point-of-care testing by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and interacting directly with patients, sharing Technologies in Health (CADTH) notes that “based on feedback gathered [from] the expertise and answering questions. clinical laboratory community, many settings where POCT is performed may not be In fact, Gosnell wishes more graduating licensed or accredited as laboratories, as they are not required to do so. Consequently, technologists would embrace these they are not subject to the same quality standards and regulatory requirements.”4 advantages, and fi ll the many rural positions Th ere’s a place for POCT in rural communities, but it must be implemented with care. that are vacant. “I get to focus on lab and my Says Dr. Magee: “If we have a rational approach to the instruments we put in place, if we patients. I know whose blood I’m analyzing, can assure robust quality assurance, and communication and capture of results – that and it matters to me,” she says. “It’s what would be huge.” really inspired me to work in a smaller community.” CONNECTING ONLINE Online technology is another promising development. Instead of travelling to receive test results, patients can log into a health portal. A study in 2015 found that B.C. patients with online access to their lab results had no higher anxiety levels than a control group.5 Internet service can be costly, slow or simply unavailable in remote areas; however, the federal government is currently funding improvements to high-speed Internet access in rural communities. LISA BENDALL Digital telepathology can allow for extremely high-quality images of microscopic specimens to be transmitted virtually anywhere for examination. “It allows for real- time consultation between sites,” says Magee. It’s an exciting new frontier – just as long as technologists serving rural areas get training to use it. “It’s wonderful that people REFERENCES  1 Simon Fraser University, “HIV Strains Mu- are coming up with those solutions,” says Gosnell, “but there needs to be support for tating in Saskatchewan” implementation.” https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/sto- Nevertheless, she’s optimistic: “If we can bring in more productive technology that stops ries/2018/07/hiv-strains-mutating-in-sas- people from having to travel on winter roads, or allows you to get a faster appointment katchewan.html with a specialist, it is benefi cial. It just needs to be closely monitored to be sure it’s being  2 Canada Health Act, https://laws-lois.justice. used eff ectively.” gc.ca/eng/acts/c-6/FullText.html  3 Canadian Aids Society, “Rural and Remote Needs Assessment” THE RURAL ROLE https://www.cdnaids.ca/rural-remote- Th e best approaches use innovation where appropriate, but don’t lose sight of the needs-assessment-evaluation-des-besoins- unique needs of rural Canadians. Technologists can be a valuable health care partner in lies-au-vih-dans-les-communautes-ru- rales-et-eloignees/  4 Canadian Agency for Drugs and Tech- nologies in Health (CADTH), “Point-of-Care Testing” “Point-of-care diagnostic testing (POCT) can https://www.cadth.ca/sites/default/fi les/pdf/ eliminate the need for travel and speed up es0308_point_of_care_testing.pdf  5 J Med Internet Res, 2015. “The Effects of turnaround time, providing access to health Web-Based Patient Access to Laboratory Results in British Columbia: A Patient Sur- care where otherwise there would be none. It’s vey on Comprehension and Anxiety” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ increasingly being applied in rural settings.” PMC4705365/

Read our position statement, “Patient Portals for Laboratory Based Health Information,” on csmls.org.

csmls.org 21 Save the date Explore the Possibilities May 24-26, 2019 • Fredericton, NB

• Learn from subject matter experts • Keep up with industry trends • Discover new technology • Be inspired by your peers

labcon.csmls.org

Managers’ Intensive Program - Friday, May 24, 2019 Don’t miss out on content designed for those who manage others in the lab!

Winter_Journal_LABCON.indd 1 16/11/2018 7:49:43 AM Community

Left: MLT Tiffany Clouston teaching one of the children about white and red blood cells. Middle: Clouston showing children and Indigo employee Jeremy Chiasson how to draw blood from a teddy bear. Right: The stuffed animal patient with med lab equipment. The Teddy Bear Clinic

e had the opportunity to catch up with Tiff any Do you have any future plans or ideas to advocate for your Clouston, MLT, to talk about her Teddy Bear Clinic, profession? hosted by Indigo (East Point) in Saint John, New Something that has been very successful for me in the past is WBrunswick, on August 4. making educational posts on social media, with interesting pictures about our work. A couple of my posts have gone "viral" Why did you decide to create the Teddy Bear Clinic? What in the past few years and reached people as far as Brazil and type of activities/processes did you teach the kids using stuff ed the Philippines. I plan to continue to do that as oft en as I can. I animals? also have been heavily involved with planning National Medical My local Indigo bookstore was planning a science, technology, Laboratory Week events in the past and plan to continue doing engineering and mathematics (STEM) event for kids. One of their that. An event as simple as giving out cake in front of informative managers approached me and asked if there was anything I could poster boards and passing out the CSMLS pamphlets can go a long bring in to help them out. I borrowed the Teddy Bear Clinic idea way in educating the public and other health care practitioners from my hospital's annual Teddy Bear Fair event, when kids can about what we do. I would also like to do more public events with bring their teddy bears in to the hospital to have casts put on and kids if the opportunities arise. their blood taken, etc. I demonstrated how we would draw blood from a teddy bear. We Do you have any advice for other medical laboratory oft en do this demo with kids to help them get comfortable with the professionals who are interested in teaching the public about phlebotomy process. Th en I explained that I work in hematology the profession, but who don’t know where to start? and what that involves. I had an old microscope my lab keeps for Reaching out to local public schools or any STEM events in job fairs/demos with kids and was able to show them each a stained communities is an easy way to spread the word about the blood smear, and I explained what white blood cells, red blood important work MLTs do behind the scenes. For those who aren't cells and platelets do. Th ey loved seeing all of the diff erent kinds of comfortable with public speaking, planning tours of the lab for blood cells under the microscope and hearing about the purpose of other health care workers is a fun and simple thing to do. Joining each kind of cell. Th ey were full of questions! I think some of their your local Lab Week committee and making posters about the lab parents learned a thing or two as well, and may have had even more is a great way to advocate as well. Th ere are lots of options out fun looking through the microscope than their kids did. there!

csmls.org 23 COMMUNITY Leadership Is Everyone’s Game: How to Become a Leader at Any Stage in Your Career

his past June, I had the tremendous opportunity to participate in the 2018 Canadian of the underlying themes of the Institute Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) Leadership Development was that change is the only constant. It is the Institute (LDI). Th e CSMLS awards scholarships annually to members who wish to driving force behind the advancement of our Tattend the LDI, designed for professionals who are early in their careers but have already profession and enables us to stay relevant in demonstrated strong leadership potential and a commitment to advancing the medical fi elds that are always changing. Th e idea of laboratory profession. As an instructor for the Diagnostic Laboratory program at the Northern change can be daunting for many, yet there Alberta Institute of Technology (in Edmonton), I viewed this scholarship as an opportunity to seems to be no escaping it. So how do we set a professional trajectory into a future leadership position. embrace change? Th is is where our behavior Our profession has entered into a time of transition, providing challenges but also great is extremely important. During times of opportunities to become movement-makers and advocates. Th e success of navigating through change and transition, leaders step up and these changes, both in the realm of education and in clinical settings, will be dependent on take initiative. Leaders are aware of when it the actions of current and emerging leaders of the profession. As a professional still early in is benefi cial to step aside and let those with my career, I feel a responsibility to become involved in these changes and collaborate with more experience or knowledge take over. my colleagues on both a local and national level. Th e view oft en taken on leadership is that Eff ective leaders are always learning, and it is the responsibility of those in management or authority positions, but one of the many they do not assume that their way is the only things I learned from the LDI is the need for leaders at all levels of an organization. Th e eff ective way to accomplish a task. Th e most title of “leader” is not required to be involved in making changes. Anyone who strives to important quality of a leader is that they make a positive impact within their profession or sphere of infl uence can act as a leader or can admit when they have made a mistake, display leadership qualities; anyone in an organization can suggest improvements or put forth can learn from it, and use this learned process changes geared towards improving effi ciencies, building a better team dynamic or knowledge to approach or handle that creating a more positive workplace culture. situation diff erently in the future. Ultimately, Acquiring leadership qualities and characteristics is a process in itself. Th e skills and eff ective leaders create eff ective teams and attitude required to act as a leader can, and should, be practiced throughout one’s entire develop a model where the whole is bigger career. One of the best ways to understand the qualities of leadership is to pay attention to than the sum of its parts. the outstanding leaders around you each day. Ask yourself: What makes them a good leader? How have they initiated and successfully carried out change in my organization? Taking a REFERENCE few moments to think about the answers to these questions will commence an exploration  1 Wheatley MJ, Kellner-Rogers M. Bringing into the traits that build eff ective leaders. One trait you may notice is that leaders are able life to organizational change. Journal for to motivate others to be and do their best. Th ey can create a dynamic where a shared goal Strategic Performance Measurement. April- May 1998. [cited 15 Oct 2018]. Available is observed and all are working together collaboratively to achieve a mutual objective. In from https://www.margaretwheatley.com/ this approach to leadership, team members are supportive of the shared vision, as they are articles/life.html involved in the change process and not just passively observing from the sidelines. In the words of Margaret Wheatley, “People support what they create.”1 Attending the LDI was a tremendous springboard into the world of leadership. Engaging with other health professionals in the fi elds of radiation therapy and laboratory sciences MEAGAN HOMER invited great dialogue. Oft en conversations would start with someone sharing a current MEd (HSE), BSc (MLS), MLT situation or problem they were facing in their workplace. Most of us in attendance were not yet in “leader” positions; however, we all shared the same passion for positive change. One

24 CJMLS Winter 2018 MY LEADERSHIP ENLIGHTENMENT AT THE LDI CONFERENCE

he Leadership Development Institute today are, in fact, introverts. The definition at the workplace. As part of an interactive (LDI) Scholarship provided by the of an introvert has been misconstrued to activity, Sylvie asked us to pick one of two CSMLS gave me the opportunity to mean someone shy and antisocial, when groups: group one, who believed in the Tattend the 2018 Leadership Conference in an introvert is actually someone who gains “work first, play later” concept, and group Ottawa, which helped expand my skills and energy from self-reflection. That is also two, who believed in “play first, work later” knowledge. not to say introverts cannot behave like or “play interspersed with work” concept. Over the past few years as a practicing extroverts when socializing and assimilating Most of us steered toward the first option MLA, I have taken on more leadership in society. as we do in our daily lives, where tasks take roles with my employers and the CSMLS Sylvie talked about the primary sources precedence over play. There were only a few exam panel. Since being bestowed with of conflict at work and methods to tactfully individuals who picked the second group, such responsibilities, I have been looking approach such situations. She elaborated on but when asked to justify their choice, they to attend leadership courses and seminars the various personality types and how best had us all stumped; they in turn asked us if to do justice to these roles. The Leadership to reach out to the individual team members we ever truly finished our tasks and got to Development Conference in Ottawa was by acknowledging their strengths and play. It brought home the fact that we need mentioned on the CSMLS website along using that to involve them in projects. For to find a balance between work and play in with a short summary on the benefits of instance, certain groups of people respond life. Our list of tasks is ever-growing, so to attending this three-day conference. to emotional stimuli, while others respond ensure an optimal work-life balance we have The CSMLS, in conjunction with to facts and numbers. It opened my eyes to incorporate both work and play into our the CAMRT, provides a select few of its to the different approaches one can take to lives habitually. members the opportunity to receive the reach a wider audience. As young members in the medical LDI Scholarship, which covers all travel Effective meeting facilitation strategies lab community, by applying to the LDI and accommodation expenses to attend the and roundtable discussions will show team Scholarship you gain an invaluable conference. I saw this as an opportunity to members that those attending the meeting experience to learn about your personality learn more about what defines a good leader are valued equally and deserve to be heard. traits and how best to channel them to and a means to improve my leadership This strategy encourages more members become a better leader. This is a fully funded skills. Attending this event has truly been to vocalize ideas and grievances, which educational opportunity that arms you with a privileged educational opportunity and a can then be handled promptly. Also, group the knowledge to optimize your leadership fertile ground for networking. discussions and various intellectual games and team-building skills. While networking, Sylvie Lapointe and Mark Given (educator can facilitate more ideas that will bear you can learn from the anecdotes of other and CAMRT staff) have done an excellent fruition. attendees, about the obstacles they faced job putting together this seminar to make This seminar reinforced the saying by and how they conquered them. Seize this it both interactive and informative. Their Vince Lombardi: “Leaders are made, they opportunity as it not only looks great on dedication to the professional development are not born.” With a little hard work, good your résumé but it also makes you more of young leaders is commendable. Sylvie listening and interpersonal skills, team marketable for prospective leadership roles covered a range of topics including dynamics can be improved. The most potent within your team. personality dimensions, conflict resolution lesson I learned is that leaders don’t need to techniques and strategies of facilitating team have a defined designation or title to take on meetings. leadership tasks in the team; there is a leader One of the first myths debunked by the in all of us that manifests itself in our daily HANSIKA DEEPAK moderator was that there is no set personality lives, be it at home, work or elsewhere. BSc, MLA type that defines a good leader. She showed A particularly valuable moment was us how a significant number of leaders when we discussed our priorities in life and

csmls.org 25 COMMUNITY

Opportunity Abounds: My BD Young Leaders Scholarship Story

Photo credit: K. Urchenko.

n 2017, I started the Master of Public Health (MPH) program at the University of allowed me to apply my knowledge from Waterloo. I chose this program as it is unique, allowing you to complete the entire health care and working with laboratory and curriculum online (minus two sessions on campus, each two weeks long). They focus electronic medical record (eMR) data. Since Ion having students with professional public health experience, which was a huge draw for I’ve started, word has gotten around that I me. I am able to work with students from a vast variety of professions, from doctors to am an MLT, and I have had a few visitors analysts to non-governmental organization workers all across Canada. The program itself from other departments looking to get my is comprehensive, allowing exposure to a multitude of disciplines within public health, opinion on different projects. It has been an including health and risk communication, health policy, epidemiology, surveillance and amazing experience to be an ambassador for management. the laboratory profession while furthering My interest in public health has been strong since I started university and continued my knowledge in public health sciences. after graduation from the MLT program at The Michener Institute. I was thrilled to accept I am thankful I received the BD Young my current lab position working as a Medical Laboratory Technologist with the provincial Leaders Scholarship from the CSMLS as I public health lab. This is an ideal environment that marries my passion for microbiology was able to focus on making the most out and infectious disease with my technical skills as a technologist. Working in a public of my practicum rather than worrying about health laboratory has allowed me to work on many different infectious disease outbreaks, lost pay from the leave of absence. This like influenza, norovirus and tuberculosis, to help generate the data used to make public experience has been extremely fulfilling, health decisions. It really piqued my interest, and I found myself trying to understand how and I was able to find new avenues and decisions were made at health units or on outbreak reporting. The experience I have in the projects to contribute on while bringing in lab is extremely valuable, and I believe there are ample opportunities to apply it on a larger the lab perspective. scale in public health. As part of the MPH Program, I have been on a practicum placement for the last four months at Health Canada, where I have been able to utilize my laboratory knowledge and KRISTA URCHENKO expertise along with receiving practical hands-on public health skills. I had to take a leave of MPH Candidate, BSc, MLT absence from my MLT position in order to complete this program requirement, which was a bit of a culture shock at first. My practicum involved utilizing real-world evidence, which

26 CJMLS Winter 2018 Society News

Thank you, Mary Costantino

he CSMLS would like to extend its gratitude to Mary Costantino for her service to the Board of Directors. In 2016, Mary was elected as Vice President and served as CSMLS President in 2017. TThroughout her tenure as President, she was committed to fostering trust between people in all levels of the medical laboratory profession, especially Past President Mary Costantino at LABCON2018 with Lisette Vienneau and Maria Klement. during times of change and in relation to support for mental health. As well, Mary led the Board in the development of a new strategic plan that focused on empowering members to succeed in the ever-changing and challenging work environment by growing CSMLS services, programs and tools. As her term on the CSMLS Board of Directors comes to an end, Mary has reflected on her many roles with the CSMLS and has a couple of highlights she would like to share. “I am really excited and happy to see that a new medical laboratory assistant (MLA) position on the Board of Directors was approved during this year’s Annual General Meeting in Ottawa. During my Presidency at CSMLS, I was actively working with the Board to create this open position for MLAs, and now in 2018 it has come to fruition!” “As Past President, one of the activities I was excited to participate in was the Adopt-a-Clinic during Lab Week. It was amazing to speak with such dedicated donors and to understand why they do what they do – platelet donors, for example, go through the donation process every two weeks! To see such dedication to save lives was truly awe-inspiring.” Mary at Canadian Blood Services for Adopt-a-Clinic.

csmls.org 27 SOCIETY NEWS

Are you looking to foster your 2018 FOUNDERS’ FUND professional development in the coming year? Visit the Grants, AWARD WINNERS Scholarships and Awards section on csmls.org to review Founders’ Fund A CROSS-CANADA SNAPSHOT requirements for MLTs and MLAs. Applications for 2019 submissions OF THE 2018 FOUNDERS’ FUND close on May 1, 2019. AWARD WINNERS

CSMLS offers the Founders’ Fund MLT & MLA grants to assist our members with continuing their professional development. The grant covers up to $500 of course costs.

Once again, we are pleased to see medical laboratory professionals from across the country taking the initiative to grow their careers to shape a better national medical laboratory profession.

2018 WINNERS

Oluwabukola (Margaret) Akinloye From Alberta, Akinloye was trained at Galilee International Management Institute in Israel. She participated in the course on Health System Management.

Jordana Archer From British Columbia, Archer has been completing her Masters in Health Sciences part-time. She finished a seminar in Health Sciences and the Qualitative Research Approaches in Nursing & Health.

Christine Bruce From Ontario, Bruce has been active in human resources planning and management, given the looming resource issues in the industry and to support her lab team. She completed her first course in a certified HR leader designation program.

Teresa Chow From British Columbia, Chow has taken Leadership 1: People Skills to learn and practice different methods of communication, interpersonal skills and conflict resolution. This is one of seven classes for a Leadership Associate Certificate.

Prashant John John immigrated to Canada in 2007 and is currently living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he is working towards an MSc in Blood Science via distance learning, offered by London Metropolitan University UK, while working as a Charge Technologist in Hematology.

Jesse Lafleche From Ontario, Lafleche enrolled in and is completing a Bachelors of Health Sciences. He has completed two of 12 required courses.

Maria Roussakis From Ontario, Roussakis completed her first semester of Masters in Health Science Education: Learning & Curriculum health science education course. She has held tutoring positions at the university and has led continuing education opportunities for staff.

Judy Tran From Ontario, Tran completed “Fundamentals of Leadership Effectiveness” at The Michener Institute. In her application, she proposed to write a leadership series for the CJMLS. To date, she has had one article published.

28 CJMLS Winter 2018 THE EDUCATOR COMMITTEE

In November 2018, the Educator Committee had its inaugural meeting. Th is committee is a new forum by which CSMLS and the educator community can have meaningful conversations. With this committee, educators can collaborate on topics of common interest, such as discussing educators’ perspectives on program accreditation and identifying education/ development needs.

Th e committee is made up of a Chair, who serves a two-year term, and eight to 10 educators from all disciplines, including MLA. We look forward to this commitment with educators to foster knowledge sharing of the medical laboratory profession. Photo credit: J. Rivero. The inaugural Educator Committee meeting in Toronto, ON.

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4253-0418_AMG_AD_CSMLS_EN_7x4-875.indd 1 2018-05-10 1:19 PM csmls.org 29 SOCIETY NEWS

Getting to know… In January 2019, we welcome two new members to the CSMLS Board of Directors. We asked them a few questions to break the ice. Here’s what they shared with us.

When did you realize being a medical laboratory professional was right for you? I think I always knew it was right for me, I just didn't know how to achieve it! I have a photo of myself when I was 7 years old at Christmas holding a microscope set I received from Santa. I loved to explore scientific concepts and outpaced my parents’ knowledge in science (as two non-scientists) quickly. In post-secondary, I ended up completing a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology as I was so fascinated with the "tiny biology" of microbes and viruses. The mechanisms of disease was one of my favourite courses as I was drawn towards clinical lab work and the impact laboratory testing has on patient care. During my third year of the program, I found out about the Medical Laboratory Science program and knew it was the next step for me. I applied to programs across Canada and ended up being accepted to The Michener Institute, and the rest is history!

I decided I wanted to join the CSMLS Board of Directors because… I have been an advocate for the laboratory profession since my time as a student and wanted to take the next step to guide the CSMLS into its next era. With 50 percent of the profession expected to retire within the next five to 10 years, I wanted to bring a fresh voice and younger perspective to enhance the society's goals and the vision of its members. As a director, I want to continue to advocate for this great profession and encourage professionals to be loud and proud of what we do. I am passionate Krista Urchenko about continuing to raise the profile of laboratory professionals as a part of the CSMLS, as we are a Director, Ontario vital part of the health care team.

What is your favourite hobby? When I have time, I enjoy playing outdoor soccer. I have been playing since I was five years old and was captain of my varsity soccer team. I also love interacting with other laboratory professionals and health care professionals on my social media account @medlabmaven.

Which fictional character would be your side kick? Michael Scott from The Office. At the end of the day, he always operates with good intentions, trying to help his staff have a fun experience during work and in their personal lives – something we all need!

What career path would you have chosen if you couldn’t have been a medical laboratory professional? I loved science and math back in school, so I wanted something science-related as a career. I was planning to go into computer science or Med Lab.

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing as a CSMLS Director? Sharing the BC/Yukon perspective with other members across Canada, encouraging member professional development and the concept that education is a health care intervention.

If you could have one song as your own theme song, what would it be? “Back to You” by Bryan Adams. I am able to give more attention to my profession now that I am almost an empty-nester. Being a Med Lab tech gave me flexibility to concentrate on my family when I needed, and now I can go back to making being an MLT my priority.

What is your favourite thing to do in your free time? Kal Randhawa I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by mountains and the ocean, so paddling and hiking Director, British Columbia/Yukon are my favourite activities.

30 CJMLS Winter 2018 SEASON 3 OF THE LAB WEEK 2019:

OBJECTIVE LENS SAVE THE DATE! NATIONAL MEDICAL LABORATORY WEEK Keep an ear out for Season 3 of Th e Objective Lens podcast. Brand APRIL 21–27, 2019 new episodes are set to come your way in the new year! Every year, we celebrate everything you do because you truly We’re pleased to put together a new season of fresh ideas and hot complete the health care picture. topics, while tackling issues that matter to you. Th is week is all about showcasing the vital work performed by In the meantime, catch up on past episodes: medical laboratory professionals across Canada. We are committed • Lab Coats and Camo: Stories from an MLT in the Canadian Armed to ensuring the public knows the impact you have on patient care. Forces You have a part to play this Lab Week in celebrating and advocating • Leadership and Latin Phrase for 200 for your profession. We have some new and exciting activities in • Plane Crashes and Hydro Explosions store for you. More information will be released soon, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements through: Want to earn CE hours? Listen and challenge the quiz. FYI – You’ll fi nd ALL the answers in the episode if you listen closely. eNEWS labweek.csmls.org Listen to us on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Like what you hear? facebook.com/csmls Be sure to rate, like and subscribe! f podcast.csmls.org Twitter (@csmls)

Students, jump start your career

Take steps to foster your career early by submitting a research article to the Canadian Journal of Medical Laboratory Science, a respected journal in the medical laboratory profession.

CSMLS is accepting scientific submissions from students like you. Write for a national publication to jump start your career!

To learn more, check out the CJMLS Guidelines for Authors of Scientific Feature Articles on our website.

Questions? Contact [email protected]

csmls.org

Winter_Journal_ad_CJMLS.indd 1 21/11/2018 10:01:12 AM csmls.org 31 SOCIETY NEWS 2018 LAB TOURS

BRITISH COLUMBIA

MP Wayne Stetski, East Kootenay Regional Hospital, Cranbrook, BC

MLA Daniel Davies, Fort St. John Hospital & Peace Villa Facility Laboratory, Fort St. John, BC

MP Bob Zimmer, Fort St. John Hospital & Peace Villa Facility Laboratory, Fort St. John, BC

ALBERTA

Sarah Watson (on behalf of MP Stephanie Kusie), Rockyview General Hospital, Calgary, AB

MP Tom Kmiec, South Health Campus, Calgary, AB

32 CJMLS Winter 2018 Throughout the year, CSMLS continued its pledge to advocate for medical laboratory professionals by facilitating lab tours with federal and provincial decision makers in their local riding laboratories.

Through these advocacy efforts, we provided government representatives with the opportunity to observe the important work medical laboratory professionals perform and their impact on health care across Canada.

ONTARIO

NEW BRUNSWICK MP Raj Saini, St. Mary’s General Hospital, Kitchener, ON

MP Dr. Colin Carrie, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON

MP Irene Mathyssen, London Health Sciences, Victoria Hospital, London, ON

MP Wayne Long, Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, NB

csmls.org 33 SOCIETY NEWS

THANK YOU, TOM STOWE

2019 Board of Directors Call for Nominations Be Part of the Action

CSMLS Past President (2003) Tom Stowe with 2018 CSMLS President Lisette Vienneau, and CSMLS Vice President and Director, BC/YT, Maria Klement at the 33rd World Congress of Biomedical Laboratory Science CSMLS is accepting nominations for the in Florence, Italy. following Board of Directors’ positions:

• NEW! Director, MLA On behalf of CSMLS, we would like to thank Tom Stowe for his 12 years of dedicated volunteer service with the International • Director, Atlantic Federation of Biomedical Laboratory Science (IFBLS). He completed his duties at the IFBLS this September at the 33rd • Director, Alberta, Northwest World Congress in Florence, Italy. Territories & Nunavut In the mid-1980s, Tom was an active volunteer in the medical • Bilingual Director laboratory field, starting with the Calgary Academy of the Alberta Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (now All positions are for a 3 year term (2020–2022) known as the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Alberta). Tom assumed the role of CSMLS President in 2003. Interested? For more information or to apply, visit: His volunteering journey at the IFBLS began when CSMLS supported his nomination for the IFBLS Board of Directors in go.csmls.org/nominate 2008 and 2010. He was elected by the membership both times. or contact: [email protected] He then became the President Elect, and served as IFBLS President from 2014–2016, and has just finished his term as Past Deadline: January 29, 2019 President.

Honorary & Certified members in good Being a Director with either the IFBLS or CSMLS is a great standing are eligible. honour and responsibility. After all, Canada is represented in the international medical laboratory community by the CSMLS. If you are a member of CSMLS, you are also a member of IFBLS; go.csmls.org/nominate this is because the moment you sign up for CSMLS membership, you are registered for IFBLS membership.

BOD_election_Winter.indd 1 26/11/2018 8:51:34 AM 34 CJMLS Winter 2018 MEMBERSHIP SURVEY New Course Available: Introduction to Basic Th e CSMLS is always looking for ways to gauge the membership experience and satisfaction. In 2018, we changed the membership survey process, wherein we now Electrocardiography gather information from a random sample of CSMLS members each quarter. (ECG) Th e information will be used by CSMLS to monitor and steer the direction of tools, resources and services, in addition to organizational practices for continuous CSMLS has responded to the current and improvement projects. potential task shift ing for medical laboratory professionals with regards to performing We appreciate everyone who took the time to fi ll out the survey and provide open electrocardiograms (ECG). We are pleased to feedback. Th e results of the surveys are continuing to be collected and analyzed announce that we have created an introductory throughout the year, as an ongoing process for improvements. ECG course. Th is course is a perfect refresher for anyone who has experience with ECG, or a Below is a snapshot of some of the data we’ve gathered and what we have learned from great way to learn a new skill. Topics covered members. include the anatomy and physiology of the heart, the principles of electrocardiography, how to properly conduct a 12-lead electrocardiogram as well as how to apply an ambulatory (Holter) monitor. Reason for Joining (top 5): Encouraged by school 29% Most Valuable Benefi ts (top 5): Register in Introduction to Basic Continuing education 23% Continuing education 80% Electrocardiography (ECG) by visiting the Mandatory in Province 12% PLI 66% Learning Centre at learn.csmls.org. PLI 12% Advocacy 51% Job Opportunities 10% Profession-specifi c articles/scientifi c papers in CJMLS 42%

Guidance on professional practice 31%

Career Stage: Student 4% Early Career 21% Mid-Career 27% Late Career 40% Retired 8% Level of Involvement: Very 2% LABBUZZ Involved 9% Keep pace with what’s happening Somewhat 30% in the medical laboratory fi eld with Not involved 59% LabBuzz, our curated publication Length of Membership: of medical laboratory–related news 1 year or less 8% and articles. 2-5 years 16% Visit labbuzz.csmls.org and 6-10 years 13% subscribe. 11-20 years 17% Over 21 years 46%

csmls.org 35 SOCIETY NEWS

MENTAL HEALTH SURVEY – NATIONAL INDICATORS

The CSMLS National Mental Health Survey aims to monitor the mental health of CSMLS members, medical laboratory technologists and assistants. The survey is disseminated biannually, with the inaugural survey completed in 2016.

Survey responses included MLA and MLT professionals who are CSMLS members. Unless noted in the table, all data values represent employed and unemployed participants. Below is a small sample of some of the analyzed results.

MASLACH BURNOUT INVENTORY HUMAN ALL MLPs MLT MLA SERVICES SURVEY Survey Year 2016 2018 2016 2018 2016 2018 Emotional Exhaustion 38% 41% 38% 41% 39% 44% Depersonalization 10% 13% 8% 13% 15% 17% Personal Accomplishment 32% 40% 31% 41% 42% 30% *Values represent the total percentage of employed participants with high levels of burnout per subscale.

KESSLER-6 PSYCHOLOGICAL ALL MLPs MLT MLA DISTRESS SCALE Survey Year 2016 2018 2016 2018 2016 2018 Severe Mental Illness 13% 16% 11% 15% 27% 21% *Percentages represent participants with a score of 13 or more (employed and unemployed).

MENTAL HEALTH ALL MLPs MLT MLA INVENTORY Survey Year 2016 2018 2016 2018 2016 2018 Anxiety 64% 70% 64% 70% 61% 67% Behaviour Control 74% 73% 75% 74% 68% 70% Depression 69% 80% 69% 81% 64% 76% Positive Affect 53% 44% 53% 44% 52% 43% *Higher scores indicate better health (employed and unemployed).

The colour-coding system to monitor the National Indicators represents the stability or movement (increase or decrease) in issues or illness across time. The data compares the most recent year to the second most recent. The colours used are consistent with general monitoring practices. The colours are not meant to reflect or imply bias against or for those living with mental health issues or illness.

Green = Greater than 3 percent difference between years, indicating fewer issues or illnesses Yellow = + or – 3 percent, indicating stability in issues or illness Red = Greater than 3 percent difference between years, indicating more issues or illness

If you have questions regarding the analysis or survey scoring criteria, please email [email protected].

36 CJMLS Winter 2018 33RD WORLD CONGRESS OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF BIOMEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE

This past September, the biomedical world gathered in Florence, When speaking of the education, Maria says, “I gained a deeper Italy, and CSMLS was there to represent Canada. understanding of what international countries are doing to enhance biomedical laboratory science; for example, Global Fund Canada has CSMLS President Lisette Vienneau, Vice President Maria sent funds to Kenya to develop a strategic biosafety and biosecurity Klement and CEO Christine Nielsen attended the 33rd World plan. The United States is looking into test utilization and how to save Congress of the International Biomedical Laboratory Science money.” (IFBLS). As CSMLS President, Lisette was the official Chief Delegate for Canada and attended the biannual IFBLS Chief At the Student Forum, CSMLS CEO Christine Nielsen presented Delegates Meeting, along with being chosen to carry the Speak and Be Heard – Communicating Across the Generations of Canadian flag during the flag ceremony that kicked off the the Workplace. This forum was a platform to help students build Congress. communication and leadership skills. Read page 38 to learn more about the forum. “I was eight years old when I dreamed of becoming a medical laboratory technologist. Carrying the Canadian flag made me The international congress is an opportunity to learn from others realize that you never know where your dreams might take you; across the globe. “My main takeaway was that Canadian medical it sure was an emotional moment for me as it was at LABCON,” laboratory professionals can be proud of their accomplishments. says Lisette of the experience. There have been a number of struggles over the years; however, we stand strong and pursue our goals to become better every day,” says The focus of this year’s congress was on future development Lisette. in the field of biomedical laboratory science. There was a wide variety of presentations over the four days, including Innovations In reflecting on the experience, Maria states, “It was such a privilege to Improve Laboratory Test Utilization, Open Education Resources being able to attend the IFBLS World Congress in Florence, Italy. and Simulation: A Step towards Standardization of Biomedical While there are differences between Italian and Canadian medical Laboratory Science Curriculum? and Biomedical Sciences in the laboratory communities, we share many of the same issues. It’s Era of Artificial Intelligence. important to come together to overcome these challenges.”

CSMLS members are automatically members of the IFBLS. Be sure to take advantage of your dual membership by getting involved at the international level. Visit www.ifbls.org for more information.

csmls.org 37 SOCIETY NEWS

STUDENTS PERSPECTIVES ON THE IFBLS STUDENT FORUM

ATHENA DE MARCO

What was the IFBLS Student Forum in Italy all about? Th e IFBLS Student Forum was designed to allow students to have a voice internationally and to become more integrated with IFBLS members and delegates, while promoting future competence development. Th e forum allowed students to network, share their ideas with other students from diff erent countries and to reach out to the global Photo Credit: A. De Marco. The IFBLS biomedical laboratory science (BLS) community. At the end of the forum, the students Student Forum. presented a video to all the delegates and members with a message regarding how we wanted to contribute to the international BLS community.

Why was attending the IFBLS Student Forum an investment you were willing to make? I understood the importance of investing in my future and was able to attend without fi nancial assistance. Th e Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) MLT program did pay for registration as well as a walking tour in Florence and a SynLab Tour.

Describe how the IFBLS Student Forum has helped you set up your future career. Th e student forum gave me an opportunity to showcase my leadership skills and allowed me to be part of potentially creating the fi rst student committee for the IFBLS. Currently, I am working on a proposal with the students from the 2018 forum for the IFBLS so that a student committee can be created by the next World Congress in 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

ANDREA LI What was the IFBLS Student Forum in Italy all about? It was about engaging the students. We also had the chance to sit in the IFBLS General Assembly of Delegates (GAD), which previously was not open to students.

Why was attending the IFBLS Student Forum an investment you were willing to make? I wanted to attend the IFBLS Student Forum to learn about the diff erences and similarities that students in other countries have, and what it is like to be an MLT in another country. I did not receive a grant or bursary for this trip, but SAIT did cover fees associated with the conference.

Describe how the IFBLS Student Forum has helped you to set up your future career. Th e IFBLS Student Forum allowed me to connect with students in other countries and speak to working professionals. Th ere is a growing demand for this profession internationally, and that has made me consider taking a job outside of Canada.

38 CJMLS Winter 2018 As the national voice of Canada’s medical laboratory profession, CSMLS represents the needs and concerns NATIONAL of medical laboratory professionals when working with laboratory and health care-related organizations. VOICE CSMLS Board of Directors, staff and volunteers attend meetings, conferences and events on behalf of CSMLS members and the entire medical laboratory profession. Here is where your voice was heard recently:

September Canadian Coalition for Public Health in the 21st Century TELECONFERENCE Health Action Lobby (HEAL) TELECONFERENCE Research Canada AGM OTTAWA, ON MLA Student Presentations – Medix College of Healthcare TORONTO, ON; SCARBOROUGH, ON What’s New at CSMLS? Presentation – 2018 Saskatchewan Society of Medical Laboratory Technologists (SSMLT) Fall Conference Radiation Therapy Grand Rounds – Durham Regional SASKATOON, SK Cancer Centre OSHAWA, ON Learning through Social Media Presentation – Newfoundland and Labrador College for Medical Laboratory Science (NLCMLS) 2018 Fall Chief Delegates Meeting – International Federation of Education Symposium Biomedical Laboratory Science ST. JOHN, NL FLORENCE, ITALY MLA Student Presentation – Vancouver Community College TELECONFERENCE October MLA Student Presentations – National Academy of Health Toolkit Presentations – British Columbia Society of Laboratory Science and Business (BCSLS) HAMILTON, ON; TORONTO, ON; MISSISSAUGA, ON SIDNEY, BC MLT/MLA Student Presentation – New Brunswick Health Workforce Planning When Half of the Professionals are Eligible Community College to Retire Presentation – Canadian Health Workforce Conference SAINT JOHN, NB (CHWC) GATINEAU, QC Touchstone Institute 360˚ Communication Program Advisory Committee Call to Action Webinar – HHR for MLT and MLA across Canada TORONTO, ON WEBINAR Mental Health Toolkit Presentation – Hamilton Regional MLT/MLA Student Presentation – Southern Alberta Institute of Laboratory Medicine Program Technology HAMILTON, ON CALGARY, AB Presentation – CSMLS Mentorship Program Pilot – MLT Student Presentation – Red River College Canadian Network of Agencies for Regulation (CNAR) WINNIPEG, MB BANFF, AB MLA Student Presentation – Robertson College Future of the Profession (Crystal Ball) and Mental Health WINNIPEG, MB

November Ethics Workshop – Maritech CSMLS Scope, Purpose and National Issues Webinar – New HALIFAX, NS Brunswick Community College WEBINAR Exploring Simulation: Appropriateness and Need in MLS Education Presentation – Maritech MLA Student Presentation – Medix College of Health Care HALIFAX, NS BRAMPTON, ON Call to Action Presentation – HHR for MLT and MLA Operationalizing Simulation Nationally in a Profession to Counter across Canada – LifeLabs Health Human Shortages Presentation – SIM-One Expo TORONTO, ON CALGARY, AB MLT Student Presentation – The Michener Institute of Always Room for Improvement Presentation – The Canadian Education at UHN Association for Prior Learning Assessment (CAPLA)’s Recognizing TORONTO, ON Learning 2018 Conference TORONTO, ON csmls.org 39 Connect to the Industry with eNEWS, CJMLS, LabBuzz, The Objective Lens podcast and more

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