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Under The Microscope
BC Society of Laboratory Science: February 2023
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BCSLS news & updates
Quiz | Featured Column | Volunteer | Jobs | Member Spotlight | Events
The BCSLS Enewsletter will focus on keeping our membership updated, knowledgeable and even entertained.
Message from the President and Executive Director:
2023 has seen a busy start for the BCSLS. We are finalizing the details for the Pre- and Post- Analytic Symposium taking place on Friday, March 31st and Saturday, April 1st, 2023 at KPU Surrey’s campus, and our Congress 2023 Planning Committee is hard at work planning for the September 21-23, Congress 2023 in Kelowna. We are also finalizing dates and locations for future Congresses so that we can all make plans well in advance to attend. Also of significant note, the BCSLS will be undertaking a review of its MLA Education Program standards and processes in 2023. This is a regular review process to ensure that the BCSLS education standards are in alignment with the needs of BC laboratories and the critically important role of MLAs in our province. As a first step in this review process, the BCSLS will be reviewing, and revising as necessary, the competency profile for a MLA practicing in BC, that was last approved in 2018. To assist us with this work, the Board has established an Advisory Committee. Please see more information about this Advisory Committee in the section below. Connected with this work, we are putting a call out for BCSLS certified MLA members to submit their interest in participating on the Advisory Committee. We are seeking 4 of our certified members that are in active practice to be appointed to this Advisory Committee.
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Special Days: February 14 - April 15 | |
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BCSLS Pre and Post Analytic Symposium 2023
Registration is open!
March 31 & April 1, 2023
BCSLS is pleased to announce that we are hosting our 6th annual Pre/Post Analytic Symposium!
Many opportunities for Employee Sponsorship!
We will have several key speakers addressing a variety of current and relevant topics that many of us face in today’s rapidly changing workplace. This engaging symposium will provide you with the tools you need to help you continue on your journey towards excellence. We look forward to seeing you in again!
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It's Quiz Time!
Our monthly Quiz with prizes. It's a fun way to test your knowledge and win a little something for doing it.
Find the Quiz Link on our Trivia webpage.
Deadline: February 31st
Congratulations to the winners in 2022: Jennifer McIntyre, Candis Shaw, Karen Smith, Deeanna Saran, Michelle Bartel, Sue Whitehead, Marilyn Odberg, Lexie Christy, Joanne Rishworth, Laurie Craig, Susan Childs, LeeAnn Gosvig
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BCSLS MLA Core Competency Advisory Committee
The BCSLS Competency Profile for Medical Laboratory Assistants was last reviewed and approved in June 2018. The Competency Profile provides the foundation for the BCSLS provincial MLA education program curriculum and standards, and for BCSLS certification of medical laboratory assistants. The BCSLS will be undertaking a review and revision of the competency profile for entry level medical laboratory assistants to ensure MLAs have the knowledge, skills and ability to meet the needs of BC medical laboratories, government, and the public we serve.
A MLA Core Competency Advisory Committee has been established by the BCSLS Board to undertake this review and to advise the BCSLS Board on proposed revisions to the Competency Profile.
Scope:
To review the BCSLS MLA Competency Profile (2018) and make recommendations to the BCSLS Board for updates and revisions to the competency profile for entry level MLAs. In undertaking this work, the following will inform the review and revision of the competency profile:
· the task mapping work of the Provincial MLT/MLA Working Group
· requirements of Bill 36 Health Professions and Occupations Act related to Indigenous peoples and anti-discrimination measures
Membership: The Advisory Committee will be Chaired by Maryann Jiang, who is the BCSLS MLA Director. Dylan Durham, BCSLS Board member and Education Program Review Committee member, has also been appointed, as has Sian Nuttall as the BCSLS Subject Matter Expert. To ensure connectivity to other provincial work being undertaken, membership has been asked from the Allied Health Policy Secretariat, MLT/MLA Working Group, Private Training Institute Branch and the First Nation Health Authority. To ensure the knowledge and expertise of our MLA membership is included, we are seeking 4 BCSLS members that are certified MLAs in active practice in a BC medical laboratory.
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CALL TO ACTION:
Expression of Interest
BCSLS MLA Core Competency Advisory Committee
Are you a BCSLS member with BCSLS certification as an MLA? Are you currently in active practice in a BC medical laboratory? We are seeking 4 BCSLS MLA certified members to join the MLA Core Competency Advisory Committee. Meetings (virtual) will commence in late February/early March with an anticipated frequency of meeting every 3 weeks, for 2 hours. Meeting materials will be distributed prior to each meeting for review by the Advisory Committee members. The final recommendations from the Advisory Committee will be provided to the BCSLS Board on or before June 30, 2023. If you are interested in being appointed to this Advisory Committee, please submit your expression of interest to Angie Bender at angie@bcsls.net by February 17, 2023.
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February's Guest Contributor | |
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Clinical Biochemist or Clinical Chemist- What’s in a name?
Written by:
Dr. Karina Rodriguez-Capote, MD, PhD, FCACB, FAACC and Dr. Kristin Hauff, PhD, FCACB, FAACC
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Clinical biochemistry/ chemistry is a highly specialized discipline of laboratory medicine that utilizes a wide range of analytical techniques in the biochemical investigation of body fluids, such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of medical conditions. Clinical Biochemists, or Clinical Chemists, are PhD clinical scientists with specialized post-doctoral training in this discipline. The title of clinical biochemist is preferred in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, whereas clinical chemist is favoured in the United States.
To practice in Canada, clinical biochemists are .... READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
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Welcome to the Laboratory Profession! Happy Studying!
February 6 - MLAs at Cambria College (Victoria and Surrey)
March 27 - MLAs at Vancouver Career College
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Congratulations to the graduating BC Laboratory classes! Welcome to the laboratory Profession!
- February 20 - MLAs from Stenberg College
- March 31 - MLAs from Vancouver Community College
- April 13 - MLAs from CDI
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The BCSLS Pre & Post Analytic ABOVE and BEYOND Award
Are you a supervisor or employer and know someone who is deserving of this award? This award recognizes a Laboratory Professional who has demonstrated outstanding performance and a commitment to excellence. This Award was developed to recognize those whose consistent willingness to go above and beyond is infused with passion, hard work and dedication.
Submission deadline is: February 18
Find more information here: https://www.bcsls.net/mlaawards
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Describe what your current work role is and what a typical day looks like for you?
- I am currently wearing multiple hats as the Team Lead for Hematology & Transfusion Medicine at Royal Columbian Hospital Laboratory, whilst acting as interim Site Supervisor for Surrey Memorial Hospital Laboratory. A typical day for me is to connect with my team to learn about what is happening around the laboratory, and how best to serve the people within and around it. Everyone is playing a different piece of the puzzle and contributing together as a team.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at work?
- A lab analyzer caught on fire and I had to put it out.
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Upcoming Events
P&P Analytic Symposium: March 31 / April 1, 2023
Congress 2023:Sept 21-23 in Kelowna !!
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March 31 & April 1, 2023
BCSLS is pleased to announce that we are hosting our 6th annual Pre/Post Analytic Symposium! We are delighted to once again be partnering with BD.
We will have several key speakers addressing a variety of current and relevant topics that many of us face in today’s rapidly changing workplace. This engaging symposium will provide you with the tools you need to help you continue on your journey towards excellence. We look forward to seeing you in again!
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Sept 21-23, 2023 in Kelowna, BC
The BCSLS Annual Congress is our premiere event of the year. For 3 days we will be bringing together laboratory professionals, educators, and industry representatives from across the province and nationally.
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