News

Laboratory professionals at the Health Services Authority (HSA) will dedicate time from their usual behind-the-scenes roles to celebrate Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, otherwise known as Lab Week, on 21-27 April, 2019 in the Cayman Islands.

Recognised internationally on the last week of April each year, Lab Week is a time to acknowledge medical laboratory professionals who play a vital part in healthcare and patient support. The theme this year is “Get results: Take your lab to the next level”. HSA’s pathology laboratories at the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital in Cayman Brac are JCI accredited.

As members of the Caribbean Association of Medical Technologists’ (CASMET) Cayman Islands branch, laboratory professionals from HSA and other laboratories across the Cayman Islands have combined efforts to host two public events focused on the early detection and improvement of patients’ results.

A free health screening takes place this Saturday, 20 April at the Foster’s Food Fair in Countryside Shopping Village, Savannah from 8:00am - 1:00pm. Health checks include cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and HBA1C also known Glyco Hb. A physician will also be on site to answer questions persons may have pertaining to their results.

A Lab Week 5K Fun Walk/Run will be held Sunday, 28 April at 5:30am. The route begins and ends at Smith Cove. Registration is $20 and there will be T-shirts, awards and prizes.

“As laboratory professionals we may not interact directly with patients but we play a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of disease in patients. The tests we conduct help determine the presence, extent or absence of disease and monitor the effectiveness of treatment,” noted HSA Medical Technologist Marcia Robinson-Walters, who is also Vice President of the Regional Council of CASMET and Chairperson of the Cayman Islands branch.

“Though we work hard behind the scenes to provide the quality service our patients need, we want to take the opportunity during Lab Week to be proactive with patient results. The free health screenings improve the chance of early detection and walk/run events are fun and social ways to promote health and fitness. We hope people will take advantage of these opportunities as well as show our islands laboratory staff some support,” she added.

Participants may call 926-0844 / 939-8847 or visit https://www.caymanactive.com/events/812-lab-week-walk-run-2019 to register for the Lab Week Fun Walk/Run.