Every laboratory strives to deliver excellent service and high-quality results. Still, unexpected challenges can arise on the journey from ordering to billing that can impact patient experience, efficiency, and turnaround times.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with outreach solutions strategists Ellen Dijkman Dulkes and Brianne Newton for the second part of their discussion on minimizing visible impact to the customer when there are bumps in the road.

Their discussion includes practical, actionable tips to:

• Make it easier for providers to order the right tests.
• Enhance the patient experience.
• Prepare specimens for testing and transport to prevent errors and confusion.
• Solve reoccurring issues, address operational challenges, and navigate billing concerns.

Listen to part one of their discussion, “How to Minimize Operational Disruptions in an Outreach Program,” for more on the internal response to inclement weather, technology outages, staffing shortages, and more.

Outreach operational plans are designed to provide excellent customer service, support staff efficiency, and maintain high quality. As with any business, laboratories may face unexpected circumstances that temporarily impact operations.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with outreach solutions strategists Ellen Dijkman Dulkes and Brianne Newton about how to establish processes that allow outreach programs to efficiently recover from road bumps and minimize visible impact to the customer.

Their discussion topics include:

• Navigating inclement weather and adverse events that may impact courier services.
• Managing disruptions and outages to the information technology systems.
• Preparing effective downtime plans.
• Maintaining operations during a staffing shortage.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with Camille Jewell, outpatient laboratory service technician at Mayo Clinic. They discuss how laboratory outreach programs can incorporate outcall or home phlebotomy to help prevent hospital readmissions, support patients with mobility challenges, and provide patient-centered care to the community.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• What to consider when developing a home phlebotomy program, including patient criteria, physician collaboration, community need, scheduling, logistics, and staff training.
• Real-life examples of home phlebotomy scenarios.
• Lessons learned through Mayo Clinic’s home phlebotomy program.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by Mark Kjer, supervisor of technologist support at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss the different perspectives of the outreach program from the laboratory’s operational and technical levels.

Their discussion topics include:

• Challenges related to the outreach program from the lab's perspective.
• How to support staff so they can successfully manage the variations in the pre-analytic phase.
• The distinct roles of the laboratory staff in the outreach program.
• The importance of staff and client feedback in developing effective workstreams.
• How to be an advocate for both the hospital and outreach laboratory programs.

Learn more best practices at the Leveraging the Laboratory conference on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024, in Rochester, Minnesota. Register online.

At 16 years old, Isak Schmidley is the youngest person to have passed the American Society for Clinical Pathology’s (ASCP) Medical Laboratory Scientist certification exam. In addition to attending high school, Isak is enrolled in college graduate classes and works as a medical laboratory scientist at a hospital in Louisiana.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, Isak joins the Mayo Clinic Laboratories outreach team — Jane Hermansen, Ellen Dijkman Dulkes, and Brianne Newton — to talk about his unique experience in joining the lab profession at a young age.

Their discussion topics include:

• Favorite aspects of medical lab science and working in a hospital lab.
• Raising awareness of the lab profession among the younger generation and engaging students at an earlier age.
• Why a career as a medical lab scientist may be a good fit for individuals with an interest in healthcare, science, engineering, and technology.

Learn more about connecting with the next generation of lab professionals at the Leveraging the Laboratory conference on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024, in Rochester, Minnesota. Register online.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with outreach solutions strategists Ellen Dijkman Dulkes and Brianne Newton. They discuss how to proactively manage the variety of patient requests and interactions that occur in an outreach laboratory beyond the phlebotomy environment.

Their discussion topics include:

• Communicating with the patient about at-home kit collection expectations.
• Maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of receiving specimens from at-home collections.
• Preventing uncomfortable situations for the patient.
• Patient questions that may arise and how to address them.

Learn more about positioning your organization for success at the Leveraging the Laboratory conference on Sept. 17 and 18, 2024, in Rochester, Minnesota. Register online.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with outreach solutions strategists Ellen Dijkman Dulkes and Brianne Newton. Their discussion focuses on advocating for the laboratory, lab careers, and the value of lab testing.

Their discussion topics include:

• How to be an advocate for the laboratory and promote careers in medical lab science.
• Their career paths and why they chose to become laboratory professionals.
• The importance of staying informed and engaged on a local and national level.
• Words of wisdom for individuals considering a future career in the laboratory.

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with Dan Nelson, a Mayo Clinic contract employee and laboratory connectivity expert. They discuss the unique needs and challenges that outreach labs face with information technology (IT) systems.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• How outreach laboratories can leverage IT solutions to streamline workflows, provide efficient and convenient services to customers, and remain competitive.
• Challenges to connectivity, including robust IT support teams, middleware solutions, compliant customer workflows, electronic medical record integration, and interfacing building resources.
• How IT needs of an enterprisewide health system vary from those of an independent organization.