By Hollie Bearce
St. Luke’s Wood River ,Lab Supervisor
This year is particularly special for Idaho laboratory professionals as Idaho Governor Brad Little signed a proclamation declaring April 21–27, 2019, as Medical Laboratory Professionals Week for the State of Idaho.
Medical laboratory professionals work in a variety of environments unique to the patients they serve and the work they do. We are essential to your health; we provide critical information that helps guide medical decisions. We sort, prepare and analyze samples from virtually every part of your body—from head to toe.
In the United States, laboratory results account for an estimated 70-80 percent of the diagnostic value used by providers to treat and monitor their patients; however, laboratory accounted for a mere 3 percent of the total healthcare cost in the United States for 2018. The clinical laboratory is an intrinsically valuable resource and crucial to patient care.
We are not merely generators of data, to be tossed over the fence to our clinical colleagues. We are managers of information; we are creators of knowledge. We are gatekeepers and stewards. We are builders of processes and systems. We are guardians of quality. We are business people and executives. We are team leaders and team members. We are educators and consultants. We are patient advocates. – Dr. Steven H. Kroft, Senior Associate Medical Director Wisconsin Diagnostic Laboratories
St. Luke’s Wood River offers year-round, reduced-cost screenings for HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose levels, and A1c. You choose when to come for your once-a-year screening. Must be age 18 or older. Fasting for at least 8 hours and drinking plenty of water prior to blood draw is strongly encouraged.
• Blood test for HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose levels, $10
• Optional A1c test for people with diabetes, additional $5
• Drop-in Monday through Friday, 8 – 10 a.m., excluding holidays
Choice of locations:
• St. Luke’s Clinic, Family Medicine, 1450 Aviation Drive, Hailey
• St. Luke’s Wood River, 100 Hospital Drive, Ketchum:
• Medical Center Outpatient Lab, hospital
• Physician Office Annex, register in Suite 100
Payment due at time of service. Insurance will not be billed.
It’s your life.
We help you live it.
