April 2010 - Posts

Needleless Vaccinations
April 30, 2010 2:53 PM by Amanda Koehler

My mom always used to say my sister and I are like night and day. Emily's always been more aggressive than I am; she's always been more outspoken. She is a phenomenal athlete, at one point playing four sports (basketball, softball, field hockey and track). Read More...

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How to Get a Speaking Gig
April 29, 2010 12:04 PM by Amanda Koehler

So, you've done a study or become an expert in automation at your lab. You feel you want to share your knowledge at your next association meeting or trade show. How do you go about getting your name into that meeting brochure? This blog post details what Read More...

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Those "Lazy" Millennials
April 27, 2010 10:50 AM by Amanda Koehler

A recent Pew Research Center report on millennials noted the majority of millennials interviewed reported having a lack of a work ethic. A Washington Post article expanded on this idea. Millennials in the report were asked to pick out a phrase describing Read More...

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Clean House Causing the Sniffles
April 26, 2010 12:51 PM by Amanda Koehler

We've had a rough allergy season so far in the Philadelphia area. Many of my friends have been complaining that their allergy symptoms are worse than ever. My roommate Meg has had an itchy throat and stuffy nose for weeks. According to a recent CNN article Read More...

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Extra, Extra!
April 22, 2010 10:29 AM by Amanda Koehler

Do you know of a laboratory that's been recognized in the news in light of National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week? If so, share the link here! Here's a story on laboratory professionals at Summit Healthcare Regional Medical Center in Show Low, Read More...

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Is Lab Week Lame?
April 18, 2010 3:37 PM by Matthew T. Patton

Today marks the beginning of National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. This year it runs April 18-24. If anyone knows Mary Ann McLane, PhD, president of ASCLS, you'll know -- and I say this with all due respect -- that she is obsessed with "providing Read More...

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H1N1 Shortcomings
April 14, 2010 2:53 PM by Amanda Koehler

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently admitted to shortcomings in its handling of the H1N1 pandemic. According to the Reuters article, this includes "a failure to communicate uncertainties about the new virus as it swept around the globe." Many Read More...

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Striking Kills?
April 13, 2010 11:33 AM by Amanda Koehler

Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, nurses have recently gone on strike . They are now in their second week of striking, with 1,500 nurses and allied health professionals not working. Those striking are union members of the Pennsylvania Association Read More...

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Mine Tragedy Makes No Sense
April 12, 2010 11:35 PM by Matthew T. Patton

Just a simple blog post to say what an absolutely horrible, meaningless tragedy the most recent mining accident in West Virginia. The death toll now stands at 25. My brother, Mickey L. Travis, was killed in a mining accident in 2002. (See here for the Read More...

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ASCLS Lobbies for Lab Issues
April 10, 2010 11:49 AM by Matthew T. Patton

An e-mail communication from ASCLS explained more about the new healthcare reform bill recently signed into law by President Obama. We've included it below: For the laboratory community, the Bill includes an across-the-board clinical laboratory fee schedule Read More...

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Seek Care Elsewhere?
April 7, 2010 11:56 AM by Amanda Koehler

Since the healthcare reform bill passed, you've probably heard people talking politics at work, at restaurants, at home. Maybe you've even participated in the discussions. Even in the workplace, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as long as you are respectful Read More...

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The Fountain of Youth
April 6, 2010 12:26 PM by Amanda Koehler

My Pop-Pop is 81 years old, and sometimes I think he leads a more full, exciting life than I do. He still goes to work at his auto body shop every day. He hangs out with his buddies from high school, goes bowling and plays darts, and even goes dancing. Read More...

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Controlled Chaos
April 2, 2010 11:11 AM by Amanda Koehler

I'll be the first to admit it -- I'm not the most organized person in the world, both personally and professionally. I could tell many a tale of my mother coming into my room, irate at me for it being a mess. But I would always tell her the same thing. Read More...

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Hospitals Won't Hire Smokers
April 1, 2010 11:47 AM by Amanda Koehler

St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network, which has hospitals and urgent care centers in the Pennsylvania towns of Bethlehem, Allentown, Quakertown, Coaldale and Jim Thorpe, recently announced they will no longer hire smokers as of May 1. A nicotine screening Read More...

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