National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week Naval Hospital Jacksonville celebrates excellence

NMLPW is a collaborative effort sponsored by ten national clinical laboratory organizations that provides the profession with a unique opportunity to increase public understanding of and appreciation for all clinical laboratory personnel.

The Naval Hospital's laboratory department consists of nearly 60 military and civilian personnel performing more than one million tests a year in the fourth busiest Navy Medicine laboratory. In addition, the hospital oversees lab operations and provides assistance to Navy laboratories extending from Georgia to Guantanamo Bay, and currently has six staff members deployed in support of worldwide operations. The laboratory is accredited and inspected by the College of American Pathologists, American Association of Blood Banks, and the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, within the last five months all three agencies have conducted unannounced inspections at all branch clinics and the hospital laboratory - all resulting in full compliance and accreditation. President Bush issued a congratulatory letter on March 28 in honor of NMLPW and noted "I appreciate the skill and dedication of our Nation's medical laboratory professionals. Your efforts reflect the compassionate spirit of America and help improve the health of people throughout the country."

Hospital Laboratory Medical Director Lt. Cmdr. M. Lehman, said, "We are proud of the work we do and are painstakingly meticulous in performing our jobs to provide dependable answers to ultimately benefit patients. We here at the Navy hospital have the added privilege of assisting our brothers and sisters throughout the world."

HM1 Mel Ilustrisimo reads blood typing reactions.

Microbiology Technician HM2 Jennifer Otterbach inoculates specimens for analysis.