CONTACT US: (855) 487-4822
HealthFlex
×
  • Data Solutions
    • Reference Lab Test Mapping
    • LOINC® Mapping and Coding
    • Data Translations
  • Consulting
    • Virtual CIO
    • Interface Management
    • Project Management
      • LIS Conversions
      • LIS Implementations
      • Data Center Relocation
      • Equipment Upgrades
      • Lab Instrument Interfaces
      • Information Technology
        Assessments
  • Digital Lab Services
    • Lab Services Success Management
      • Production Management
      • Systems Administration
      • Dynamic Enhancements
  • Business Solutions
    • FulCRM: CRM Solution
    • NOC Monitoring
    • Supply Ordering Application
    • Online Directory of Services
    • Cloud Data Exchange
    • Telecom Advocacy Program
    • Secure Messaging
  • About Us
    • Testimonials
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Join Our Mailing List
  • Blog

The 2022 ACLA Annual Meeting: Inspiring & Rejuvenating

The 2022 ACLA Annual Meeting: Inspiring & Rejuvenating
March 24, 2022

By Cristy Reiter

When I went to the American Clinical Laboratory Association’s annual meeting, I…well, was unsure of what to expect. Held in Washington, D.C. on March 9th, for most of us it was our first outing since the pandemic, and the first surprise was that for those who were able to attend, they were glad they did. I sure was. After spending time at the ACLA Annual Conference , I discovered a few behind-the-scenes details that I did not expect to find.

It was inspiring to hear of the tremendous efforts and dedication from ACLA members to fully appreciate their critical role in getting us through the pandemic. None of us had ever been through anything like this in our lifetime, and while healthcare workers and those creating the vaccines were heroically on the front lines, this conference made us realize that lab workers were just as critical. Speaker after speaker, conversation after conversation emphasized our industry’s ability to meet the call to arms – not just in creating the tests but in dealing with supply issues with one hand while fighting misinformation with the other.

The Paradigm Shift

The panel discussions were fascinating – even inspiring.

“This event shined a light on the monumental achievement made possible by the lab industry,” said Mike Pratt, our VP. “From testing the tests, the actual testing itself, and facilitating, labs played a critical role. And while it’s obvious we weren’t prepared for COVID, now that we’ve made it through a national health crisis, we have learned what is necessary to have in place to avoid the challenges that we faced initially and throughout the pandemic. This will allow laboratories to provide testing in future crises without burdening the system so much.” (Mike and founder Bryan Firestone attended the event with me.)

Many opined that there was a paradigm shift in laboratory testing. NBC/MSNBC contributor and former White House Policy Director Dr. Kavita Patel put it all in perspective when she said, “If five years ago you told me that members of my family would know the difference between a PCR test and an antigen one, I’d say you were crazy.” She continued about how the “window has been unlocked and there is a higher understanding of what the labs do in terms of testing.” This is an important point that our team had not realized. Because of the pandemic, most people are now much more aware of laboratory testing and the impact it can have on your health. Mike again: “If there is a silver lining in what the pandemic has wrought, it might be that there is now recognition and understanding of the importance of laboratory testing in the general public and a focus by laboratories and health systems on how to administer lab tests moving forward more quickly and efficiency.”

The sessions Dr. Rey Salerno gave was especially eye-opening.

Highlights of ACLA

Speaker Dr. Ren Salerno of the CDC recognized that their reporting structure was not as efficient as it should be. He spoke about how the sheer volume of COVID data caught them unprepared. The CDC has a Data Modernization initiative in an effort to standardize data sharing across federal and state public health landscapes that is “not just about technology, but also about putting the right people, processes, and policies in place to help us solve problems before they happen and reduce the harm caused by the problems that do happen.”

Patel’s speech was on patient care and policy. She laid out the inefficiency (lunacy?) of insurance companies demanding approval for treatment, even for operations. In many cases the providers must get pre-authorization approval from the patients’ health insurance for the work the doctor deems necessary. The question is, why continue to go through this process when you are approving 99 percent of them in the first place? It’s just adding paperwork and delaying patient care. Reforms are needed.

And if there’s any doubt as to why going to these events in person are so vital, here’s an example of a random act of good fortune: At the Chairman’s Reception, which included sponsors (we were proud to be one), someone “messed up” the seating, and I found myself sitting with Sharon West, Vice President of Legal & Regulatory Affairs of the ACLA, and ARUP’s CMO and President, Tracy George. What strong and dynamic women for me to be seated between! They offered great insight into what was happening from their perspective, but also the conversation veered delightfully onto non-work topics. It was absolutely refreshing and good for the soul.

A lot of ideas are exchanged – and business done – at the cocktail parties.

But Just One Per Lifetime, Please

I went into this meeting thinking everyone would be exhausted from the surge of work that COVID demanded from the lab industry, but instead the enthusiasm was palatable. Mike summed it up best: “The effort and energy suspended by our lab industry during this pandemic was acknowledged and celebrated; we would not be where we are today with falling case numbers and lifting mask mandates without it.”

… and here’s to it not happening again in this lifetime.

Recent Posts

  • Jeff Policastro Introduces Laboratory Systems Success Management
  • It’s What Already?!? Reflections On a Lively Year
  • Seven Hacks for Your Virtual Office
  • Finding IT Problems Before You Have a Crisis
  • The (Game-Changing) Art of Data Management
  • Turning Short-Term Growth into Long-Term Success
  • Five Tips for a Five-Star Retreat
  • EWC2022 Recap: For Those Who Didn’t Make It – And Those Who Did
  • Executive War College: Be There
  • The 2022 ACLA Annual Meeting: Inspiring & Rejuvenating
  • We’re Hitting the Road: Let’s Meet
  • Growing a Business: A Long-Term Strategy
  • Shout Outs Where Shout Outs Are Due
  • The Data Whisperer: True Analytics Are Key to Profitability
  • Why Your Lab Needs a CRM Solution Post-COVID
  • Meet the Team: Keri Thomson
  • 7 Elements of Efficient, Productive Meetings
  • Return to Executive War College 2021: More Important Than Ever
  • Virtual CIO Success Stories
  • Is a SaaS Solution Right for Your Lab?
  • Clinical Lab Services Market Growth: 5 Ways to Be Prepared
  • Meet the Team: Shannon Sinclair
  • Moving Your Lab to a DTC Model: User-Friendly Reports
  • Looking Ahead to 2021: Trends During and After the Pandemic
  • The Year in Review – And Lasting Changes for Our Industry
  • Software Development Services Doesn’t Have to Be Scary Part II
  • Software Development Services Part II: Case Studies
  • Oh, the Horror! (J/K: Software Development Doesn’t Have to Be Scary!)
  • The Trials, Tribulations, and Future of Working from Home
  • Meet the Team: Lauren Sutton
  • COVID-19 Makes Demands for Clean Interfaces Imperative
  • Meet the Team: Mike Pratt
  • Sales and Customer Service During COVID-19: Are You ready?
  • IT Versus Covid-19: Why Data Will Save Us
  • We’re Here to Help
  • ACLA Conference: Coronavirus and Beyond
  • “I Quit!” 7 Ways to Reduce Turnover Now
  • Looking Forward by Looking Back: A Year of U.S. Healthtek
  • Looking ahead at 2020: 6 Ways to Prepare for Disruption
  • Giving Thanks Where It’s Due
  • Scenes from the Lab Quality Confab
  • Looking Forward to Lab Quality Confab – and the Debut of fulCRM
  • Protecting Your Infrastructure with the Right NOC
  • See You in Court? Standing Up for Ourselves
  • “Big Data” Can Be a Big Threat – If You’re Not Prepared to Control It
  • Considering a new LIS? What You Need to Know
  • Executive War College 2019: Highlights
  • The Unsung Partnership Between IT Departments and Sales
  • Why You Need a Virtual CIO – And Tips on Getting There Successfully
  • Guest Blog: Making Sense of ASP and SaaS Software Delivery Models
  • A Conduit for Real-Time Lab Data Exchange
  • Medical Data Translations: Seven Steps to Avoiding Disaster
  • Lab Quality Confab and the Pursuit of “Best in Class”
  • Report: Precision Medicine Institute Meeting
  • Precision Medicine & the Future of Lab IT
  • CRM: Creating Efficacy Via the Personal Touch
  • “With a Little Help From Our Friends”
  • Executive War College: Let’s Connect!
  • The U.S. HealthTek New Client Experience
  • HIMSS Convention Report: Meeting Clients Current and Future
  • 2018 Report: “Keeping Pace”
  • Keeping Clients Informed

Archives

(855) 487-4822

info@ushealthtek.com

Contact Us

QUICK LINKS

Contact Us

Data Solutions

Business Solutions

Consulting

About Us

Blog

Copyright ©2017 U.S.HealthTek. All Rights Reserved.