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Lab Wisely in Canada: Enhancing and highlighting the role of all clinical laboratory professionals in reducing harm and waste


 
 
 Stewardship initiatives are a key strategy for addressing inappropriate utilization of clinical laboratory resources. These approaches require engagement of multiple types of stakeholders. Some professional groups are historically underrepresented, such as those who perform specimen collection, testing, and quality processes. A specific campaign is needed to engage these groups and highlight their expertise.
 
 
 
 We surveyed Medical Laboratory Technologists and Medical Laboratory Assistants to understand the barriers they face to participating in laboratory stewardship initiatives. These survey findings helped shape tools and resources that we created for new campaign called Lab Wisely. We also identified that one-third of existing Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations relate to laboratory testing. We categorized and tagged each recommendation to create a publicly-available searchable database which was placed on the campaign website (LabWisely.ca).
 
 
 
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 Laboratory testing is featured in a significant proportion of all Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations, supporting the idea that the clinical laboratory should be heavily involved in reducing medical overuse in healthcare. In our survey, we found that laboratory professionals face time and workload constraints, but feel a professional responsibility for ensuring appropriate resource use by all users. There was also a lack of ‘know- how’ around tangible ways to become involved. The Lab Wisely website has become a one-stop-shop for highlighting the role of technical and scientific professionals in laboratory stewardship and providing concrete tools that can be used to develop capacity in these groups. Every level of staff can and should be involved in improving the utilization of clinical laboratory services.
