title: [The active contribution of the laboratory to the diagnosis and recovery of patients --resolution of sampling-related problems is important].
abstract: The objective of this symposium was to promote effective communication between medical doctors (MD) and medical technologists (MT) for efficient team-based medical treatment. We analyzed a model patient with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) to demonstrate our strategy, primarily as clinical laboratory hematologists. To assess the response of the clinical central laboratory to severe septic DIC, questionnaires on the performance of laboratory tests for DIC at night were sent to the laboratories of six hospitals in the Nara area. Extra tests other than those fixed for the emergency room were carried out in many laboratories in response to requests from the doctors. This tendency was more marked in smaller sized laboratories; therefore, the level of communication was better in these smaller laboratories. Forty MTs filled out the questionnaires on the blood coagulation test and influence of sampling and others, especially pertaining to the night shift, and their responses were relatively favorable, but more active approaches and information were needed even if their subspecialty was not clinical hematology. In our cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and May-Hegglin anomaly, active and specific laboratory-based participation contributes to the diagnosis and treatment. In conclusion, the most important point is that MTs and MDs show respect for each other and communicate cordially, because our final mutual goal is the recovery of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nara Medical University Hospital, Kashihara 634-8522, Japan. mkataoka@naramed-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kataoka
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okamoto