Klinisk Biokemi i Norden · 4 2019
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identifying more lab results with analytical inter-
ference by successively building up a cooperation
network between endocrinologists and the lab, avoid-
ing extra and unnecessary samplings and the risk of
misinterpretation.
Day 2: Effective ways of communication
The next day we formed small groups and were given
some interesting and challenging cases from Eva
Ajzner (Hungary). They illustrated specific clinical
scenarios with complicated lab results, where focus
was finding effective ways to communicate with the
clinician. During the discussion of the cases and the
solutions, the most common discussion point was
how each case would actually be discovered in the
lab and get into the lab physician’s hand. Importantly,
labs nowadays receive less information about clinical
history, thus it has become more difficult to make a
meaningful interpretation of the results. In addition,
not every single detail can be covered during the
interpretation and direct contact with the clinicians
could be necessary.
During another session, the current and emerging
role of the clinical biochemist was discussed. Up until
now, we have established our internal rules, accred-
ited our labs and strived towards better quality, but
we often experience that we are not visible enough. To
improve in this aspect, we have to take on new roles,
be more extrovert and more often reach out a helping
hand to the clinicians. By being more supportive and
making new connections with clinical colleagues, we
can hopefully gain a more obvious role in the health-
care system, for example by actively participating in
establishing guidelines and recommendations.
In the evening, we also had the opportunity to test
our singing skills up on deck, with songs in various
Nordic languages from the Biochemists´ song book.
This session was led and music was provided by Yngve
Thomas Bliksrud (Norway).
Day 3: Simulation day
On the following day we tried ourselves as actors, as
we got tasks where we had to play different roles in
the “clinician-laboratory medicine” communication
game. There were a lot of funny moments in recog-
nizing the typical laboratory physician “But
in vitro
hemolysis results in falsely elevated potassium which
we cannot release”- attitude, as well as the typical
ER-doctor with the “We need that potassium value
and we need it now, it is your job to fix it”- attitude.
Course participants and instructors on board T/S Helene. Photo courtesy: Per Simonsson.
