This week is Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, so we here at Concho Valley ER wanted to show our appreciation for some of the dedicated, highly-skilled medical laboratory professionals who work in our facility. Medical laboratory professionals are technicians who specialize in analyzing laboratory testing data. They must be familiar with clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, immunohematology, microbiology, and molecular biology to find out what is ailing our patients and discover the best form of treatment.
In many ways, they’re medical detectives, cracking new diagnostic cases every day.
At Concho Valley ER, we have Heather Westerman, our Lab Tech, and Urvi Patel, our Radiology tech, who work with our on-site imaging and laboratory every day to help diagnose and treat our patients.
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Heather Westerman
As a Medical Laboratory Professional, what is your special role in this facility’s daily patient care?
“I am a Laboratory Technician, which means I make sure all of our patients are comfortable while we draw samples. I also make sure that all of our lab orders are done in a timely manner.”
What is your favorite part of your day?
“My favorite part of the day is starting IV’s, simply because I get a lot of one-on-one time with our patients. I like getting to know them while I help treat them.”
What got you interested in the medical field?
“Grey’s Anatomy, of course! Just kidding—Ever since I was a little girl, I have always loved taking care of people, and I fell in love with this job because of that.”
What is your favorite part of working at your facility?
“I love all of the new things I get to learn working at a facility like Concho Valley ER. As a freestanding ER, we have all had to learn how to think on our feet and learn new roles. Being able to see new things every day and expand my expertise is very rewarding.”
How has working in medicine changed your life?
“Working in the medical field has opened up opportunities for me, and I have built many friendships along the way. I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be the same person I am now if I weren’t working in this industry.”
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Urvi Patel
As a Medical Laboratory Professional, what is your special role in this facility’s daily patient care?
“I’m Concho Valley ER’s Radiology Technician, so my role here is to run various tests and lab work that our patients need. I also take X-Rays and perform CT scans.”
What is your favorite part of your day?
“Favorite part of my day at Concho Valley ER is, hands down when we see our patients leaving with a smile on their faces. It is always rewarding to know that as a team, we have helped our patients feel better.”
What got you interested in the medical field?
“I wanted to be able to make a positive difference in people’s lives, and I have always wanted a career where every day I’d be able to encounter something different. I am lucky that I get both of these things in being a Radiology Technician. There is always something new to experience, and that always helps me to treat our patients.”
What is your favorite part of working at your facility?
“My favorite part of our facility is the atmosphere we have. Everyone works together as a team, and there is always an abundance of laughter. It makes our facility feel like home.”
How has working in medicine changed your life?
“Working in the medical field has been a great learning experience every day. Whether it’s learning something new from our wonderful doctors, awesome co-workers, or even learning something new from our patients, I am always gaining knowledge. And knowledge is power in the medical industry! It means we are always getting better at what we love to do.”
Concho Valley ER wouldn’t be the same without our board-certified medical laboratory professionals. This week, join us in celebrating these medical detectives and all that they do to diagnose and treat patients.
