Detalle Publicación

ARTÍCULO

State of affairs and future challenges in laboratory medicine in Spain: an analysis of the Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQCML)

Autores: Caballé, I.; Buño, A.; Bernabeu , F. A.; Canalias, F.; Moreno, A.; Ibarz, M.; Puzo, J.; González, C.; González Hernández, Álvaro (Autor de correspondencia)
Título de la revista: ADVANCES IN LABORATORY MEDICINE / AVANCES EN MEDICINA DE LABORATORIO
ISSN: 2628-491X
Volumen: 4
Número: 1
Páginas: 70 - 80
Fecha de publicación: 2023
Resumen:
Objectives Laboratory Medicine is a crucial discipline that contributes to the diagnosis, management and monitoring of patients. This branch of medicine faces two major challenges: New technologies and increased demand. There is limited information available of the state of affairs in Laboratory Medicine in Spain. This study provides a picture of clinical laboratories and clinical laboratory professionals. Methods The Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine distributed a questionnaire among the 250 most representative centers (the ones with the largest volume of determinations and training programs), of which 174 (69.6%) returned the questionnaire providing data for 2019. Results Laboratories were classified according to the number of determinations. In total, 37% identified themselves as small (<1 million determinations per year); 40% considered themselves medium-sized (1¿5 million determinations per year) and 23% considered they were large laboratories (>5 million determinations). The level of specialization of laboratory physicians and laboratory performance were higher in large laboratories. Most requests (87%) and determinations (93%) corresponded to biochemistry and hematology. As many as 63% of physicians had an indefinite contract, and 23% were older than 60 years. Conclusions Laboratory medicine is a consolidated discipline that is gaining relevance in Spain. It adds value to the diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of diseases, and to treatment response monitoring. The results of this study will help us address challenges such as the need for specialized training for laboratory professionals; the emergence of technological innovations; exploitation of Big Data; optimization of quality management systems and patient safety.
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