In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes to discuss National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week and share ideas for celebrating across the organization.

• National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week background (00:25): A brief history and overview of the annual celebration honoring laboratory professionals.
• Celebrating in the lab (01:22): Tried-and-true traditions and creative activities the team has seen during Lab Week throughout their careers.
• Taking the message beyond the lab (08:52): Ideas for using Lab Week to highlight the impact of laboratory professionals in healthcare.
• Reaching off-site staff (11:52): Insights on engaging and celebrating staff who work outside the main laboratory.
• Educational opportunities (13:32): Thoughts on incorporating learning and professional development into Lab Week activities.
• Rapid fire question (17:14): The team shares what makes careers in laboratory medicine rewarding.

Get guidance for planning your Lab Week in “Plan a meaningful Lab Week with the three E’s,” an article from Dijkman Dulkes.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes to explore the diverse roles and responsibilities of outreach leaders. Together, they share insights based on their own experiences and the work they do with clients.

• Common responsibilities (01:02): An overview of core duties that outreach leaders manage across programs of varying size and maturity.
• Ideal job description (12:07): A discussion of what the team believes should be included in a well-designed outreach leadership role.
• Time distribution (21:36): How outreach leaders balance their time across responsibilities, stakeholders, and organizational needs.
• Leadership highlights (23:02): Reflections on the most rewarding aspects of leading and supporting a successful outreach program.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes to discuss identifying meaningful goals for a laboratory outreach program and taking steps to achieve them. Key topics include:

• Internal influences (01:32): The importance of considering your organization’s and department’s broader goals when defining your own.
• Measurement (06:20): Using metrics and data to understand your current state and track progress.
• Ambition level (10:10): Determining the right balance between bold, aspirational goals and more attainable ones.
• Prioritization (13:00): Factors to consider when prioritizing goals.
• Planning for success (14:30): How to create a plan that helps you make meaningful progress.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, welcomes Chelsea Conn, Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ director of regulatory affairs. Together, they break down the latest regulatory changes and share actionable strategies to help outreach programs stay informed and prepared. Key topics include:

• FDA rule for lab-developed tests (01:36): What the recent rescinding of the FDA rule means for labs.
• New Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) regulations (04:36): Clarifications on lab director qualification updates from late 2024.
• College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation (07:52): New checklist requirements for reporting and submitting to public health authorities.
• Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) reform (11:40): The latest developments on new approaches to reimbursement for laboratory tests.
• Recommended resources (17:32): How to stay up to date on regulations affecting the laboratory industry.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes, outreach solutions specialists. Together, they share practical strategies that outreach programs can consider to strengthen their financial performance.

• Managing courier expenses (02:06): Explore ways to manage customer expectations and service agreements to control courier costs effectively.
• Optimizing payment for phlebotomy (13:09): Discover coding considerations and unique service opportunities, such as home visits and education, that may help maximize financial return for phlebotomy offerings.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by Todd Juen, outpatient lab supervisor at Mayo Clinic. Together, they explore how to deliver exceptional experiences to patient populations with unique needs, including:

• Pediatric patients (02:46): Learn about the thoughtful accommodations made to ensure a positive experience for young patients.
• Patients using wheelchairs (05:43): Explore techniques and tools for drawing blood when standard arm stabilization equipment isn’t an option.
• Communications challenges (7:55): Hear about translation resources used to help patients feel understood and supported.
• Privacy considerations (11:01): Gain ideas for managing the needs of high-profile patients — such as politicians, celebrities, or community figures — who require enhanced privacy.
• New innovation in phlebotomy (15:07): Get a glimpse of emerging technologies designed to support phlebotomists.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by colleagues Wendy Daigle and Ellen Dijkman Dulkes. Together, they dive into the power of communication in laboratory outreach, sharing practical advice and memorable stories about:

• Identifying audiences (04:13): Discover the internal and external groups you need to communicate with regularly.
• The needs of different audiences (06:46): Learn how communication strategies must adapt for internal teams versus external partners, and what makes each group unique.
• Establishing relationships as a new manager (08:32): Get insights for new outreach managers on building trust and strong connections.
• Tips for strong relationships (16:15): Explore proven approaches for connecting with external partners, non-laboratory departments, and those who can boost your program’s visibility.
• Essential messages for support departments (24:56): The three most important things support departments should know about your outreach program.

In this episode of the “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by Travis Engelhaupt, digital experience director, and Naomi Lovell, project manager. Together, they discuss website trends and best practices, including:

• Valuable content for clinical laboratory websites.
• The impact of mobile technology and artificial intelligence.
• Engaging leadership to secure resources.
• Opportunities for AI and external collaborators to support site management.
• Navigating update moratoriums.