It is important to note that the accuracy of the predictions is quite impressive, given the 81% rate of precision. Even though the test needs to be replicated in the population, Dr. Papakostas is confident that it will soon be included in specialty phlebotomy training and among the clinical screening tools.

Details of the study

The initial research was made on two homogenous groups, out of which 36 were diagnosed with the major depression disorder and 43 were healthy participants. Essentially, the researchers extracted blood samples from the participants and measured the serum-based biomarkers. The criteria for the selection of the biomarkers were the main biochemical domains, namely metabolism, inflammation, neurotrogenesis and the major glands. Therefore, the team of researchers measured and analyzed various hormones, such as cortisol, epidermal growth factor, antitrypsin, and etc.

The results of this study can permit psychiatrists to discuss the possible pathophysiology for depression as being present in the area of inflammation. However, as presented in the limitations of the study, the results can distinguish depression, but cannot really predict if the MDD will develop in cases of individuals who test positive. At the same time, Dr. Papakostas pointed out that the results cannot predict if a cured individual who tested positive is at risk of having the condition again.

In retrospect

It is necessary to point out the fact that psychiatrists have been struggling for decades to find a reliable approach to diagnosing debilitating mental conditions, such as major depression disorders. In fact, the individual diagnosis tests consisting of marker-based approaches were elusive and essentially, did not provide sufficient level of sensibility or specificity to be considered usable in the clinical medium. On the other hand, the study of Dr. Papakostas proved 81% specificity and 91% sensitivity in differentiating healthy patients from those with major depression. The possibility of identifying psychiatric disorders via a biological test is a revolutionary idea for the mental health field and offers potential for new specialty phlebotomy training.

Well, this study has revealed further evidence supporting the importance of collaboration between various fields of medicine. Given the complexity of the conditions that developed over the past few years, team effort for correctly diagnosing and treating patients cannot be stressed enough. In addition, the possibility of discovering illnesses in time and taking the necessary preventive measure via simple blood tests will increase the weight of the phlebotomist in the clinical environment.

At the moment, while they are respected professionals, their expertise and knowledge are sometimes taken for granted by physicians. Nonetheless, as various studies show without the shadow of a doubt that mental conditions, cancer and pre-natal problems can be discovered by phlebotomy procedures – we can say that phlebotomy might be rewriting medical history!

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On completion of the phlebotomy training program, a potential phlebotomist is required to sit and pass a written examination that is administered by a professional healthcare organization or association so as to get the necessary phlebotomy certification. Today, the majority of states in America do not require extra licensing requirements for certified phlebotomists to practice. However, so as to be allowed to practice as a phlebotomist in some states, such as California, extra practicing licenses in addition to the standard certificates are required. This being the case, it is recommended that you check with your state authorizing professional bodies for the existing licensing requirements prior to starting on your chosen career path.

Here are some phlebotomy training options that could lead to becoming a certified phlebotomist in the United States of America as recommended by the American Society for Clinical Pathology association.

First option: Join an accredited medical care school and enroll in an accredited phlebotomy training program. According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, an approved phlebotomy training program should consist of 40 classroom hours, 100 clinical training hours and a minimum of a 100 unaided but successful blood collections.

Second option: Another phlebotomy training option that may also lead to becoming a certified phlebotomist involves the completion of twelve months of working experience at an approved healthcare facility or an accredited healthcare laboratory, thereafter sitting and passing the necessary phlebotomy certification exams as is required.

Third option: You can also complete an accredited LPN or RN program (must include phlebotomy training) in an approved medical care training institution, thereafter opting to work as a phlebotomist in any of the many healthcare facilities that may require your specialized types of services.

After completing your phlebotomy training program, there are several phlebotomy healthcare associations in the US offering fee-based phlebotomy certification examinations. These include the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the National Phlebotomy Association and many others. The National Phlebotomy Association certification exams include a one-hour practicum and a two-hour written segment.

All in all, during the phlebotomy training, a potential phlebotomist is trained on the various blood collection techniques for laboratory purposes. Apart from this, a trainee phlebotomist is also trained on proper patient care handling techniques, so as to be able to make the patients as comfortable as possible when drawing blood from them. And although the nurses, physicians and several other medical care specialists are also well versed in blood drawing practice, the phlebotomists are the professionals due to the fact that they are more specialized in it.

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To obtain a certification, you have to enroll in a phlebotomy course, which will enable you to proceed to taking a phlebotomy exam. Keep in mind that you only take the exam when your program ends and you are only certified once you pass the exam.

The education and training can be quite expensive, but there are many possibilities of finding these at lower costs or even getting complimentary training. On the other hand, you have to note that although you will be saving money on getting free or low cost training, it is much better to obtain training in the course of a program you have paid for, as it puts you in a better position when searching for a job.

Where can you look for complimentary phlebotomy training?

One of the easiest places to find free training programs is from your state’s unemployment office. Such offices usually have a number of programs in the vocational schools or local colleges, most of which offer high quality training that is similar to programs where you have to pay. In the case of an employed individual, he or she can talk to the nurses or phlebotomists from nursing homes in the community or from the assisted living.

In some cases, you will discover that they are able to help you gain your training, but this will require you to work for them once you complete the program. Another place you can find sponsorship is the rehabilitation centers. In addition, if you are already working in this field, you can ask your current employer, if they offer such training, to pay for the full training or for part of it.

Online phlebotomy training programs

There are several online programs, which offer free training. Such programs give you the flexibility of training at your pace. However, you need to note that online programs do not provide hands-on training, which is necessary if you want to gain a better idea about phlebotomy. In addition, while you might not have the ability to get free training, you can access some websites, which can provide you with exams and practice tests for helping you to pass actual phlebotomy exam. You can also find various articles on websites, which can be of great assistance during your training.

In addition, there are forums that enable you to talk to other students concerning various issues you may have in your program. When you are lucky enough, you can enquire on the same and get an answer right away. Finally, you can check the library for relevant books, videos and other useful resources for training yourself. The problem with self-training is that you will have no one to ask questions; nonetheless, it is still a way of getting involved in the field before paying fees to attend the training.

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The importance of learning about the optimal amount of blood to be extracted via the phlebotomy training comes from the greater morbidity and bad health status associated with the hospital acquired anemia. The research done by Dr. Salisbury and co. show very interesting facts: the average level of blood taken from patients who developed anemia was almost double than for the group of patients who did not develop this condition.

Crunching down the numbers, the patients who developed hospital acquired anemia had approximately 170ml of blood extracted, whereas the non-anemic group of patients had about 83ml of blood extracted for diagnoses purposes. In addition, Dr. Salisbury’s study indicated that the levels of hemoglobin for adult men and non-pregnant women dropped from the normal values to around 11g/dl.

The conclusions of the study were that for each 50ml of blood collected, the risks of developing hospital acquired anemia increases by approximately 18%. It is necessary to point out that the study was performed on various medical facilities in Kansas City and that each institution had its own rules regarding the amount of blood required from the patient. When comparing the data, the study showed without a doubt that the moderate and severe cases of anemia were recorded in the medical facilities that typically required bigger blood samples.

At the same time, the study showed that the category of patients most prone to develop hospital acquired anemia are those typically transferred between the medical facilities and those with extended hospitalization. Dr. Salisbury’s research indicated that during an intermediate hospitalization period, patients who had developed anemia lost approximately 300ml of blood. However, it seems that the highest amount of blood lost by anemic patients occurs during the initial hospitalization phase, when blood samples are mandatory for a correct diagnosis and intervention. The samples collected later only serve the purpose of monitoring the evolution of the condition and the body’s response to the medication.

As the main tool of measurement for the amount of blood collected from patients was the standard tube type used by the medical facilities, the solution to this problem would be to make them smaller. The advantage of using smaller blood tubes as the main solution proposed by Dr. Salisbury’ study is the cost-effectiveness. The other measures indicated by the study include reducing the unnecessary scheduled blood tests, relying more on serum samples, using tubes for pediatric patients or simply asking the phlebotomists to fill the tubes with less blood.

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It is estimated that only in the United States the blood transfusions performed by a phlebotomy technician represent ten percent of the clinical procedures during a standard hospitalization. While such interventions are necessary in treating and improving the patient’s state of health, there has been little research on the individual’s point of view concerning the blood transfusion. In other words, the specialists in the medical field are so focused on respecting the predetermined steps of this life-saving procedure, that they have little time to think about ways of improving the overall experience for the patients and their families.

A study conducted by Adams and Tolich on a group of patients who required blood transfusions in the intensive care unit uncovered some very alarming facts. First of all, the interviewed patients reported that even though the phlebotomist technician told them what was going to happen, they still felt they were not involved in the decision. In general, the situation is something like this: the physician who observes a declining state of health for the patient takes the decision of approving the transfusion and the patients rarely question it. However, later most patients feel comfortable about asking a nurse for additional clarification and advice.

Another disturbing aspect regarding blood transfusion is that patients state the written pre-transfusion note was not helpful in any way. Yet again, the nurses were perceived as the main source of information about this process. This guide would like to point out the need for phlebotomists to provide more information on blood transfusions, present the procedure in a comprehensible language and overall, improve the patient’s knowledge. This is quite crucial considering that many patients have expressed concerns about blood safety, despite the reassurance of the medical staff and the phlebotomist. Essentially, the phlebotomists should explain the entire process in detail and offer comfort in accordance with the patient’s personality and style.

Perhaps one of the major fears for patients who undergo a blood transfusion for the first time is the potential allergic reaction. It is necessary to point out the fact that even though the blood matches the criteria, sometimes the proteins in the patient’s blood will attack the new blood and aggravate the patient’s condition. Therefore, the physician will need to be prepared with the right type of medicine to keep the patient safe. Even though the allergic reaction will typically manifest in the first fifteen minutes, it is advisable that at least one specialized member of the medical personnel is present throughout the duration of the procedure.

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If you are really interested in becoming a certified phlebotomy technician in Alabama, then you need to go though the relevant phlebotomy training programs in accredited medical training institutions. These phlebotomy training programs are now available at all leading healthcare training institutions in Alabama.

As a phlebotomy trainee, you will be trained on how to speedily, safely and efficiently draw blood from patients without causing discomfort to them. A fully trained phlebotomist is able to take blood samples on a frequent basis when called upon to do so for a variety of medical purposes. He or she accurately labels and then stores the drawn blood samples or specimens for a variety of medical purposes before finally transferring them to the relevant medical laboratory. A phlebotomy technician makes sure that the quality of the blood samples taken is well controlled through the use of proper handling procedures, thereby making sure that they do not become unhygienic or contaminated in any way.

Apart from the normal bloodletting training, the phlebotomy technician should be computer literate. This is because the phlebotomy job also includes data entry and proper record keeping of patients who need a phlebotomist’s very specialized type of healthcare services. Being well versed in a variety of computer software applications is always helpful when it comes to the proper record keeping, especially involving the patients and the blood samples taken from them.

As a part of your phlebotomy training, you will learn how to safely and effectively draw blood from patients, work with a variety of bloodletting equipment, safely handle and store various types of blood samples from the patients, keep well maintained records of your bloodletting activities and perform other duties as allocated by the physician and other medical care specialists. In fact, a phlebotomy technician is an important medical practitioner in any healthcare care setting.

This being the case, there are many institutions in the state nowadays that are offering phlebotomy training to those who opt to follow this career path. Apart from this, there are three well known certifying bodies in the country that offers practicing phlebotomy certificates to those who are able to successfully complete their training. These are; the American Society for Clinical Pathology, the National Phlebotomy Association and the Association of Phlebotomy Technician, the choice of which to opt for is really yours.

All in all, due to its dynamic nature, the medical arena is the leading employer today. It is always changing, thus there is always a vacancy for a specialized type of a healthcare practitioner, the phlebotomists included. As such, you can’t go wrong by opting to join the lucrative but quite demanding and specialized field of blood drawing. Furthermore, you will be well compensated for your tireless efforts!

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Therefore, besides having experience and training in phlebotomy, a phlebotomy technician should seek to know the various codes of ethics for phlebotomists. This will protect them from phlebotomy related lawsuits or help them defend themselves during legal proceedings.

Cases against phlebotomists

In most cases, a phlebotomist technician can be sued for malpractice or negligence. This includes practices such as failure to identify the patient correctly, mislabeling of patient’s specimens and failure to use sterilized equipment or techniques, resulting in infections. Another possible reason for lawsuits is re-using of needles and failure to perform a given test properly, resulting in misdiagnosis. In addition, a phlebotomy technician can be sued for causing injury to a patient’s vein, injury to his or her nerve or even scarring or failure of the technician to inform the patient about any possible risks during the procedure, for instance, fainting.

Furthermore, a phlebotomy technician can be taken to court for drawing blood from a patient without his/her consent and breach of confidentiality – releasing sensitive information concerning the patient to the wrong people who might use it against the patient. Breakage of equipment during the procedure, and consequently causing injury to the patient could also result in a lawsuit besides failing to control the chain of custody. Looking at the aforementioned cases, you will realize that becoming a phlebotomist requires you to be keen and attentive when carrying out procedures.

The burden of proof for the aforementioned malpractices and negligence is the plaintiff’s responsibility. Although, the majority of these cases are hard to prove, there are still a good number of lawsuits in courts against phlebotomists. In order for the plaintiff, in this case it is the patient, to prove negligence on the part of the phlebotomist, four conditions must exist:

First, a standard of care must exist, secondly the phlebotomist must have breached the standard of care, third, the patient must have sustained an injury and lastly, the injury sustained must be proven to have arisen out of the acts resulting from the breach of standard of care.

How can a phlebotomist avoid lawsuits?

In order to avoid legal conflicts and lawsuits, a phlebotomy technician can follow a number of basic guidelines:

• He or she must document all patient information legibly and accurately
• He or she must acquire informed consent from the patient before drawing blood and document any incidents immediately
• The phlebotomist should also be a participant in continuing education and perform at the acceptable standards for care and finally,
• He/she should adhere strictly to all the laboratory procedures and policies besides using proper safety measures.

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As mentioned, one of the preferred methods of obtaining the samples is via the central catheters. However, although the extraction of samples via central catheters is regarded as convenient, the vast majority of the medical community advises against the practice. There are essentially two main reasons why the phlebotomy technician should use peripheral venipuncture in favor of central catheters and they are as follows. First of all, the sample extraction via the central catheter is thought to produce a high number of false positives. Secondly, a significant number of infections contracted by the patients via the central catheter have been recorded.

However, let’s refer to the results of the studies regarding the compared viability of central catheter and peripheral venipuncture, both performed by experienced phlebotomy technician staff members. The sensitivity of the culture means the odds of detecting the presence of bacteremia, whereas the specificity implies no development will occur in the specimen if it is not present. In a nutshell, the central catheter obtained samples have proven superior in terms of sensitivity by comparison to peripheral venipuncture specimens. On the other hand, the venipuncture specimens were more effective in terms of specificity.

At the same time, the aforementioned study indicated that the contamination rates for central catheters were significantly higher than for peripheral venipunctures. The highest levels of contaminations are associated with the non-tunneled and non-cuffed catheter model, approximately 6.5 percent and the lowest levels of contamination are proprietary to cuffed and tunneled catheters. During the same study, the myth that rejecting the results of the first 10ml of the blood sample diminishes the rate of contamination has been discarded. In fact, this practice leads to nosocomial anemia and boosts the odds of obtaining false positives.

In order to eliminate the possibility of false positives due to the contamination of the specimen, the phlebotomy technician can take the samples in sets of 2. However, when the pathogenic agents discovered in the blood resemble frequent contaminants, several sets of samples will be required in order to elucidate the case. The higher number of cultures will increase the odds that the agent causing bacteremia will develop in all of them, which is very helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis and choosing the correct form of treatment. The perfect timeframe to extract the samples is within the first 24 hours, but for inveterate cases more samples will be gathered in the next 48 to 96 hours.

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Crunching down the numbers, it is estimated that over half of the children between seven and eighteen years of age state that they are frightened and stressed whenever the physicians need blood samples from them. It is important to note that criticism, apology or reassurance did not help the cause, but rather made the distress levels even worse.

In certain circumstances, the fear and unpleasant sensation of needles can have negative consequences on the children’s state of health. A survey indicated that the most frequent consequences resulted from fear of needles. This led to less effective response to the treatment and reduced rates of immunization. According to the adolescents participating in the survey, about 7% avoided a subsequent treatment due to the high fear of injections for medical and dental diagnosis and therapeutic procedures. Phlebotomy schools usually teach several techniques that can help diminish the distress felt during venipuncture procedures.

Phlebotomists who plan a career in a medical environment for children should therefore learn distracting techniques and use humor to lessen the pain and avoid associating the experience with something unpleasant. From play therapy and blowing at the site to using imagery and virtual reality, these are all viable techniques that work efficiently for small children and pre-teens.

Good distractions for teenagers can constitute games that require focus and concentration. For instance, if the adolescent is very afraid of the needle, then an idea would be to ask him to find the differences between two similar pictures. An alternative for those who feel the pain very intensely would be to use local anesthetic, even though there are usually some disadvantages associated with this practice.

However, all the aforementioned issues could be eliminated with the introduction on the market of a new device dubbed as Buzzy®. As the name might suggest, it is an instrument designed in the shape of a bee. This ingenious apparatus is basically a combination of mechanical and thermal stimulation that is applied close to the venipuncture site. In short, the Buzzy acts like a vibration massager for the muscles in the venipuncture area and induces a cold sensation, which is known to reduce the pain associated with stings. The level of cold and the vibrations from the instrument are controlled by the patient.

With regards to the efficiency of the device, it is worth noting that it was able to reduce the pain by 9 millimeters on a scale of 100 millimeters. This is quite impressive, considering that coolant sprays and vapocoolants usually reduce the pain by 7.9 millimeters. Even greater news, the pain reduction was registered to be higher as the anxiety of the children grew. The pain sensations in children should be taken more seriously not only by phlebotomists, but by the rest of the medical personnel as well.

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Research

Before settling for any of the available phlebotomy schools in California, start by creating a list all probable schools in your area that are offering the phlebotomy training. Take your time when doing the research on these phlebotomy schools so that you can get a better idea of what is on offer and if it suits your specific training requirements. By doing so, you will be getting a better idea on the class hours, the estimated training cost and the distance you would have to travel to the school from your place of residence. In simpler terms, cross any school that does not meet your selection criteria off the main list until you are finally left with the most probable ones.

Reputation

The school’s reputation is probably the most important factor to consider when it comes to the selection of any of the available phlebotomy schools in California. The previous and current students are normally happy to share their studying experience of any training institution or school. If several students had a bad studying experience while in any of the schools on your list, then don’t ignore it, as, in most cases, it is a good warning that the school in question is probably not the best for your studies.

Consider calling the hospitals in the area or diagnostic laboratories to ask if they could advise on phlebotomy schools of repute in the area. You could also ask about the types of graduates they prefer working with and from which school. This way, you can never go wrong in your choice of phlebotomy schools to join.

The educational costs

The amount of school fees and other study charges to pay should seriously be considered when choosing any of the available phlebotomy schools in California. Apart from this, seriously consider the payment method or whether you can finance the school’s study programs. Consider if the school has effective study financing options or if you are allowed to apply for federal studying financial aid through the said school to finance your phlebotomy studies.

You should not forget to enquire on whether the additional study supplies and the books are included in the total cost of the phlebotomy course. It may come as a surprise to note later in your study that only the books were included in the fee structure, while some very essential training supplies, for instance, the needles for practicing, were left out.

Note that as a potential phlebotomist, you will spend quite a lot of your time practicing on the various blood drawing techniques, thus it is important to make sure that all the necessary supplies are inclusive in the final fee charges as this will ensure a successful phlebotomy study program at a price that meets your needs.

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