WHEREAS, the fields of laboratory medicine and pathology play a vital role in the advancement of medicine, value-based care, and population health, particularly as we transition from a business model focused on volume to one centered around value;

WHEREAS, laboratory medicine and pathology are at the forefront of transforming healthcare by shifting from reactive confirmation of diseases to proactive prediction of conditions, enabling early detection, intervention, and improved patient outcomes;

WHEREAS, the ability of laboratory medicine and pathology to proactively risk stratify populations, identify gaps in care, and identify high-risk patients is critical in optimizing healthcare outcomes, reducing the total cost of care, and enhancing the accuracy of HEDIS measurements and risk adjustment methodologies;

WHEREAS, clinical laboratories should be recognized as strategic assets within enterprises, playing a pivotal role in the delivery of sustainable healthcare by providing actionable insights derived from the domain knowledge of pathology and laboratory medicine;

WHEREAS, health systems, as they transition to risk-based healthcare models, must prioritize the preservation and enhancement of the competency of laboratory medicine and pathology, ensuring the availability of innovative diagnostic tools and techniques that generate actionable insights and contribute to evidence-based decision-making;

WHEREAS, laboratory medicine and pathology know no borders and extend their impact globally, collaborating with healthcare  professionals and researchers worldwide to advance medical knowledge, improve the human condition, and address population health challenges on a global scale;

NOW, THEREFORE, we do hereby proclaim this Lab Week to recognize and appreciate the indispensable roles of laboratory medicine and pathology in the field of medicine, value based care, and population health, as we transition from the business of volume to the business of value in the delivery of integrated health care.

We call upon healthcare organizations, policymakers, and stakeholders to prioritize the inclusion of laboratory medicine and pathology in the design of value-based programs, preserve the clinical laboratory’s role as a health system strategic asset, and leverage the clinical laboratory to build actionable insights based on the domain knowledge of pathology and laboratory medicine. These foundational principles are all in keeping with the Clinical Lab 2.0 movement, as advanced by the Project Santa Fe Foundation, LLC. Let us celebrate the global reach and impact of laboratory medicine and pathology, and their contribution to the delivery of sustainable healthcare for all.

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