Recognition has not kept pace with influence, say laboratory professionals

Despite their growing influence, laboratory professionals do not feel fully recognised, according to an InCrowd pulse survey conducted in the UK, Canada and France. Only one in four respondents (25 per cent) feel their value is fully recognised within clinical pathways. A further 40 per cent feel “mostly recognised”, 25 per cent “partially recognised” and 10 per cent “not at all recognised”. Some described being “often seen as part of the process, not the driver”.

Respondents offered several explanations. The most commonly cited was limited integration between laboratory and clinical teams (40 per cent), compounded by structural barriers such as silos, hierarchy and restricted access (20 per cent). Others said laboratories are frequently perceived as an expense rather than a source of added value (30 per cent). Time and staffing constraints (25 per cent) and a persistent underestimation of the complexity of lab work by clinicians (25 per cent) also play a part.

Strengthening communication between laboratory and clinical teams will be critical to closing this gap and that starts with listening to laboratory professionals themselves.