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The UHL is launching an interactive, computer-based course this month designed for laboratorians in the 140 sentinel labs across Iowa and focused on their role in the public health laboratory system. Sentinel labs are located in hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics, and are often the first sites where pathogens and diseases are detected. "Sentinel labs are vital in the prevention of disease," says Dr. Mike Pentella, UHL associate director of infectious disease. "It is our hope that through this training, the laboratory staff will have a better understanding of their importance to the public health in the prevention of disease transmission. Through the collaborative work between these scientists and the UHL, the health of all Iowans is better protected."
"Introduction to the Public Health Laboratory System" consists of a series of four sections that focus on public health laboratories in Iowa, disease reporting and testing, and the national laboratory system. While several modules are specific to laboratory expectations in Iowa, other parts of the course are applicable to labs throughout the nation. The short sections include humor, narration and visual appeal. "We have 12, five-minute modules that laboratorians can easily view in short spurts of free time during their busy days," says Jon DeMartino, UHL writer and creative consultant who developed the course. "Because I was a laboratorian myself for many years, I realize busy laboratorians welcome a little comic relief from the very serious jobs they perform day after day." The online course was piloted earlier this year by members of the Iowa Laboratory Response Network. "Our pilot group was made up of laboratorians from across the state and the feedback was very positive," Jon says. "I was encouraged by the fact that some people indicated they learned new things in one area while others indicated some other area entirely. To me, this means we provided a broad enough sampling of information that we were able to help people who are at different levels of learning and of involvement in the system." "Introduction to the Public Health Laboratory System" is hosted on the UI College of Public web server. The course can be accessed through the following web address: www.training-source.org/Courses/Labs/Intro/. | |||||||||
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