Pathology and Lab Medicine: Communication and Teamwork Report

This report, written by a placement student at RMIT University's histopathology lab, emphasizes the crucial role of communication and teamwork in ensuring efficient and safe laboratory practices. The report highlights the importance of both verbal and written communication between lab staff and supervisors, particularly in disseminating critical information and addressing urgent concerns. It also discusses the significance of adhering to safety protocols and maintaining a positive working environment. The author reflects on the challenges of teamwork as a new student, emphasizing the need for building effective professional relationships. The report references relevant literature and university guidelines to support its findings, concluding that effective communication and teamwork are essential for enhancing the efficiency of lab results and overall productivity.

Running head: PATHOLOGY AND LAB MEDICINE
Pathology and lab medicine
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

PATHOLOGY AND LAB MEDICINE
As a placement student at Rmit University histopathology lab, having idea about the
importance of communication and team work is essential to effective performance in workplace.
The importance of communication in workplace is that it has the potential to bring efficiency in
work activities and reduce chances of errors. In the context of clinical or lab based work, it is
necessary to accurately communicate critical information between interprofessional team. Each
professional enters into practice with different skill set and development of core competencies
for collaborative interprofessional practice enhances the decision making process and
accountability in work1.
In the context of communication forms adapted in histopathology lab, staffs mainly
communicate with each other in two ways. First is the verbal form of communication with
laboratory supervisor in the laboratory. The purpose of verbal communication is to clarify lab
staffs and students regarding their role in maintaining the safety and efficiency of the work and
ensuring optimal conditions of the laboratory. In addition, written forms of communication are
also seen between laboratory staffs and supervisor. Written communication is done for several
purpose such as in urgent case where staffs can contact supervisor by email to communicate their
concerns during lab work. Written recommendation is also provided by supervisors to resolve
problems arising during histopathology work2. On the whole written and verbal communication
is essential for establishing positive and productive relationship.
1Keller KB, Eggenberger TL, Belkowitz J, Sarsekeyeva M, Zito AR. Implementing successful interprofessional
communication opportunities in health care education: a qualitative analysis. International journal of medical
education. 2013;4:253.
2 McDonough RP, Bennett MS. Improving communication skills of pharmacy students through effective precepting.
American journal of pharmaceutical education. 2006 Sep;70(3):58.

PATHOLOGY AND LAB MEDICINE
Histopathology lab is a service where the workload is huge due to numerous data
exchange and request for results reporting. As each staffs handle numerous data sets, there need
to be a system for dissemination of different data sets. For example, in Rmit pathology lab,
information about practical classes is mainly disseminated to the students by the teaching staffs.
This mainly gives detail about the scheduled practical classes and the methods needed to prepare
the lab before the practical classes. Specific information is also provided to newly placed
students regarding the specific technique needed to prepare reagents and take necessary
precautions while preparing certain reagents.
As a placement student in histopathology lab, I try to maintain good working
environment by complying to laboratory safety responsibilities and adhering to safe lab practice.
To ensure safe working environment, I always follow the oral and written University and
departmental safety instruction while conducting laboratory work. I wear personal protective
equipment with me whenever I am inside the lab and I try to refrain from manipulating or
handling any laboratory material in which I have no knowledge regarding safety instruction3. In
addition, I always take professional advice or opinion from supervisor when I am in doubt
regarding any procedure. Paying attention to small details ensure that better work environment is
maintained by me.
As a newly place student, working as a team can be major challenge in lab based work.
This is because other lab staffs or students are competent in their work and they have their own
pace of doing work. However, as I am new to the work, I may delay their work or cause
3 Laboratory Safety Responsibilities | Environmental Health and Safety - McGill University [Internet]. Mcgill.ca.
2017 [cited 16 October 2017]. Available from: https://www.mcgill.ca/ehs/laboratory/lab-safety-responsibilities

PATHOLOGY AND LAB MEDICINE
unexpected disruptions during the process. This challenge can be addressed only with time as
certain time is required to build effective professional relationship with the team.
The essay summarized the importance of communication and team work in maintaining
good working environment in a laboratory. From the above discussion regarding communication
about safety practices in lab based work and the commitment to maintain good working
environment in the laboratory, new placed students can enhance the efficiency of lab results and
deliver productive work too.

PATHOLOGY AND LAB MEDICINE
Reference
1. Keller KB, Eggenberger TL, Belkowitz J, Sarsekeyeva M, Zito AR. Implementing
successful interprofessional communication opportunities in health care education: a
qualitative analysis. International journal of medical education. 2013;4:253.
2. McDonough RP, Bennett MS. Improving communication skills of pharmacy students
through effective precepting. American journal of pharmaceutical education. 2006
Sep;70(3):58.
3. Laboratory Safety Responsibilities | Environmental Health and Safety - McGill
University [Internet]. Mcgill.ca. 2017 [cited 16 October 2017]. Available from:
https://www.mcgill.ca/ehs/laboratory/lab-safety-responsibilities