NIH Clinical Center Department of Laboratory Medicine

Overview

The Department of Laboratory Medicine provides state-of-the-art laboratory testing in support of Clinical Center patient care and will serve as a center of excellence in research and training in laboratory medicine, particularly in areas which utilize the unique strengths of the National Institutes of Health.

Goals

• We are committed to the following goals:
• Respectful, compassionate, and high quality patient care
• High standards of clinical laboratory practice and efficiency
• Optimal support of clinical research protocols
• Excellence in applied and medical research
• Professional and career growth of staff and trainees
• Excellence in training in the disciplines of laboratory medicine
• A workplace characterized by mutual respect, teamwork, and open communication
• Good stewardship of our environment

Objectives within each goal

• Respectful, compassionate, and high quality patient care
  • Training in improved customer service
  • Monitoring of environment of patient care areas
  • Monitor patient waiting time and satisfaction
• High standards of clinical laboratory practice and efficiency
  • Development and refinement of effective performance measurement systems
  • Insuring the highest level of patient safety
  • Quality assurance for total testing process
  • Staying at the leading edge of technology to improve clinical care and lab efficiency
  • Providing consultative services for patient care
• Optimal support of clinical research protocols
  • Interface with principle investigators regarding protocols relying extensively on laboratory testing
  • Customization of sample collection, processing, and testing to meet the needs of protocols
  • Excellence in applied and basic medical research
• Support of research as a central part of our mission
  • Measurement of research performance and linkage of resources to performance
  • Development of collaborations with governmental and non-governmental entities
  • Identification of areas of research emphasis and opportunity
• Professional growth and career growth of staff and trainees
  • Encourage and support continuing education
  • Monitor continuing education of staff
  • Develop an environment that encourages life-long learning
• Excellence in training in the disciplines of laboratory medicine
  • Accreditation of training programs
  • Recruitment of high caliber trainees
  • Development of information resources
  • Mentoring of trainees
• A workplace characterized by mutual respect, teamwork, and open communication
  • Maintains forums and channels for communication and discussion among staff
  • Encourage respect for diversity by training and example
• Good stewardship of our environment
  • Minimize waste generation, use of hazardous materials and radionuclides
  • Encourage recycling efforts

User Guidelines

DLM currently offers postdoctoral fellowships in Chemistry and Microbiology. Each fellowship is an accredited, two-year postdoctoral training program designed to develop clinical and research skills at the NIH Clinical Center, the world’s largest hospital totally dedicated to clinical research.