The Significant Role Played By Phlebotomists During Covid-19 Outbreak
The Covid-19 pandemic is considered one of the most devastating events in human history.
Its adverse impact on the health care systems was quite visible as overloaded hospitals, and long waiting queues became the new norm.
However, its spread over large swathes of the globe was immensely curtailed with the significant contribution of medical professionals. Phlebotomists played a pivotal role in the fight against this deadly disease, emerging as the first line of defense. They helped detect and determine the spread of the virus by screening the population. Their method for testing was based on detecting antibodies indicating whether a person has recently been infected or had previously contracted the disease.
Phlebotomists are lab professionals responsible for collecting blood samples from patients who are admitted to a healthcare facility or from the comfort of their homes. The procedure of phlebotomy includes taking blood, removing it from the body, and preparing specimens for laboratory testing. Clinical lab tests allow medical prescribers to get accurate information about patients’ existing health problems and their risk factors.
According to a recent study , Professional phlebotomists Annapolis were the third most important component in fighting the recent outbreak of Covid-19. Having said that, there’s no doubt that the team of nurses and phlebotomists responsible for drawing blood from patients during the Covid-19 outbreak was an invaluable resource for the medical teams throughout the world.
Keep reading to learn more about the significant contribution of phlebotomists during the pandemic.
1. Providing Accurate Results
Phlebotomists play a vital role in ensuring that the right tests are done and providing accurate results. A professional phlebotomist should always be aware of health trends to differentiate between health concerns. For example, if a patient comes in with a fever, it can be very difficult to determine whether or not they have a virus or bacteria because they’re asymptomatic. In this case, the phlebotomist would have to take a sample of blood to test for antibodies, which would help identify the cause.
2. Identifying Cause Of Death
Phlebotomists also play an important role in identifying the cause of death in patients. As we previously mentioned, identifying patients positive for COVID-19 was not always easy, as they could show little to no signs of the infection in the early day of contraction. This is especially true for people who were initially asymptomatic and later turned out to be COVID positive.
For such patients, phlebotomists would safely draw blood samples to run diagnostic tests before the time slipped away and their bodies suddenly collapsed due to difficulty breathing and extreme lethargy.
3. Providing Valuable Information
When a public health emergency strikes, we immediately turn to the experts to help us better understand the reasons behind the outbreak and what can be done to stop it in its tracks.
So, as the number of Coronavirus infections continued to rise day by day, it became imperative for phlebotomists to remain well informed on how they can be more effective and efficient in helping to reduce the further spread of the disease. They also ensured practicing safety measures to keep themselves safe and healthy while carrying out their duties.
4. Practicing Safety Protocols
Phlebotomy is a vital component of healthcare, including COVID-19 response and testing. Although the job of a phlebotomist has become increasingly difficult in the last three years, they have done a great job of protecting people by strictly following safety protocols. Most of these protocols were recently changed due to the efforts of the National Phlebotomist Association across the country.
5. Managing Blood Testing Efficiently
Phlebotomists are healthcare professionals trained to draw blood from a patient for clinical or medical testing as a part of mobile lab services. These include transfusions, donations, or research. Most phlebotomy technicians work in hospitals, blood donation centers, or other medical facilities where blood samples are collected and prepared for lab analysis. Other mobile phlebotomists provide in home phlebotomy services VA to the patient.
6. Providing Mobile Blood Draw Services
While most of us have been stuck at home, practicing social distancing and trying to stay healthy, health care workers and mobile phlebotomists put their lives on the line every day to help those in need and save lives.
Since many doctors’ offices closed during the outbreak, many patients relied on urgent in-home testing and diagnosis to receive care.
Mobile phlebotomists during COVID-19 offered mobile blood draw services to patients with transportation limitations or those who wanted to receive their medical care while at home. In most cases, these in-home mobile lab services are offered on demand. At other times, they are scheduled with a particular date in mind.
Whether you need your blood drawn at home or would like to opt for commercial mobile lab services in Maryland, professional phlebotomists at Phlebotomy on Wheels can help you get all the assistance you need.
All you need to do is schedule your appointment here, and our mobile phlebotomists will reach out to you in no time.
Our Mobile Laboratory Services in Maryland also account for drawing blood from people for testing, transfusions, research, or donations via trained professionals.
How Do Phlebotomists Help During an Outbreak?
Phlebotomists can help by providing mobile blood draw services to patients with symptoms of the virus who are unable to visit a doctor’s office or urgent care facility.
They can also perform test tube blood collection at home for patients who have been exposed to the virus but do not show any symptoms. The collected blood samples play an important role in helping physicians diagnose people who may be infected with COVID-19. Blood samples are taken via venipuncture, a technique in which a needle is inserted into a vein and blood is drawn out of the body.
Once the blood sample has been collected, it is tested for antibodies that indicate exposure to COVID-19. A positive result indicates that the person has been exposed to the virus but does not necessarily mean the person has an active infection. A negative result means that no virus was detected at the time of testing. However, a negative test does not definitively rule out COVID-19 infection, as it may take longer than expected for antibodies to develop. Therefore even if tested negative, you need to continue following all protective measures.
Those with COVID symptoms are advised to get tested only if they show severe symptoms. If you have been experiencing mild symptoms, it’s best to stay home and self-isolate for 10 days from when your symptoms started until you have recovered. It is also important to note that mild symptoms like a cough or a cold can be caused by other viruses, such as seasonal influenza (flu) or viral fevers. These viruses can be found circulating within your community at any time of the year.
7. Reducing the Workload on Other Healthcare Professionals
The phlebotomists’ role during the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial in ensuring that patients receive proper care as well as are being monitored and treated efficiently.
With a shortage of skilled healthcare workers during this time of crisis, phlebotomists are also an important part of helping hospitals manage their patient load effectively. These facilities are often overburdened and cannot keep up with the overwhelming number of patients seeking treatment. Phlebotomists can assist with limited contact patient communication, information collection, and more, which ultimately reduces the burden on other healthcare professionals who are working around the clock.
This is why during the Covid-19 outbreak, phlebotomists were called to serve in more capacities than ever before. In most cases, their services have been required out of medical facilities such as hospitals and clinics. For example, they’ve been seen providing Mobile Blood Draw Services MD at home as well as helping with Covid-19 testing drives.
8. Offering Different Testing Services
A large number of people across the globe are suffering from Covid-19 and need to be tested regularly. While many people try to get the test done on their own using saliva kits, some people require help for this purpose.
This is where phlebotomists come to the rescue. Phlebotomists can help by providing services like saliva and blood testing for patients who think they might have been infected with Covid-19. Their main job is to collect the specimens from patients or even from the deceased and then send them to laboratories for further testing.
They may also need to enter information into computers or call patients with their results over the phone. Even though this is not an easy job, they are trained well enough to handle it and make things easier for everyone involved.
While some mobile phlebotomist offers other tests as well, including paternity, blood glucose, and stool testing, the COVID testing requirement is focused on saliva and blood testing. The reason behind this is that these two tests are considered highly important when it comes to COVID detection and prevention.
Blood Testing
Blood tests are considered one of the most popular ways to diagnose Covid-19 infection. It is done in multiple ways that include whole blood tests, antibody tests, antigen tests, and much more.
Saliva Testing
When the pandemic hit, Phlebotomy on Wheels saw an immediate need for more testing options. In response, it created a saliva-based SARS-CoV-2 test that is faster and easier to use than nasal swab tests. Instead of being stuck up your nose, the saliva test involves spitting into a tube—no appointment necessary. Patients can also self-test themselves using our specially designed saliva collection kits that allow for painless, easy, and non-invasive COVID testing solutions.
Benefits of Mobile Phlebotomy
Besides the significant role played by mobile phlebotomists during the COVID outbreak, there are also many other benefits to using a mobile phlebotomy services Baltimore.
Convenience
Scheduling a mobile phlebotomy session is much more convenient than scheduling an appointment at a hospital or lab. A phlebotomist typically will be able to visit your home within 24 to 48 hours of the request, and the average visit takes about 20 minutes total. If you live in a dense urban center like Maryland or Virginia, that’s a lot less time than it would take to travel to and from the doctor’s office—not to mention waiting times once you get there.
You’ll also not have to worry about missing work, getting stuck in traffic, or waiting for someone else to take care of your blood needs. A good mobile phlebotomist will be able to come to your house or office and perform the procedure without any issues at all.
Safety
Medical experts and policymakers are urging patients to stay away from hospitals as much as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, both to prevent infection and relieve pressure on hospitals by reducing unnecessary visits. Mobile phlebotomy services provide an opportunity for people who need routine blood tests to stay safe at home while still getting the care they need.
Saving Money
Another benefit is that it can save money on laboratory fees. Some laboratories have high fees for their services, which means that you will have less money left over when you pay your bills. With a mobile phlebotomist, you can save money on laboratory fees because they do not charge as much. A mobile phlebotomist will come to your home, collect your blood sample, and then send it to a laboratory for testing. Because there are no lab fees involved in this type of service, it is a great way to save money on your medical expenses.
So, if you’re afraid that you might be COVID positive but are also dreading the painful nose swab COVID-19 testing procedure, reach out to Phlebotomy on Wheels today! We offer reliable and prompt mobile phlebotomy services in MD that can help you save time.
Our team of professionals provides the convenience of getting home blood Draw services MD around the clock. We also offer saliva kits and other phlebotomy services in the comfort of your home.
To schedule your appointment, click here.