Every year, F. Read Hopkins Pediatrics, where I have my civilian job, sends me to the Clinical Laboratory Management Association Convention, called Thinklab. This year it was in Tampa, Florida in May. Most of the people attending run larger labs in large to huge hospitals. Those of us who manage POL's (Physician Office Labs) are few and far between. Fortunately, CLMA has been doing much better on having workshops and companies represented that are POL friendly.
This is the new president of CLMA, Anne Pontius. Many years ago I sat in a workshop on lab budgeting that she was conducting. After the workshop I asked her why there wasn't more directed to POL's. She advised me then to join CLMA. Her thought was that as the representation of POL's increased, so would the emphasis. It seems to have worked.
I attended a number of excellent workshops on management. It surprises me how much of the information can also be used in my churches as well. The vendors were more numerous than I could count. Joanne and I enjoyed walking the floor and seeing what's new. We have been to enough conventions that we have made friends with some of the vendors and look forward to seeing them each year. Most of the vendors are marketing themselves to larger facilities, but there is enough there that concerns a physician's office that it is well worth the time to look around.
Joanne always goes to the conventions with me. I went to one by myself and was miserable. We usually have our evenings free and get to try some really unique restaurants and see some of the city the convention is in that year. We have been blessed to travel to St. Louis, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans, Chicago, Salt Lake City, and this year in Tampa. Next year is in Las Vegas and Joanne is already making plans and doing research. If I could just get them to do Orlando, we could visit Walt Disney World at the same time.I am fortunate to work for a company that sees the benefit of sending me to these meetings each year and I appreciate their support and making it available to me each year. Thanks Docs.
My "Civilian" job is at F. Read Hopkins Pediatrics. I am a Medical Technologist and manage the office laboratory. I have been on staff there for 18 years. The office was notified that we had won recognition in the "Lynchburg" magazine, only no one is sure just what was the distinction we won. It seems they have a yearly poll of their readers and apparently enough of them liked us for something. The only thing we're sure about is that this picture of the staff will be in the next issue and we'll know then in what category we were thought to be best.
Just in case you haven't found me, look for the old guy behind the doc with the red bow tie. I'll let you know later why we were recognized.
While Joanne and I were in Tampa for the CLMA Convention we had the opportunity to have dinner at the oldest restaurant in Tampa. The Columbia Restaurant has been a fixture in Ybor City since 1905. It is undoubtedly an experience to be enjoyed.
The restaurant features Spanish/Cuban classics. It is not only Tampa's oldest, but also Florida's oldest and the world's largest Spanish restaurant. The food was excellent and worth the cab fare to get there.
They feature flamenco dance performances nightly. The show lasts for almost a full hour.
