Clinical Biochemistry in 2011, by which time the role of many clinical scientists is likely to change dramatically, is the topic of the Dade Behring lecture at ACB Focus 2007
'Clinical Biochemistry in 2011' is the title of the Dade Behring Lecture that will be delivered at Focus 2007, the Association for Clinical Biochemistry Annual National Meeting by Muir Gray, programmes director of the UK National Screening Committee and director of clinical knowledge, process and safety for the National Programme for IT.
Gray is also responsible for the National Library of Health and the National Knowledge Service.
The Dade Behring Lecture is awarded to 'an individual whose work has been of major importance to clinical biochemistry - in practice, research or in education - leading to improved international co-operation between workers in the specialty, particularly those within Europe'.
Although 2011 is only four years away, Gray will predict that the role of many clinical scientists is likely to change dramatically as a result of an increasing focus on evidence-based medicine.
Some will remain as managers of automated clinical chemistry systems, but others will evolve into managers of patients, taking responsibility for the testing aspects of chronic disease management programmes.
Some will do both.
Those involved with information management will have direct contact with patients: sending out text messages to remind them to take a blood sample and delivering back the results.
By way of example, Gray will envisage a clinical scientist taking control of all the anti-coagulation testing in southern England.
He will also cite his own expectation of proactive disease management.
If he were to have familial hypercholesterolemia, he would receive an e-mail reminder from the laboratory to have a blood test.
If no blood sample were received within two weeks, he should receive two SMS reminders.
If no specimen were received, his GP would receive a copy e-mail.
If there were a result, it would be sent to his GP and to his Healthspace, where it would be stored in sequence.
Appropriate advice and support would also automatically be generated.
The Dade Behring Lecture will be delivered by Muir Gray at 9.15am on Tuesday 24 April 2007.
