At LifeLabs, we are proud Canadians, serving Canadians from coast to coast. In the “Empowering Canadians” story series, we showcase the inspiring voices of our team members as they share what fuels their passion for serving Canadian communities, advancing healthcare, and embracing innovative technologies. In today’s story, Katrina S., a Mobile Lab Team Supervisor in British Columbia, reveals the impactful work she’s doing to support vulnerable, homebound patients as well as how her team is strengthening partnerships with First Nations communities.
“What I find most fulfilling about my job is that opportunity for authentic connection with others.
MyVisit is our Mobile Lab Service at LifeLabs, meaning we take our phlebotomy skills on the road to visit customers
We regularly visit the Squamish First Nations in British Columbia.I think our place in the community is so impactful because we visit a lot of patients who don’t leave their homes, we might be the only person they talk to that week. For the care directors and families, we are the ones who witness their ‘wins,’ and support them through challenges.
On the road, our Mobile Lab Service coordinators work independently; there are a lot of times they have to be adaptable and flexible because we’re factoring in traffic, timing and road conditions. But they aren’t alone, they have a whole team behind them at the office that is there to troubleshoot and help make decisions for the patient. Our Mobile Lab staff are very agile and dedicated; we support each other to complete all our visits and ensure our routes are covered – achieving that is our shared responsibility, and we tackle it together, as one team.
I have been very lucky in terms of the people that I’ve worked with at LifeLabs. Regardless of what my job title at the time was, I’ve been able to make a connection with someone who has been able to guide me or mentor me.”
Katrina’s story is a reminder of the impact we can have in building trust and supporting each other. Her dedication to making healthcare accessible and culturally respectful, especially for those in traditional First Nations communities, exemplifies the heart of what we do at LifeLabs.
Stay tuned for more stories from our team members, as we continue to empower Canadians to take control of their health and make informed decisions.