This issue of the NEWSLETTER addresses non-operating room anesthesia (NORA) and all the challenges and rewards of this rapidly growing aspect of your specialty. As I thought about this special issue, two experiences in my early career reminded me of the potential of this trend for our members.
First, during my tenure at the Clinical Laboratory Management Association (CLMA) in the early to mid-1990s, many of the association’s 5,000 members were in a bit of a crisis. By way of background, CLMA represented lab managers from multiple backgrounds, including pathology, clinical chemistry and medical technology. Clinical laboratories were being transformed – moving from big, centralized locations to smaller, decentralized areas, including the emergency department and doctors’ offices. Many clinical laboratory managers and their staffs were worried about losing their authority and leadership roles. Alternatively, others saw this as an opportunity to expand the reach of the laboratory and to play...
