This one-day workshop, led by Katy Heaney and Dr. Rav Sodi, and running alongside LabMedUK26, focuses on integrating patient-centric principles into diagnostic testing, using experience from the UK to inform practice. It emphasizes seeing patients as unique individuals, shaped by cultural and emotional contexts, and aims to improve patient experience, engagement, and outcomes through a structured and interactive learning experience.

The day begins with a discussion defining “patient-centric diagnostics” and its relevance to patient journeys and stories. Exploring clinical cases to uncover challenges and barriers patients face, promoting empathy and deeper understanding.

The afternoon sessions introduce practical strategies and tools to operationalize a patient-first approach, including examples from healthcare innovation and technology. A communication-focused activity follows, using role-play to address cultural sensitivity and real-world challenges.

The days learning accumulating in participants forming their personal action plan, crafting their own mission statements and identifying obstacles and support systems to implement change, including identifying real-world barriers and proposing actionable solutions. Change management principles are introduced to support sustainable implementation. The day concludes with reflections, commitments, and a wrap-up session emphasizing that small, intentional steps can lead to significant improvements in patient care across healthcare systems.

This meeting will help you:

  • Define what patient-centred diagnostics means in practice, and why patient stories matter
  • Explore of clinical case scenarios, uncovering common anxieties, barriers, and points of confusion for patients
  • Map the pre-test, during-test, and post-test phases of the diagnostic journey through group discussion
  • Identify pain points and “moments of truth”, including communication around testing and results
  • Examine how laboratories, clinicians, administrative teams, IT systems, and leadership all contribute to patient experience

Who should attend?

This workshop is particularly relevant for professionals who influence how diagnostic services are designed, delivered, and experienced, including:

  • Service managers and laboratory directors
  • Quality managers
  • Senior biomedical scientists
  • Clinical scientists and chemical pathologists

If you are involved in service improvement, quality, leadership, or patient experience, this session offers structured time to reflect and leave with practical, realistic actions you can implement.

Agenda

9:00am

Registration
9:30am

Introduction & the patient story

What does “patient-centered diagnostics” mean to you?

The importance of a patient-first approach in the journey and experience of the patient.

A clinical case-based activity where participants are invited to consider the specific aspects affecting a particular case scenario. The anxieties, concerns, practicalities, contact points and barriers are dissected to arrive at the main challenges affecting a patient’s healthcare journey.

11:00am

Break
11:15am

Core principles of a patient-first approach

In this presentation, the conceptual framework and principles of patient-centric diagnostics are outlined. The philosophical and psychological underpinnings are briefly discussed.

12:15am

Lunch
1:15pm

Mapping the patient testing journey

In this group exercise, the patient testing journey is mapped to identify the key touchpoints in the pre-test, during test and post-test phases. Participants will learn to identify "pain points" and "moments of truth" at each stage. By sharing group maps and arriving at common themes, the areas where patient needs that are often missed will be highlighted.

The role of different stakeholders: Laboratory personnel, clinicians, front desk, IT and administrative, senior leadership at local and national level will be delineated to show how all contribute to the patient-centered journey.

2:15pm

Practical strategies and tools

Models for health-care improvement will be presented. At the core of this workshop is providing patients and clinicians alike with a clear road map to navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. Central to this is the appreciation of the importance of current and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and machine learning.

3:00pm

Break
3:15pm

Action planning - “your personal mission"

Drawing upon the principles discussed throughout the workshop, individuals are given the opportunity to reflect on their personal mission and develop a personal action plan. Participants will be encouraged to note their commitment, visualise potential obstacles and the support needed to overcome these.

In this activity-based session, groups will be invited to brainstorm common barriers to patient-centricity in their settings. The aim for each group will be to develop one or two practical solutions or "small wins" for each identified barrier. They will then be encouraged to share these ideas with the wider group enabling the cross-pollination of ideas. The importance of change management principles will be highlighted: Gaining buy-in (from leadership and staff), piloting initiatives, measuring impact and celebrating successes.

4:15pm

Commitment, wrap-up, evaluation and closing

We close the session by summarising the key takeaways. Both individually and as a group, we will help you in your commitment to implement patient-first approach to service in your work and daily practice. Hopefully participants will appreciate that small changes collectively make a big difference.

Gold sponsors

 

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