Richard Cooper

During my five decades as a Medical Laboratory Professional I have worked in multiple medical laboratory settings: hospitals, reference laboratories, blood banks, clinics and a missionary hospital in the Amazon jungle. The majority of my career has involved direct patient contact, which I find gratifying. In the fall of 1991 I took on the challenge of Laboratory Director of Metropolitan Hospital (which is now closed). The laboratory had been given 49 deficiencies, 3 of which could have closed down the lab permanently. At the end of my first week, the State of Tennessee Laboratory Inspector arrived to close down the laboratory. He knew me and listened to my outline of proposed changes. I was given one year to correct all of the deficiencies. I revamped the laboratory by rewriting all of the procedures, replacing outdated equipment, establishing improved record keeping and doubling the physical space of the laboratory. I created excel spreadsheets which allowed me to hold my vendors accountable. One Friday at 16:00 I was called in to the CEO's office and told to reduce my budget by 4% by the following Monday morning at 08:00. I was able to save my staff's jobs by negotiating with my vendors and reference lab to reduce my operating costs by the required 4%. A year later, both the Joint Commission and the State of Tennessee reinspected my laboratory. The laboratory received a grade of 100 from both inspectors! In May of 1999 I accepted my second greatest challenge from the ABWE. They wished to establish a Blood Bank in their hospital located in the Amazon jungle of Brazil. I researched and contacted a division of Immucor that could provide reagents and supplies to the hospital via a three day boat trip up the river from Manaus, Brazil. I purchased, with my own money, refurbished blood bank equipment that I took with me to the hospital in November. Utilizing a missionary interpreter, I was able to teach the laboratory tech rudimentary blood bank techniques. He later went on to a six month course in Manaus. I also had the opportunity to utilize my EMS skills when I traveled with some of the medical staff to a remote village. The two weeks I spent on the trip was my first time abroad.

FF/EMT Red Bank Fire Department   1983 to 1993 

Established a Blood Bank for ABWE missionary hospital in the Amazon 1999
Erlanger NODA/ hospital volunteer  2018 to 2026