The present laws and regulations relating to clinical laboratories in California are the outcome of over a quarter century of cooperative development. The medical profession, public health department, laboratory workers, and the legislature have worked together in this development.At first the system of certifying technicians and laboratories was on a voluntary basis. The clinical laboratory law in effect legalized and made generally applicable a system which had already been accepted voluntarily. The application of the clinical laboratory law provides physicians a reasonable assurance that competence and reliability will prevail in clinical laboratory operation. Of great importance is the conduct of proper training programs by approved laboratories. Since modern medical practice is so dependent on accurate clinical laboratory work it is essential that special effort be directed by physicians toward influencing young people to enter the profession of medical technology.

Biomedical Technology↗

PubMed1950

Recent trends in public health.

Environmental sanitation is experiencing a reawakening with concerted drives at control of water and atmospheric pollution, mosquito and rodent control, and improvement in restaurant sanitation. Communicable disease control efforts are being intensified. With prolongation of life, chronic diseases are assuming increasing importance as public health problems. Maintenance of standards of hospitals and provision for more adequate hospital facilities are also receiving attention. Mental health and chronic alcoholism are being considered as a public health problem. With all these new trends emphasizing prevention of disease, increasing teamwork between physicians in private practice and in public health practice is being manifested. Preventive medicine and public health are now a recognized specialty in medicine.

Communicable Disease Control↗