SO5 E214 - Episode 214: Beyond the Bench: Optimization & Stewardship in Action

In this final episode of our special four-part series in partnership with bioMérieux, we bring all the pieces together. Throughout the series, we explored the diagnostic pathway from multiple angles. Today, in Episode 4, we shift to diagnostic stewardship and lab optimization — the strategies that ensure the right tests are used at the right time, and that workflows support efficient, meaningful, and actionable results. Luis is joined by Alyssa Walker, Infectious Diseases Pharmacist and Medical Advisor, and Jenny Harder, Lab Optimization Consultant with experience in managing a microbiology laboratory. Together, they explore how smarter workflows and better diagnostic decisions amplify the value of every ID and AST result. In This Episode: • What diagnostic stewardship really means — right test, right patient, right time • How lab optimization streamlines workflow, reduces waste, and improves turnaround times • Key challenges labs face today (staffing, training, legacy processes) and how to address them • How tools like BioFire Fireworks and Syndromic Trends enhance decision-making and support stewardship By connecting stewardship principles with optimized workflows, labs can turn rapid diagnostics into real clinical impact — faster decisions, smarter therapy, and better patient outcomes. This episode is sponsored by bioMérieux, a global innovator in infectious disease diagnostics.

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