Meet our Siksika Health Services Laboratory Professionals
This National Medical Laboratory Week, we’re encouraging Siksika Nation members to take a closer look at what medical laboratory professionals do. Lab professionals play a crucial role in patient care. Today, we would like to highlight our amazing Siksika Health Services lab professionals.
The Siksika Medical Clinic provides diagnostic services, including laboratory testing, x-ray, and ultrasound. Siksika Health’s diagnostic services are accredited with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
Margaret Kargard, CLXT
Clinical Services Team Leader
Tell us a little about yourself:
I started the Lab-X-ray program in 1991, so I have worked for the Siksika Nation for over 32 years. I have lived near Bassano on a farm during this time. I have 4 wonderful children who attended the daycare on the Nation in their younger years. I am honored that I have been able to work for the Nation all this time. Presently, I manage the lab and x-ray program as well as the clinical services area.
Why did you pursue a career in diagnostic/lab professional?
I was intrigued at the young age of 3-4 years when I had my tonsils out in the hospital . I thought all the equipment that the lab techs used was pretty cool. In 1979, I started working as a lab assistant at the General Hospital in Edmonton and being tired of the city decided to pursue my career at NAIT for my Combined Lab and X-ray technology. I have worked at Brooks Hospital , Didsbury Hospital and At the Siksika Nation.
The work done in the lab is often unseen, but is vital to the care of Siksika Health Services patients. What should people know about Siksika lab services?
Lab and x-Ray services are extremely important to decide how patients are treated by Health Care providers such as doctors and Nurse practitioners. We provide what is called evidence based care as we provide the missing components to the exam of the patient. We provide answers to the questions health care providers ask that is above the physical exam.
Jocelyn Duck Chief, Medical Laboratory Assistant
Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m a wife, mother, and grandmother I have 3 grown children and 1 grandchild; so far. November 2004, I started as Medical Receptionist and made my way to the Diagnostic Department in February 2009.
Why did you pursue a career in diagnostic/lab professional?
I always wanted a career in the health field. Becoming the clinic receptionist for 3 years helped me to peer into some specific fields of interest. I had an interest in the lab because of a science project I did in high school. So, I searched SAIT and got into the Medical Laboratory Assistant program.
The work done in the lab is often unseen, but is vital to the care of Siksika Health Services patients. What should people know about Siksika lab services?
Our diagnostic department is fast paced and has multi-functional abilities. We are the only First Nation in Canada to have a variety of Diagnostic Services. We are the best kept secret amongst other clinics and patients that do not attend Siksika Clinic. Siksika is very fortunate to have this type of Diagnostic Team within the community.
Bella Swanson, CLXT
Tell us a little about yourself:
I’m from the Edmonton area and moved to Strathmore the summer of 2020. I graduated from the Combined Lab & Xray program at NAIT in 2016, and have been working in Lab and X-ray for 7 years now. I previously worked in hospital settings around Edmonton.
Why did you pursue a career in diagnostic/lab professional?
I’ve always known that I wanted a career in healthcare, and the CLXT profession interested me because of the variety within the job. I specifically love the specimen testing component of my job.
The work done in the lab is often unseen, but is vital to the care of Siksika Health Services patients. What should people know about Siksika lab services?
Lab, X-ray and other diagnostic services are extremely important to aid healthcare providers in diagnosing and treating their patients. We provide evidence-based care by providing the missing components on top of the physical examination of a patient done by healthcare providers.
