And what the heck does "stat" mean anyway?

I have seen ER - I know that when there is a gunshot victim, doctors need 2 quarts of saline and a blood transfusion "stat!" So, I always assumed "stat" meant fast, immediately, emergency, etc. But people keep coming in here to get their blood drawn and the blood drawers (what is their official title?) keep asking if it is "stat". I assume these people walking in here very leisurely aren't gunshot victims and that if this was an emergency, these people would be at a hospital emergency room, not a lab. So, does anyone want to fill me in on what "stat" really means in the medical environment?