Sep 3, 2017 By Mark Soroka for The 3 min read

Uniontown Hospital’s newly renovated laboratory has just joined some very exclusive company.

The hospital’s laboratory was recently accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs. In addition, the laboratory earned accreditation from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) for blood bank operations.

Both accrediting organizations only provide accreditation to a select group of hospitals across the country that meet the highest standard of care for laboratory patients.

Uniontown Hospital CEO Steve Handy said the accreditations demonstrate each staff member’s dedication to clinical and technical excellence.

“These accreditations highlight the commitment of our laboratory staff to ensure the best possible practices in all their work,” he said. “We are committed to making a healthy difference for our patients by providing competent and compliant care. That dedication shows through these accreditations.”

Both accreditations came just as work wrapped up on Phase 1 of a $1 million dollar renovation of the department.

The laboratory features enhancements that will help to streamline handling and testing, as well as facilitate faster turnaround for test results. For example, the new phlebotomy and processing section includes a large intake area for all samples received for testing, an area that is dedicated to sample drop off and pick up, and a supply storage area and work stations for 30 staff phlebotomists.

In addition, the laboratory includes a new hall of administrative offices, a staff lounge with a fully equipped kitchen area, and staff locker rooms with private bathrooms. In mid-August, the hospital also added a new blood bank section with a receipt and distribution area.

Laboratory Director Susan Bolin explained that the laboratory was redesigned to improve efficiencies and lab safety.

“We are implementing lean principles in health care to better organize the lab and minimize excessive steps,” she said. “That will help our technicians to perform testing more precisely and accurately. Ultimately, that will shorten the time it takes to report test results back to our patients.”

Bolin added that Phase 2 of laboratory construction will begin in spring of 2018 and will include a new histology laboratory dedicated to analyzing tissue samples for abnormalities. The laboratory also continues to add the latest instrumentation as soon as it is available on the market.

Through these enhancements, Uniontown Hospital is ready to take care of any emergencies that may come its way.

“We have an outstanding group of professionals who are dedicated to excellence and quality service,” said Evelyn Perry, MD, laboratory medical director, who oversees a team of four supervisors, 26 medical technologists and 29 phlebotomists.

Located within Uniontown Hospital, the laboratory is staffed 24/7 and provides hematology, pathology, chemistry and microbiology services, as well as blood draws. The hospital’s laboratory also has a full-service blood bank that offers transfusion services. In addition, Uniontown Hospital provides laboratory services at its Outpatient Diagnostic Center, which is located at 150 Wayland Smith Drive in Uniontown.

Bolin said that the laboratory is dedicated to providing each patient with the best possible experience.

“Everything we do revolves around the patient,” she said. “For instance, after a patient is registered, we strive to keep their wait time to 10 minutes or less before they are brought back for a blood draw. Both certifications are indicative of the lab team’s dedication to quality and patient care on a daily basis.”

For more information about Uniontown Hospital, visit www.uniontownhospital.com.