Perry Hospital’s Laboratory Receives Accreditation
Perry Hospital’s Laboratory has been awarded an accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection.
Bill Jones, Interim Laboratory Manager for Perry Hospital, was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the “excellence of the services being provided” by the lab. “Laboratory tests are a very important part of healthcare,” he explains. “Over 80% of the diagnostic decisions physicians make are based on laboratory results. In order to make sure we provide the best quality results, we are continuously preparing for accreditation.”
According to Jones, the College of American Pathologists is one of the most highly regarded accreditation institutions in the world and its seal of approval is accepted by other accrediting agencies, including the Joint Commission of American Hospitals. “Any laboratory that receives accreditation from them must pass a stringent list of checklist items, all of which address quality and safety issues,” explains Jones.
“Perry Hospital’s Laboratory has maintained this accreditation since 2001.” Perry Hospital’s Lab is one of the more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide. “The recent CAP accreditation earned by the Perry Hospital Laboratory is a great formal recognition for all the important work that our lab employees do on a daily basis to provide excellent diagnostic lab services to our patients,” comments Lora Davis, Perry Hospital Administrator. “I appreciate each member of the Lab team for their dedication and hard work, and I congratulate them on this prestigious recognition.”
Begun in the early 1960s, the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program. During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine the entire staff’s qualifications, the lab’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the lab. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the lab’s patients.
The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for high-quality and cost-effective medical care.