Wednesday, May 29, 2002

New technology at SRMC lab

Southern Regional Medical Center (SRMC) recently received two new hematology analyzers for its laboratory. The hematology system, manufactured by Beckman Coulter, streamlines the blood testing process and eliminates manual intervention.

Nicknamed "Athena" and "Venus" at SRMC, the equipment is the first of its kind in the southeast, and Southern Regional is one of only ten hospitals in the U.S. to purchase the system. It handles complete blood count (cbc), measuring white and red blood cells, hemoglobin differential count of white cells, anemia and also assists in making distinction between viral and bacterial infections.

"The lab currently handles an average of about 300 cbc's per day so the hematology analyzer greatly reduces cost and increases efficiency at Southern Regional." said Donna Waggoner, director of SRMC's Lab Services.

The system operates in a fairly simple process. A blood sample is automatically loaded and verified by the system. It recognizes preset parameters determined by the physician of each patient, and if those parameters are exceeded, it will automatically stain a slide. The unit also compares samples to previous patient results, and it allows manufacturer Beckman Coulter to monitor the equipment remotely 24 hours a day.

"The vision for SRMC Lab Services is to be the best lab in the state of Georgia, the likes the state has never seen," said Waggoner. "The hematology analyzer is in line with that goal."

Southern Regional Health System provides comprehensive health resources including: Southern Regional Medical Center, a 406-bed, full-service hospital in Riverdale featuring a state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, a women's center, a Diabetes Resource Center, and one of the busiest and best emergency departments in the state; RiverWoods, Southern Regional Psychiatric Center, a psychiatric facility with a complete continuum of behavioral care services; Southern Regional Homecare, a home health agency providing home health services and home medical equipment and Surgery Center at Mt. Zion, a multi-specialty surgery center in Morrow.