Wednesday, February 25, 2004

SRHS lab receives national accreditation

Southern Regional Health System has been awarded national accreditation with Distinction by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists, based on the results of a recent on-site inspection.

“We are all very excited about receiving accreditation from the CAP because it corroborates our goal to make the quality of care for all citizens in the Southern Crescent area the best it can be,” said Donna Waggoner, director of cardiovascular lab services, after being advised of this national recognition.

During the accreditation process, inspectors examined the Lab Services’ records and quality control of procedures for the past two years. CAP inspectors also examined the entire staff’s qualifications, the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the laboratory. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for patients.

The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and laboratory communities throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. Southern Regional is one of more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide.