HOSPITAL LAB WORKERS ACT FAST, SCORE HIGH OVERALL MARKS

MUSKOKA — Lab workers under intense pressure and scrutiny are baring up well under the circumstance.

At least in Bracebridge and Huntsville.

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) says following a recent four-day virtual assessment, its medical laboratories achieved an outstanding accreditation score of 95 per cent.

And the Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) recognized MAHC as the top performer in the province for turnaround time in reporting related to post-surgical pathology investigations for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

From April 2019 to March 2020, the pathology department exceeded the provincial target of completing post-surgical reports within 14 days, and achieved the lowest turnaround times in the province.

It’s the fifth year that the pathology department has achieved this performance indicator supporting cancer care services.

The pathology department of the laboratory is based at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital site where tissue specimens generated from surgeries performed across both sites are processed and examined for cancers.

The assessment by Accreditation Canada, Diagnostics Division is based on the requirements of the Institute of Quality Management in Healthcare to review the quality management system, safety, and areas that collect specimens and perform or support patient testing for purposes of diagnosis, prevention or treatment of patients.

It measured the labs at each hospital site against more than 400 major requirements and many sub-requirements specific to the disciplines of anatomic pathology (histology), chemistry, cytopathology, hematology, microbiology, transfusion medicine and point-of-care testing. It also included an in-person visit to the specimen collection site at the Almaguin Highlands Health Centre in Burk’s Falls.

CEO Natalie Bubela said “I couldn’t be more proud of our lab team for this extraordinary accomplishment.”

For the fifth year in a row pathology department workers at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital exceeded the provincial target of completing post-surgical reports within 14 days, and achieved the lowest turnaround times in the province.
Lab workers at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital site give the thumbs up to a job well done.