St. John's Hospital Lab is rated in top 1 percent

St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Laboratory has learned the results of its in-depth inspection last month from the Certification Organization for Laboratory Accreditation (COLA), and it has passed with a glowing review.  

COLA accredits 9,000 medical laboratories nationwide and provides the clinical laboratory with a program of education, consultation, and accreditation.  Accreditation is given only to laboratories that apply rigid standards of quality in day-to-day operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing, and pass a rigorous on-site laboratory survey.

“During the COLA accreditation process, inspectors examined all aspects of laboratory operations,” stated Roger Riddle, Laboratory Department Manager.  

“We are so proud to say that St. John’s completed this in-depth inspection with zero documentable citations.  Of the 1,061 hospitals our size surveyed, we are in the top 1 percent.”

According to the College of American Pathologists, 70 percent or more of clinical diagnoses are made and/or confirmed through the use of laboratory provided information.  

 “This inspection shows that our staff, equipment, and laboratory processes are the best that a hospital in any category can achieve,” Riddle said.

“Quality of care, as well as timeliness of testing and treatment of patients, are drastically improved by a well-trained staff using state of the art instruments. Combine technology with an acute sense of dedication to their patients as well as to their hospital and you have an unbeatable team in the laboratory.”

David Smirnow, MD and Medical Director of the St. John’s Lutheran Hospital Laboratory was also thrilled with these survey results.  

“I offer my sincerest congratulations, thanks, and recognition of the superb job that was done by the SJLH Laboratory Department.  In my twenty years in pathology I have never been part of a laboratory that has had no deficiencies in an inspection.”

 Joy Dunback, COLA Accreditation Officer who performed the survey at St. John’s was taken aback by the quality she found.

 “After two days of intensive digging and searching for citations, I can honestly say this is the laboratory where I would want my mother’s tests performed.”

For more information on the services provided at the SJLH Laboratory visit www.sjlh.com.