FARIBAULT, Minn. 7/17/2018 — The Allina Health laboratories at District One Hospital and Allina Health Faribault Clinic were recently accredited by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
“We are extremely proud to receive CAP accreditation,” says Sandra Otterbein, manager, District One Hospital and Allina Health Faribault laboratories. “It assures our patients that they are receiving the best care possible.”
Over 70 percent of the objective information used by doctors to make problem-solving decisions consists of medical laboratory test results. Laboratory tests help determine the presence, extent or absence of disease and monitor the effectiveness of treatment. Medical laboratory scientists—who perform most laboratory tests—not only analyze the results after performing complex tests, but they monitor patient outcomes, write standardized operating procedures and establish quality assurance programs to monitor and ensure accuracy of test results.
“Laboratory testing is at the heart of an individual’s health care journey.” Adds Otterbein about the accreditation, “it ultimately validates that we provide the results that allow physicians to deliver the highest and most well-informed quality of care.”
The US government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, which began in the 1960s, as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.
The national accreditation is based on results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients.
During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the previous two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record and overall management.
Both laboratories attained their initial CAP accreditation in July 2017 and recently joined the Allina Health Laboratory system with the successful completion of this inspection cycle.
Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 10 hospitals / 13 campuses, 15 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services.