For the Tomahawk Leader
NORTHERN WISCONSIN – This week, Aspirus Health announced that the laboratories at two of its Northwoods hospitals have been awarded reaccreditation by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
A release from Aspirus said the laboratories at its Tomahawk and Rhinelander hospitals earned the two-year renewal of reaccreditation “based on results of recent on-site inspections as part of the CAP’s Accreditation Programs.”
“Recognized for rigorous and robust standards, CAP accreditation elevates quality and mitigates risk, an important way that laboratories can contribute to improved patient outcomes,” Aspirus stated.
Diana Brittenham, Regional Director of Laboratory Service-North Division, was advised of this global recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided, according to the release.
“The CAP’s Laboratory Accreditation Program is the gold standard in accreditation and requires excellence by our laboratory staff,” Brittenham said. “I’m honored that our hospitals are two of the more than 8,000 CAP-accredited laboratories around the world to be recognized for providing the highest standard of care for patients.”
Aspirus said that during the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures.
“CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record and overall management,” Aspirus stated. “These reviews help verify activities reflect the most recent best practices.”
Aspirus explained that CAP Laboratory Accreditation helps laboratories:
- Maintain accuracy of test results and ensure accurate patient diagnosis.
- Meet required standards from CLIA, FDA and OSHA. CAP requirements commonly exceed the standards, bolstering patient care and safety.
- Manage rapidly evolving changes in laboratory medicine and technology.
- Exchange ideas and best practices among pathology and laboratory medicine peers.
- Offer professional development and learning opportunities for laboratory staff.
“With over 23,000 laboratory participants, in addition to accreditation, the CAP offers proficiency testing/external quality assessment (PT/EQA) programs, quality improvement tools and protocols and guidelines to ensure excellence in all areas across the laboratory,” Aspirus said. “Built on a foundation of pathologist expertise, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) partners with laboratories worldwide to elevate the quality of laboratory medicine with best-in-class solutions designed to drive operational excellence, achieve diagnostic confidence and ensure the best patient care.”
The United States Federal Government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, which started in the early 1960s, as being equal-to or more-stringent-than the government’s own inspection program.
More information on the College of American Pathologists can be obtained by visiting www.cap.org.
For more information on Aspirus Health, please www.aspirus.org.