Scotland Memorial Hospital’s Laboratory recently underwent and passed an unannounced accreditation survey by the College of American Pathologists.

Dr. Donna Richardson, pathologist and the laboratory’s medical director, said his lab hasundergone volunteer accreditation surveys every two years for many years.

“The process is very similar to the hospital’s survey by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations,” he said. “The purpose of this accreditation is to ensure the medical staff and our community members know that we have a first rate Laboratory and that we committed to quality patient care.”

The day-long survey was completed by eight CAP inspectors with an extensive knowledge of hospital laboratories. The CAP-certified pathologist and the team of technologists reviewed the laboratory’s eight areas, including: Blood Bank; Hematology; Chemistry; Microbiology; The Computer System Urinalysis; Serology; and Anatomic Pathology

“The College of American Pathologists provides a very comprehensive, more uniform inspection due to their laboratory experience,” Richardson said. “They are an internationally recognized program and the only one of its kind that utilizes teams of practicing laboratory professionals as inspectors. Designed to go well beyond regulatory compliance, the program helps laboratories achieve the highest standards of excellence to positively impact patient care.”