Highest score in U. S.
Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Care Services’ laboratory department met the gold standard from the College of American Pathologists during its biennial survey inspection in November. It is one of only 8,000 labs worldwide to receive this honor.
“There are several other lab accreditations, but none are as strict as CAP, not even the U.S. government’s own rating system,” David Conejo, RMCHCS CEO, stated.
The U.S. federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, as being equal-to or more-stringent-than the government’s own inspection program. 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 for the preceding two years.
The RMCHCS accreditation was granted to the hospital’s lab department based on its passing 4,500 standards of performance, such as the correct passing of daily patient testing results, quality control and corrective action documentation, correct lab equipment calibration, correlation and linearity studies, precision and bias of instrumentation and of laboratory results, equipment accuracy, and maintenance of results, adequate staff of qualified lab personnel, competencies and other administrative duties.
“The CAP is pleased to recognize RMCHCS as meeting the high standard set as part of the CAP’s Laboratory Accreditation Program,” Richard M. Scanlan, MD, FCAP, chair of the CAP’s Council on Accreditation, said. “The RMCHCS Laboratory Department Laboratory joins the thousands of others that are committed to raising the quality of laboratory services nationally and internationally. This lab demonstrates leadership, innovation, and a passionate commitment to standards of excellence, while providing the highest quality services, ultimately for patients.”
2,500 questions
Of the 4,500 different standards the hospital passed, the CAP survey included 2,500 questions the hospital had to answer to determine eligibility. RMCHCS had to answer 285 questions requested from the College Clinic, 305 questions from the Red Rock Clinic and 1,844 from RMCH. Of the 2,434 questions asked, the hospital received a score of 98 percent.
“I am always confident that our lab will meet, if not exceed, the standards required to provide accurate, reliable and outstanding laboratory services to our providers and ultimately to our patients, the residents of McKinley County and beyond,” George Brasinikas said. Brasinikas is an MD, FCAP, FASCP, and RMCHCS Laboratory Director and Chief of Pathology, and an 18 year veteran of Gallup with 23 years in the profession.
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide.
By William Madaras
For the Sun
