The Laboratory at Elk Regional Health Center has earned a national accreditation from the College of American Pathologists, placing it in an exclusive group of laboratories that meet the highest standards for care.
“This puts us in a pretty exclusive group,” said Gregory Bauer, Elk Regional's President and CEO. “The CAP’s standards for accreditation are both rigorous and demanding. To earn CAP accreditation takes a great deal of work and dedication and I thank everyone in our laboratory department for their continued commitment to excellence.”
Elk Regional’s Laboratory earned the accreditation after an on-site inspection by personnel from the College of American Pathologists. As part of the inspection, Laboratory records and the quality control procedures used in the lab over the last two years were scrutinized.
Inspectors also examined the qualifications of the Laboratory’s staff, equipment, facilities, safety program and safety record, in addition to the overall management of the department.
“We are very excited to have received this accreditation,” said Dr. Joe Salinas, the laboratory’s medical director. “We passed our inspection with flying colors. I’m pleased to say we have met or exceeded the standards set by the College of American Pathologists, which are more stringent than those imposed by the federal government.”
The College of American Pathologists is a medical society made up exclusively of Board-certified pathologists and is widely considered to be the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The College began its accreditation program in the early 1960s.
For more information, please visit the College of American Pathologists Web site.