News Releases

June 1, 2002
WGHS Laboratory receives national accreditaion

The College of American Pathologists recently granted national approval to the laboratory at West Georgia Health System. Approval is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best laboratory services. The facility must undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of its performance every two years to maintain the approval rating.

"Laboratory services play a vital role in all aspects of care that West Georgia Health System provides to this community," says Joeline Davidson, administrative director for the WGHS lab. "This accreditation assures our patients, physicians, and clients of our continuing efforts to provide top-quality lab services."

The laboratory meets the standards of approval by inspection of quality control, education of staff, safety, management, and adequacy of facilities and equipment, according to medical director David Martin, Ph.D., M.D. "The emphasis of the CAP program is on high quality and cost- effective medical care, which are our ongoing goals," he says.

The CAP program also granted recognition to Point-of-Care testing, which is performed in various areas of West Georgia Health System under the supervision of the laboratory.

In addition to the CAP recognition, the blood bank has received recognition from the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB). This is a voluntary inspection that consists of an intensive, on-site assessment to establish that the medical, technical, and administrative performance exceeds the standards set by the AABB. The AABB is the professional society for approximately 2,200 community, regional, and Red Coss blood centers, hospital blood banks, and transfusion centers in the United States.