Affinity hospital labs receive accreditation
07 / 26 / 2007
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Maria Nelson, Media Relations
Affinity Health System
(920) 720-1752
(920) 554-0686 (pager)
MENASHA, Wis. – The laboratories at Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh, and
The Affinity Health System labs are two of more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.
“The accreditation process is very rigorous and has more than 1,600 standards that each lab needs to address and satisfy,” says Cecelia Landin, director of Laboratory Services for Affinity Health System. “Receiving this accreditation is an honor. Patients can be assured of high-quality testing, along with an emphasis on patient safety in the procurement of specimens and blood products for transfusion.”
During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s procedures and quality control records for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine staff qualifications, laboratory equipment, facilities, safety programs, as well as the overall management of the laboratory. The stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the Affinity Health System patients.
The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance.
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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a faith-based regional health care network, is the Fox Valley’s second-largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. For the fourth consecutive year, Affinity has been named one of the nation’s top 64 health systems based on clinical performance according to Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. For ten consecutive years, Affinity Health System has been named to the SDI (formerly Verispan) Integrated Health Network Top 100, an annual assessment of the 100 most highly integrated health care networks in the nation. Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent of hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 25 family practice and specialty clinics – 22 of which are recognized as NCQA Level III medical homes, the highest level of recognition – in 14 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; and Affinity Occupational Health.