The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologist (CAP) has awarded re-accreditation to the South Georgia Medical Center Anatomical and Clinical Laboratory. The re-accreditation is awarded based on the results of a recent onsite inspection which validates SGMC's compliance with all CAP accreditation standards.  Dr. Elizabeth Coleman, Medical Director was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the "excellence of the services being provided."  South Georgia Medical Center Laboratory is one of nearly 7,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide.  

            The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government's own inspection program.

            During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years.  CAP inspectors also examine the entire staff's qualifications, the laboratory's equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as to the overall management of the laboratory.  This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients.

            In addition, the Blood Bank Laboratory at South Georgia Medical Center has been granted American Association of Blood Bankers (AABB) accreditation.  This accreditation follows an intensive on-site assessment by specially trained AABB assessors and establishes that the level of technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by AABB.  The basis for assessment is compliance with AABB standards, Code of Federal Regulations and federal guidance documents.

"Laboratory services contribute to quality patient care by providing the medical staff with clinical information that assists them in diagnosing and treating their patients.  Those services include the identification of infectious agents, analysis of patient blood and urine specimens to determine organ function, cross-match for transfusion of blood and blood products and diagnostic examination of tissue and body fluids" said Lorraine Okuma, Lab director.  "CAP and AABB accreditations verify that comprehensive and ongoing evaluation processes are performed by the laboratory to ensure the accuracy and reliability of test results.  An example would be the use of specific lab computer applications to assure specimens are properly identified, collected, transported, stored, processed, and examined with subsequent reporting of results."