08/30/04

DeQuincy Memorial Hospital Upgrades Laboratory

DeQuincy Memorial Hospital’s Lab is growing not only in size and service, but in technological advances as well, says Laboratory Supervisor, Laura Brown.

In 2002 a new Hematology Analyzer upgraded this area with more in-depth testing and automation in cell identification.  A Routine Chemistry Analyzer took the place of the three analyzers and is used in cardiac, cholesterol, thyroid and glucose testing, among other features.  Also an, Automated Coagulation Analyzer went from a “hands-on” manual method to a fully-automated one; it is used for testing that monitors anti-coagulation therapies (blood thinners).

The lab was further updated last year when other additions were made.  The first automation of the Bacteriology Department was made with a blood culture system, which monitors blood culture bottles 24/7 and alarms for the technicians’ intervention.  A Special Chemistry Analyzer enables the performance of some tests that were being sent to their reference laboratory, including anemia studies, PSA’s and a new test, DPD, which aids in monitoring therapy for osteoporosis.

It was also in 2003 that the outpatient reception area was enlarged, enabling better accommodation for the patients.

“We’ve come a long way since I started 20 years ago,” Brown said.  “There have been so many advances in the health care field and laboratory testing.  We were doing a lot of manual test then and were not able to perform as many tests.  An advance in instrument technology enables us to now do in 15 minutes what it took hours to do back then.  It also takes away the problem of human error.”

The state of the art laboratory is a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) approved facility offering an extensive menu of testing.  Available testing includes cholesterol, diabetes, anemia, urinalysis, chemistry, pregnancy, congestive heart failure, thyroid, bone (rebuilding therapy) monitoring, arthritis, therapeutic drug monitoring and Coumadin regulation.

Staffed by a team of local experienced laboratory scientists, lab work is covered 24/7, with outpatient ours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The majority of laboratory testing is performed by Clinical Laboratory Scientists (Medical Technologists) with four years of education and Clinical (Medical) Laboratory Technicians with two years of education.  Other individuals involved in clinical laboratory practice include physician (pathologists), other scientists (chemists, microbiologists), laboratory assistants and phlebotomists.

Laura Brown, Beth Kimball, Kim Brown are the full time Clinical Laboratory Scientists.  They have over 40 years combined laboratory experience.

In addition to the inpatient work for the hospital, the lab performs out-patient work on referrals from local doctors, as well as doctors from Houston to Lake Charles; also, DeQuincy Rehab , The Care Center of DeQuincy, and Tri-Parish Rehab.  “We are able to do the work locally and fax the results to doctors wherever they may be and keep the patients from having to travel,” said Brown.