December 5, 2007
St. John’s Continues To Update With Automated Lab
St. John’s Regional Medical Center continues its momentum toward the future with its newly installed automated chemistry line. The automated clinical chemistry line is one of the best examples of how technology is changing healthcare delivery.
The Beckman Coulter automated chemistry system that was put into place at St. John’s helps address issues such as:
- Competitive cost pressures
- A severe shortage of lab technologists what will continue into the future
- An imperative throughout healthcare to reduce medical errors, including errors that originate in the lab.
- An aging population with increasing testing demands
- Growing demands on hospital emergency departments affecting patient wait times and costs.
Connie Wilkins, Director of St. John’s Laboratory says, “Patient safety is a primary concern for St. John’s. The automation line is not only more cost efficient, but also adds a new measure of accuracy in the identification of patient tests as they move through the different testing platforms of the chemistry department. Up to 80 percent of the information that physicians rely on for medical decisions comes from the lab, so accuracy and expediting the lab results are crucial.”
The new lab’s robotic systems streamline specimen processing, analysis and reporting of results, as well as improve accuracy while reducing hands-on interaction. This significantly reduces medical testing costs and frees skilled lab technologists for other, more demanding tasks.
**We will be hosting an open house for the new lab on Thursday, December 6 at 2:00 p.m. in the St. John’s First Floor Laboratory. All media are invited for tours of the lab and refreshments.**
St. John's Regional Medical Center has been leading the way in healthcare throughout the four-state area for more than 100 years. We are a 367-bed facility, serving 19 counties in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. We provide state-of-the-art healthcare services, specializing in cardiology, orthopedics, neurosciences, and oncology. St. John’s has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission. Additionally, we have been recognized by Thomson Healthcare with three 100 Top Hospital Awards (2006) and rated in the top 5% nationally by HealthGrades for joint replacement (2008)