It’s amazing how far technology in healthcare has developed over the years. A small battery operated device can control a patient’s heartbeat, robotic surgery now makes a recovery quick and less painful, and ultrasounds have gone from a grainy black and white image to a hi-tech 3-D image that shows a baby’s exact features. Technology makes the way we live more efficient and it allows us to do so much more than we ever dreamed.
White River Medical Center (WRMC), a non-profit organization known for investing income over expenses back into the new and latest hospital advancements, is taking advantage of the latest technological developments in their laboratory.
The lab is one of the behind the scenes departments in a hospital where accuracy, timeliness, and quality are essential to efficient healthcare. The 43 lab employees at WRMC examine, analyze, and test the contents of body fluids, blood, and microorganisms so results can quickly be interpreted, patients’ illnesses can easily be determined, and the appropriate medical treatment can be recommended and initiated
“The lab is a key element of the hospital,” said Sarah Ervin, Lab Hematology/Coagulation Supervisor. “Approximately 70% of medical decisions are based using lab data.”
The WRMC lab analyzes over a million tests per year.They run tests ranging in complexity from drug tests to matching blood types for transfusion patients. Lab tests provide critical information to physicians and clinical staff in diagnosing illness, prescribing treatment, and monitoring the progress of a patient’s condition.
However, things were much different when the hospital opened in 1976. Technology was not near as advanced as it is today and physicians had to wait much longer for test results.
“Some of the tests we conduct that take only 45 minutes used to take ALL day!” said Beverly Bates, Blood Bank and Serology Supervisor. Bates has been with the WRMC lab for 30 years. She vividly remembers how different the lab used to be. Tests required five times more blood than they do today. Also, tests that may take 3-5 minutes now, such as a pregnancy test, took over two hours.
Also, lab employees took turns being on call for emergency cases since there was no night shift. Today, the lab is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Charles L. Coe, Clinical Microbiology Supervisor has worked in the lab at WRMC for 33 years. He remembers when “kit” tests, available today to check for the flu, HIV, strep throat, mononucleosis (mono), andrespiratory syncytial virus (RSV), used to be sent to a reference or state laboratory. It would take days before a result was given to the physician. Such tests no longer have to be sent off. Lab employees can perform these tests in the lab, locally, and, instead of days, it can be performed in less than an hour.
“Today the lab at WRMC has a large test volume, quicker result time, and more computer controlled lab instruments,” said Coe.
The larger test volume and quicker result time are possible because of the advancements in automation. The lab has several automated machines. One machine, a chemistry analyzer with a robotic arm called the Siemens Dimension RXL, processes samples quickly and precisely and allows the employees more time to conduct other tests. Another automated machine in the lab is the Cell-dyn Sapphire. This machine has greatly decreased the time it takes to get an accurate blood platelet count. This test 30 years ago would have taken over an hour. The Cell-dyn Sapphire uses special optics and a laser to give a precise result in just 30 seconds.
“Automation adds to the quality and efficient healthcare already provided by WRMC,” says Ervin. “It has increased the speed at which we can perform chemistry tests that are necessary in treating patients for any illness from heart attacks to diabetes to meningitis.”
The lab employees can serve a higher patient volume as a result of technology allowing the hospital to accommodate the growing number of patients who choose to receive care at WRMC. Although most specimens are collected from the hospital, services are also provided to physicians’ offices and to nursing homes.
Laboratory tests provide information critical to quality medical care and WRMC. Well qualified laboratory staff and advanced technology allow WRMC to continue their healthcare mission.