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Affinity hospital labs receive accreditation

07 / 26 / 2007

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MENASHA, Wis. – The laboratories at Mercy Medical Center, Oshkosh, and St. Elizabeth Hospital, Appleton, have been accredited by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP).

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 Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.