Texas Health HEB’s Laboratory Receives Prestigious Accreditation
Hospital lab one of only 30 worldwide to attain accreditation
BEDFORD, TEXAS, March 23, 2015 – The medical laboratory at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is one of only 30 laboratories worldwide, one of two in Texas and the only one in Tarrant County to achieve the College of American Pathologists’ (CAP) International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189.
The accreditation is based on laboratories’ technical competence, management and continual improvement. It focuses on improved patient safety and risk reduction.
“Our laboratory goes above and beyond and seeks additional accreditation to ensure the highest level of compassionate, quality, cost-effective care,” said Deborah A. Paganelli, FACHE, president of Texas Health HEB. “Our hospital is fortunate to have dedicated professionals and leaders who strive to be the best within their industry.”
The voluntary, non-regulatory ISO 15189 accreditation program does not replace CAP Laboratory Accreditation, but complements CAP accreditation and other quality systems. The program optimizes processes to improve patient care and strengthens quality standards while reducing institutional errors and risks, and controls costs.
“We chose CAP as the accrediting agency since we also hold our basic accreditation through them, and we were guaranteed to have inspectors who have a lab background which ensures a very thorough review of the processes,” said Sharon Harris, laboratory director.
“Although the ISO 15189 Standard is not currently mandated in the U.S., the College of American Pathologists believes laboratories that work toward its implementation have committed resources and ideas to a quality system focused on the needs of the patient,” said William Castellani, M.D., FCAP, chair of the CAP 15189 Committee. “The College is proud to acknowledge those laboratories that have taken this system to heart and demonstrated that this dedication to quality is embraced throughout the facility.”
Texas Health HEB’s laboratory performed more than 770,000 clinical laboratory tests in 2014.
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About Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford is a 304-bed, acute-care facility serving Northeast Tarrant County since 1973. The hospital’s services include women’s services, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, a dedicated oncology unit, comprehensive cardiac services (including cardiac rehabilitation), and behavioral health services through Texas Health Springwood Hospital. Texas Health HEB recently received Level III Trauma Center designation as well as dual accreditation as a Cycle IV Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure Center. The hospital also is accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, certified as a Primary Stroke Center and designated as a "Baby Friendly" facility by WHO and UNICEF.Texas Health HEB is an affiliate of the faith-based, nonprofit Texas Health Resources system. For more information, call 1-877-THR-WELL, or visit TexasHealth.org/HEB.