BMLH Laboratory Accredited by College of American Pathologists
WARE — Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, a member of Baystate Health, has again been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection. The Laboratory director, Dr. Evrim Erdogan, was advised of this national recognition.
Baystate Mary Lane Hospital’s Laboratory joins the more than 7,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, which began in the 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program, said Laura Pearson-Smith, Laboratory manager at Baystate Mary Lane, adding that CAP is an advocate for high-quality and cost-effective medical care.
“During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examined the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examined the entire staff’s qualifications; the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program, and documentation; as well as the overall management of the laboratory. To have the distinction of being accredited by the CAP is an acknowledgment of excellence. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the laboratory’s patients.”
Baystate Mary Lane Hospital’s Laboratory currently processes almost 200,000 tests per year. Laboratory test selection and test interpretation are performed in hematology, including urinalysis, immunology, serology, clinical chemistry, toxicology, and transfusion medicine. BMLH also offers a walk-in Radiology and Laboratory Patient Service Center from a satellite location at 95 Sargent St. in Belchertown. All specimens are tested within the laboratory at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital or sent to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
