Harris Regional Hospital laboratory receives accreditation from College of American Pathologists

1/7/2013

Harris Regional Hospital laboratory receives accreditation from College of American Pathologists

Sylva, N.C. – The Harris Regional Hospital laboratory recently received national recognition for quality through accreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The accreditation means the laboratory is ensuring the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients and was granted based on the results of a recent on-site inspection. The laboratory at Harris is one of only 7,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide. Dr. Larry Selby, a pathologist, is the medical director for the laboratory. 

During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management. 

“We had a tremendous result from the inspection,” said Dr. Selby. “Our lab did very, very well.” 

The U.S. Federal Government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, as being equal-to or more-stringent-than the government’s own inspection program. Harris Regional Hospital laboratory is one of only 7,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide. 

The Harris inpatient lab is one of four laboratories managed by Kim Saunooke, a medical technologist and longtime WestCare staff member. Saunooke is also responsible for MedWest-Swain’s inpatient lab, the outpatient lab at Harris Medical Park, and the outpatient lab at MedWest-Franklin, all CAP-accredited labs. 

For more information on the College of American Pathologists and their accreditation program, visit www.cap.org.