The laboratory technicians at Cook County North Shore Hospital who have once again earned accreditation from the College of American Pathologists are (L-R, kneeling) Bryann Bockovich, Nadine Brown. (L-R, standing) Jennifer Backstrom, RoseAnn TerSteeg, Gine Meissner, Denise Murray, Matt Lin. (Not pictured – Kathy Siesennop).
In May 2010, the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), announced that the Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center Laboratory had once again been awarded accreditation, based on the results of an onsite inspection. Laboratory Technician Jennifer Backstrom said the inspection was “rigorous.”
During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, as well as the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, in addition to the overall management of the laboratory.
“They check everything,” said Backstrom. “There are a lot of regulatory things that must be evaluated and everyone put in a lot of time during the April inspection.”
However, Backstrom said, North Shore Hospital Laboratory staff was ready in part because of the years of experience of the staff—28 years for Gine Meissner and RoseAnn TerSteeg; 21 years for Nadine Brown; and 13 years for Backstrom. They are joined by enthusiastic newcomers— Denise Murray with one year of service; Bryan Bockovich with almost a year; and Matt Linn, a recent addiion to the laboratory. They also benefit from having semiretired Lab Technician Kathy Siesennop still working occasionally.
Meissner said, “We take great pride in our lab results. We realize the impact of lab results on patient care. We know that patients will be treated based on those results.”
The laboratory’s director, Brad J. Davis, MD, of St. Mary’s-Duluth Clinic Pathology oversees operations at the North Shore Hospital Laboratory. The College of American Pathologists contacted Dr. Davis with congratulations on the excellence of the services being provided.
Cook County North Shore Hospital is one of more than 7,000 CAP-accredited laboratories worldwide. The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.
The stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, something the laboratory staff continually strives for. “We take great pride in the level of expertise we provide patients in our small facility,” said Backstrom.
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