Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Community Healthcare - (Page 4)
Timely
Answers,
Quality
Treatment
Rapid results program
expands for better care
By ElisE sims
I
s it cancer or not? Immediately knowing if a
test result is positive or negative-cancer or not
cancer-can make a world of difference for patients
and physicians. A decisive answer to that agonizing question can now be delivered within hours
instead of days, thanks to innovative thinking and change
in processes by the Central Laboratory of the hospitals of
Community Healthcare System.
Community Healthcare System's team of laboratory
professionals have reduced the wait time for a majority of the patients who undergo biopsy procedures at
Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital
in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart
to less than 36 hours-something few places in the country do in response to this need. It means less worry and
stress for patients who inevitably fear the worst.
The belief that waiting for results can be harmful to
one's health was reinforced earlier this year when a
4
WINTE R 2 013
"With the rapid results reporting project, we set out to reshape
healthcare without compromising accuracy," says Brenda Eriksen,
MD, medical director of the Central Laboratory that services the
hospitals of Community Healthcare System.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2013 - Community Healthcare