Excellent 2004 Accreditation Survey Outcomes achieved by Phoenix IHS
Network Clinical Laboratories
 The surveys demonstrated that all of the labs are delivering safe,
reliable, and quality services for patients and clients served. All
Phoenix Area (PA) hospital and outpatient clinic medical laboratories are
accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation Health Care
Organizations (JCAHO). To meet this requirement, Phoenix laboratories
were surveyed individually by JCAHO in June and July of this year in a process recognized by
Medicare.
The labs are all part of the Phoenix Area IHS Network of health
care providers. Phoenix
is the only IHS Area where the Joint Commission surveys and evaluates
all clinical laboratories as a network organization. In this
process the same Joint Commission surveyor evaluates each of the laboratories
ensuring the survey process is consistent throughout allowing trends
for network wide improvement to be recognized and improved.
Survey outcomes in 2004 were excellent with only a few requirements
for improvement cited at Area laboratory locations. For more details of site specific
survey results, visit the JCAHO web site. The Centers for
Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) officially recognizes JCAHO
accreditation as an accrediting body meeting the requirements of
the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) of 1988 to survey
CLIA standards.
The Joint Commission has been accrediting medical laboratory services
since 1979. Laboratories eligible for Joint Commission accreditation
include those in large and small hospitals, clinics, and reference
laboratories nation wide. JCAHO accreditation supports internal
quality improvement activities, offers clinical staff an educational
experience and enhances the image of IHS health care programs and
services throughout Phoenix Area. The accreditation survey evaluates
a laboratory’s compliance with the most up to date national
standards. PA Network laboratories are required to be surveyed
every two years by expert medical technologists to maintain accreditation.
For more information, contact the Phoenix Area Quality Assurance
office at (602)364-5164.
|
