Women's Health Laboratories
Women's Health Laboratories (WHL) is part of the Texas Department of State Health
Services' system of laboratories and is headquartered at the Texas
Center for Infectious Disease (TCID) in San Antonio. WHL specializes
in preventative screening services. The largest component of its
practice is anatomic pathology (cytopathology and surgical pathology)
and sexually transmitted disease screening services. A wide range
of clinical laboratory services is also available including: maternity
and family planning screens; thyroid, cholesterol, and hormone evaluations;
and the usual clinical reference laboratory tests.
WHL started as a pilot project in 1978 in response to the TDH Bureau
of Maternal and Child Health's difficulty in finding reliable, cost
effective, quality laboratory services. The WHL program began by
performing cytology screening of pap smears only. Since that time,
WHL has added surgical pathology, sexually transmitted disease screening,
and clinical laboratory testing services. Women's Health Laboratories
(WHL) supports clients throughout the State of Texas. Clients are
located in 221 Texas counties. Last year WHL provided services for
290,440 Texas citizens. With the acquisition of the clinical lab
and the expanded client base, the numbers will increase.
The following laboratory services are provided:
- Cytology Screening (pap smear and non-gyn)
- Surgical Pathology
- Autopsy Pathology
- STD screening (Chlamydia, GC, Syphilis)
- Chemistry
- Special Chemistry
- Hematology
- Immunology
- Urinalysis
- Coagulation
- Transfusion Medicine
- General Microbiology
- Parasitology
- Mycology (fungal testing)
- Mycobacteriology (TB, MIC's)
- HPLC determination of TB drug levels
As a component of DSHS, public health and educational services
are vital to the mission of WHL. WHL maintains a current
database for epidemiological studies on cervical cancer and
dysplasia and provides education to providers or DSHS Programs on
topics such as Carcinoma, TB, and infectious diseases. We also
provide a Practical Training facility for the University of
Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC)-School of Cytotechnology
students; Mentoring Program for new cytotechnologists;
Practical training facility for Medical Laboratory Technician
students from St. Phillips College; Intern training for students
interested in Medical Technology; Texas Jobs Program site to
train welfare recipients marketable job skills. WHL is entering
a new program this year -- to train long term TB patients for
marketable job skills to help them gain productive employment
upon their release.
WHL is currently providing services for the following
Programs: Bureau of Clinical and Nutritional Services (Title V, X, & XX), Bureau of
Chronic Disease (BCCCP-Title XV), TB Elimination, Bureau of
Labs, Texas Health Steps, Medicaid, Medicare, South Texas
Hospital, Texas Center for Infectious Disease, MHMR-San Antonio
State Hospital and State School, Public Health Care Providers
throughout Texas and County & Local Health Departments. WHL
has an affiliation and quality oversight agreement with the
UTHSC-San Antonio.
WHL's professional staff is made up of Board certified
Pathologists, Cytopathologists, Ph.D.s, MBAs,
Cytotechnologists, Medical Technologists, Microbiologists,
Histotechnologists and other certified laboratory personnel. A
dedicated support staff is highly trained to assist in all areas
and to provide client support services.
WHL remains on the cutting edge of technology with planned
upgrade of the Anatomic Pathology computer system, state of the
art microscopes and a WEB based physician-office link. This
software will allow clinics to order tests and supplies from
their existing patient database and allow WHL to E-Mail security
encrypted results back to the clinics. This will greatly save
time and effort and will markedly decrease paperwork and mailing
costs.
Women's Health Laboratories is on the move, changing with the
emerging health care environment and technology. Be a part of
the change and contact WHL Customer Services Department at (210)
531-4506 or write to Women's Health Laboratories, 2303 S.E.
Military Dr., San Antonio, Texas 78223.
Contact Info:
Women's Health Laboratories
2303 S.E. Military Dr., Bldg 533, Suite #1
San Antonio, TX 78223-3597
Phone (210) 531-4596 Toll-Free (888) 440-5002
FAX (210) 531-4506
Medical Director
Branch Manager
Customer Service:
Billing:
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