INDIANAPOLIS – A new collaboration
between two medical groups will expand the lab capabilities at Franciscan St.
Francis Health-Indianapolis, adding new technology and automation to bolster
diagnostic testing for the hospital.
PCL
Alverno and Beckman Coulter have installed a
fully automated system that manages lab processes at Franciscan St. Francis
more efficiently. The system has been integrated gradually over the last
several months.
“The modernization of the laboratory is
important because it makes everyone’s job more efficient and enables
technologists to provide results with greater accuracy,” said Debra Berner,
Alverno Laboratory Director at Franciscan St. Francis.
“This increases staff safety by eliminating the need to handle specimens, and
the automation frees up technologists to handle more complex specimens and
cases.”
The Hammond, Indiana-based Alverno provides
more than 750 types of tests in clinical and
anatomic pathology for Franciscan Alliance’s 13 hospitals, other hospitals,
physicians and research groups. Alverno processes more than 23 million tests
each year.
The Indianapolis
hospital is the first within Franciscan Alliance to deploy the new system.
“Instruments are the core driver of any lab
operation, said Sam Terese, Alverno’s president and chief operating officer.
“We have not just overhauled our labs with new laboratory technology solutions
– we also have worked closely with Beckman Coulter to apply deep process
advancements to ensure we are equipped to offer higher levels of service to
patients and physicians.”
Automation long has been regarded as
integral for labs to achieve greater efficiency, accuracy, standardization,
quality and patient safety.
“With
automation, labs can more effectively meet high demands while reducing costs
and maintaining quality,” Terese said. “It is a necessary option for labs
seeking to remain competitive.”
The Franciscan St. Francis lab will
formally unveil its automated system and new instrumentation at a ribbon-cutting
Friday, May 29. Hospital leaders and executives from Alverno and Beckman
Coulter will join lab staff, who will demonstrate how the system works.
