Coshocton Hospital Laboratory becomes part of Genesis HealthCare System Lab
ZANESVILLE – In the upcoming weeks, the laboratory services at Coshocton Hospital will undergo a change that will keep routine laboratory testing and a blood draw center in Coshocton, while placing the ownership and management of the laboratory under Genesis HealthCare System.
Under this new model, onsite draws and testing necessary to ensure critical results for patients in the hospital, emergency room, and surgery, as well as processing for outpatient testing, will continue to be provided at Coshocton Hospital. This includes hematology, chemistry and blood bank services. Cytology, histology and microbiology studies that require culture growth and analysis will be performed at Genesis. A courier pick-up and delivery system will allow prompt turnaround of results to physicians and their patients. Board-certified pathologist and medical director of the Coshocton Laboratory, Roger Little, MD, will continue to complete on-site testing for rapid identification of malignancies when an immediate assessment is needed, such as during a surgical procedure.
Under the new structure, laboratory staff will become Genesis employees effective Dec. 16. All employees received job descriptions detailing the qualifications necessary to meet federal requirements outlined in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA). One employee elected to retire, two will not be transitioning to Genesis, one took another position within the organization, and the remaining 15 accepted positions with Genesis.
Tom Havranek, Jr., the current laboratory information systems manager, will become the Coshocton Laboratory Site Manager. He has 21 years of experience with Coshocton Hospital and will oversee the technical and operational functions of the laboratory. Jodi Maziar, a medical laboratory technician who has been employed at Coshocton Hospital since 1993, has been selected as the laboratory coordinator with oversight of day-to-day operations. Dr. Little will continue as the medical director of laboratory services.
This transition has been planned for several months. The decision followed extensive reviews that revealed the integration would greatly reduce cost, create processing efficiencies, and bring enhanced testing services to Coshocton.
“In today’s healthcare environment, small community hospitals can survive and prosper through strategic collaborations that provide the best care delivery and cost efficiencies available for our local communities,” said Lorri Wildi, Coshocton Hospital Interim CEO. “This integration of our laboratory with the Genesis Lab helps us meet high testing standards for our patients while keeping testing and lab draw services here in Coshocton. It’s another example of how Genesis and Coshocton Hospital are working together to keep quality health care services available in Coshocton.”
Category: Business
