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Clinical
Laboratory – A Hub of Activity
Phone: (970) 564-2080
e-mail: labdeptmgr@swhealth.orgThe clinical laboratory operates behind the scenes at Southwest Memorial Hospital. The only visibility to the patient is through the receptionist who orders the tests per your doctor’s direction, the phlebotomists or medical technologists that draw blood samples at the bedside or in the outpatient area.
In the clinical lab, many tests are available which measure the amounts of materials such as glucose and cholesterol in the blood, urine, spinal fluid, or other body fluids. The tests are performed to assist doctors in detecting and monitoring a variety of medical conditions and diseases. The SWMH laboratory has a vast array of sophisticated state-of-the art equipment, manned by trained professional to do the testing on the samples. Testing is available in the fields of:
- Hematology - which is the study of blood cells and clotting mechanisms;
- Clinical Chemistry - the analysis of various chemicals in your blood that reflect the functioning of all your major organs, and the determination of levels of therapeutic drugs and drugs of abuse;
- Blood banking and transfusion services which includes the identification of blood types, atypical antibodies and finding compatible blood when a patient needs a transfusion;
- Urinalysis - the analysis of urine for chemical and cellular evidence of various disease states;
- Serology - the identification of disease entities from antibodies left in the blood serum;
- Histology and Cytology - Processing and staining of biopsies, tissues removed in surgery, PAP smears and various body fluids to reveal malignancies and other disease states in preparation for analysis by the Pathologist;
- Microbiology - which is the isolation and identification of bacteria, viruses and parasites.
The laboratory also provides for the referral and transport of the highly specialized tests that cannot be done at Southwest Memorial Hospital to national reference labs.
The clinical laboratory is staffed by trained, experienced professionals called medical technologists, microbiologists and histologists. Most the personnel have a B.S., A.S., or A.A. degree in Chemistry, Biology, or Medical Technology, have taken and passed an examination in the field of laboratory science to receive certification by one of the national certifying agencies in laboratory medicine. The hospital also employs personnel called phlebotomists who are trained only to collect the blood samples and do the initial processing necessary for testing.
The lab is under the direction of Alex R. Cudkowicz, M.D., a pathologist certified in clinical and anatomical pathology.
The lab is certified by The College of American Pathologists, an organization that has been deemed by the federal government (HCFA & CLIA) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) to inspect hospital laboratories. In order to meet their standards, the lab must adhere to rigid guidelines of quality control and submit to outside proficiency testing in all the areas of testing which is provided by the hospital. The SWMH lab is inspected by a team sent by the C.A.P. on site, every two years.
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1311 N. Mildred Rd. • Cortez, Co, 81321
Main Hospital: 970-565-6666 • Emergency Room: 970-564-2025
