Kemptville District Hospital Excels in Ontario Laboratory Accreditation Audit

Four members of the KDH lab team at a celebration of their accreditation results (left to right): Kelly Carmichael, Jesse Trousdale, Anna Schlieper and Sue Flynn.

DECEMBER 30, 2013 – The laboratory at Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) did exceedingly well at its recent accreditation audit, achieving a score of more than 97 percent.

With a staff of six, the KDH lab provides round the clock service, analyzing blood, urine and tissue samples for patients in every unit of the hospital, from its Emergency Department through Total Joint Replacement Surgery to Interim Long-Term Care.

“As well as being a requirement for licensing, the accreditation audit confirms that we are providing safe and effective lab services for our patients,” said Anna Schlieper, who oversees the operation of the KDH lab on behalf of the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA). EORLA is the laboratory operator for its 16 member hospitals in the Champlain LHIN, including KDH.

Ontario Laboratory Accreditation (OLA) conducted the audit, sending a team of quality system and technical experts to assess the KDH lab in terms of 464 requirements pertaining to all facets of lab operation. The requirements encompassed policies and procedures for collecting specimens, point-of-care testing (i.e., at the patient’s bedside), transfusions and more.

The audit team reviewed the KDH lab’s quality systems, ensuring that the correct policies and procedures were in place and evaluating how staff carried them out. In addition to inspecting the lab, interviewing lab staff and watching them work, the audit team visited the hospital’s medical and surgical units, assessing the knowledge of nursing staff about various activities related to lab processes.

The audit was conducted the second week of September, 2013. The KDH lab received formal recognition of its success in the audit through accreditation to the OLA 15189Plus^TM standard.

The KDH lab’s audit score of 97 percent is a testament to the commitment of its laboratory staff. “Everybody worked really hard to get ready for the audit – it’s a fantastic team,” enthused Anna Schlieper, “We couldn’t ask for more!”

KDH’s Vice President of Clinical Services, Catherine Van Vliet, agreed: “The members of our lab team are exceptionally dedicated. In fact, four out of our six lab staff have been at KDH for 10 years or more.”

Providing 24/7 lab services means there is always a Laboratory Technologist on call. And sometimes that means driving back and forth from home to the hospital three times in a night. However, it’s all in a day’s work for KDH lab staff. “I love being a part of the team at KDH,” said Laboratory Technologist Sue Flynn. “I enjoy my job and the sense of dedication to patients that we share.”

The laboratory team plays a vital role at KDH, added Van Vliet: “Lab results are important in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of medical decisions are based on the results of laboratory tests. At KDH, our lab is vital for the smooth running of the hospital and for providing the best patient care.”

About Kemptville District Hospital

Kemptville District Hospital is Accredited with Exemplary Standing, the highest ranking bestowed by Accreditation Canada. Committed to building healthier communities, we are a model of hospital-led integrated health services within the provincial health system. Kemptville District Hospital consistently ranks among the top hospitals in Ontario for both patient and employee satisfaction. We pride ourselves on being a good partner within the system. We operate on two sites and provide primary care management services, acute care hospital services, and advanced orthopaedic care.

For further information contact:

Jenny Read, Communications Lead

T: 613-258-6133 Ext. 223

Email: jread@kdh.on.ca