Clara Barton Hospital recently acquired a new diagnostic instrument that will allow doctors to receive results of a variety of in-house tests much faster. For patients, this means an improvement in the quality of care. Instead of waiting two to three days for a diagnosis of some conditions, with the help of a Nanosphere, that wait can be cut to mere hours.
The Nanosphere is an automated, multiplex instrument that performs molecular diagnostic testing for C. Difficile bacteria and Enteric Pathogens in the hospital’s lab. It will also allow for additional testing platforms in the future.
“The Nanosphere is good for our patients because it allows for rapid, in-house detection of disease, and subsequent treatment,” said Diane Batchman, Assistant Lab Manager.
Clara Barton Hospital recently acquired a new diagnostic instrument that will allow doctors to receive results of a variety of in-house tests much faster. For patients, this means an improvement in the quality of care. Instead of waiting two to three days for a diagnosis of some conditions, with the help of a Nanosphere, that wait can be cut to mere hours.
Before the purchase of the Nanosphere, Clara Barton Hospital sent lab specimens off to the Affiliated Medical Services Reference Lab in Wichita to be tested. The KPC courier would pick up the specimens from Clara Barton Hospital at 6 p.m. each evening and travel to many other hospitals before reaching its final destination in Wichita. After the specimens were delivered, it could take up to 48 hours to receive the results.
That time span became even longer when holidays or inclement weather prevented the courier from picking up the specimen
.
“Long wait times meant that doctors may have to place the patient in isolation as a precautionary measure.” said Myrtle Whitmore, Lab Manager. Being placed in isolation can result in longer lengths of stay, higher charges, and it can even result in family members and friends being required to wear gowns and gloves when visiting. The wait time also delays the administering of proper medication to patients because the illness was not yet identified.
Instead of sending lab specimens to an alternate location, having the Nanosphere now allows testing to be done in the hospital’s lab and can produce results in as little as two hours. The quick turnaround allows doctors to quickly identify the illness and prescribe the correct medication.
“The Nanosphere is a game changer for us because the quicker results allow our doctors to diagnose and treat our patients in a more timely manner, which can in turn quicken recovery time and reduce the patient’s length of stay,” said Whitmore.
Because the Nanosphere can produce quicker results, the right antibiotics are now being given to the patient at a much faster rate than before.
“The Nanosphere even has the ability to diagnose life-threatening conditions” said Whitmore.
Not all lab testing will be able to be completed in the Clara Barton Hospital lab, but the Nonosphere has made it possible for their lab to process approximately 20 more tests. The addition of the Nanosphere to Clara Barton Hospital provides earlier optimization for patient treatment and improved laboratory and hospital efficiency.
The Nanosphere was partially made possible through generous donations made by many giving supporters. Money was raised to help fund the Nanosphere through a special appeal at the 22nd and 23rd Annual Foundation Benefits. Many patrons also made generous contributions to the “Gift from the Heart” appeal to help fund the Nanosphere. These donors are making a significant impact on the quality of patient care being delivered at Clara Barton Hospital.
“We are so very fortunate to have individuals residing in our community that are passionate about insuring an optimal patient experience,” said Jim Blackwell, Clara Barton Hospital President/CEO. “They are our friends, family and neighbors that tirelessly give of themselves so their community can benefit from this kind of care so close to home.”
