It’s not like St. Rose laboratory personnel set aside time to prepare for inspection. Instead, it is part of the daily routine.

          And once again the diligence has paid off, said Daran Frevert, technical lab supervisor. The College of American Pathologists (CAP) recently re-accredited the lab, as it has been doing continuously since the early 1970s.

          St. Rose’s lab is one of only a few dozen CAP-accredited labs in Kansas and the only one in Barton County; there are about 2,200 medical labs in the state.

          “This is the gold standard – the best of the best,” Frevert said. “St. Rose patients, their families and all the physicians can be assured of quality results thanks to this team.”

          Centura Health, St. Rose’s umbrella organization, has brought a high level of expertise to the lab table, Frevert commented.

          “Centura has standardized all lab work and offers all the resources we need,” Frevert said. “They insist on quality and adhere to a high standard of practice.

          “There is a Centura team for every lab specialty so we can focus our energy here on the lab work itself,” she continued. “This is what we want to do – serve our patients. You could spend hours and hours updating procedures but Centura takes care of it; they are a tremendous help.”

          The lab employs 13 people who have many years of combined experience. This longevity is important, Frevert said, because it results in efficiency.

          “We are not always re-training someone,” she explained. “We know what we need to do. Everyone here is well-educated and competent. They have a lot of experience, which is the best teacher.”

          During the recent bi-annual, on-site inspection, a six-member team of pathologists and technologists from Tulsa assessed safety, personnel, quality control and assurance, leadership, competency and the facility itself.

          The experts reviewed lab specialties including chemistry, hematology, blood bank, immunology, microbiology, pathology and cytology.

          Mike Burkhart, director of lab services at St. Rose and St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City, said he relies heavily on the lab professionals. SCH and St. Rose are sister facilities in the Centura family.

          “Daran is sharp and I am impressed with her skills,” said Burkhart, who is at St. Rose weekly. “She knows all the ins and outs, and handles all the day-to-day issues.

          “This group of professionals should be congratulated for the CAP accreditation,” he added. “It is no small feat, especially because the requirements have become more rigorous over the years.”

          Burkhart noted that it is crucial to have a knowledgeable lab team because physicians rely heavily on test results.

          “We provide so much of what a physician needs to make a diagnosis,” Burkhart explained. “Physicians here can be assured of quality results. We even use our lab as a physician recruitment tool.”

          Dr. Edward “Dusty” Jones, St. Rose lab medical director, noted that even though the facility has been CAP-accredited for about four decades, success during inspection “is not a slam dunk. And it is important to know that St. Rose chooses to seek CAP accreditation even though we don’t have to. Regulations are strict but the time and effort are well worth it.

          “When you have this CAP accreditation, everyone knows you are the best,” Dr. Jones added. “And it is accepted by every agency you can think of. Our community is fortunate to have the leadership of St. Rose and Centura.”

          Centura connects individuals and families across western Kansas and Colorado with more than 6,000 physicians, 15 hospitals, seven senior-living communities, physician practices and clinics, and home-care and hospice services.