by Mary Wilson Trider
Can you imagine coming to the hospital, knowing that you didn’t feel well, only to have the doctor say that he or she couldn’t tell what was wrong? Signs and symptoms such as fever, pain or coughing provide clues about what patients might be suffering from but thanks to the evolution of Laboratory Medicine, there are scientific ways to detect, diagnose and treat specific diseases and conditions.
Medical Laboratory Technologists are key members of the Almonte General Hospital (AGH) care team. Through the analysis of blood, urine, serum, tissue and other samples they provide important information that aids in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of illness and chronic conditions in our patients.
The on-site Laboratory offers the following services for registered patients:
- Biochemistry- chemical analysis of blood and other fluids. For example, measuring a diabetic patient’s glucose level
- Coagulation – testing the blood’s clotting ability
- Hematology – the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of blood conditions such as anemia or leukemia
- Immunology – the study of the immune system. Infectious Mononucleosis is an example of something that would be identified through immunology testing
- Transfusion medicine – processing and distributing blood and blood products, including determining blood type.
As members of the Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association (EORLA), AGH has access to more advanced testing at the EORLA central lab located at the Ottawa General Hospital. Specimens that require advanced testing are safely transported by EORLA couriers and the results are reported back to AGH electronically.
AGH’s Laboratory staff have all had post-secondary training in medical laboratory science at the college or university level and are members of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario. The AGH Laboratory is licensed by the Province of Ontario with oversight provided by the Laboratory Director, Dr. Julie Shaw.
Laboratories in Ontario undergo regular peer review through the Ontario Laboratory Accreditation program. Regular readers of this column will remember that AGH had an OLA review in 2014 and came through it with flying colours.
April 19th through April 25th is National Medical Laboratory Week. We are pleased to have this opportunity to recognize and thank the staff of the Almonte General Hospital Laboratory for their commitment to safe, hiqh quality care for the patients and residents we serve.
Mary Wilson Trider is the President & CEO at the Almonte General Hospital
