Above: St. Mary Medical Center and Roche Diagnostics leaders, including St. Mary Medical Center CEO Janice Ryba, third from left, stand in front of the new conveyor-system testing equipment in the St. Mary Medical Center Laboratory.
A new system at Powers Health laboratories reduces time in analyzing and processing tests, giving patients and their healthcare providers answers more quickly.
Powers Health teamed up with Roche Diagnostics to bring groundbreaking, conveyor-system testing equipment to Community Hospital in Munster, St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart.
Roche Diagnostics' Total Solution is only the second clinical laboratory automation system in the country that allows patient samples to be transported up and down, with no reduction in speed or intake.
“We are so excited to have this impressive, lifesaving equipment at our hospitals,” said Elizabeth Yee, vice president of Clinical Ancillary Services for Powers Health. “Every second counts when a patient is experiencing a medical crisis. This equipment gets answers to physicians and our medical teams faster so they can treat patients efficiently for the best possible outcome.”
Total Solution brings together the Roche’s cobas p612 pre-analytical and p701 refrigeration systems to automate many manual tasks, such as sample receipt, centrifugation, aliquoting, sorting and storage of all samples. This automation is combined with Roche’s newest analytical testing solution, the cobas pro system, for the majority of clinical chemistry and immunochemistry testing done in the laboratory.
Total Solution also offers one of Roche’s newest innovations, the CCM Vertical, as part of the sample transportation line. This innovation allows for samples to travel not only at ground level, but it also moves samples on an elevated section above the operators. This allows for better workflow with employees being able to walk under the line – instead of around – to save time.
The CCM Vertical, its elevator and overhead components help low-, mid- and high-volume laboratories optimize space, productivity and patient care. Sample transportation moves up to 1,400 samples per hour and ensures timely results with less blood required from patients.
“The CCM Vertical is the second laboratory conveyor system in the U.S. that moves samples up and down without reducing overall track speed, throughput or turnaround times,” said Brad Moore, president and CEO, Roche Diagnostics North America. “The CCM system is about quality, flexibility and efficiency – helping labs of all sizes meet today’s challenges to increase testing capacity, accelerate results, overcome staffing shortages and reduce errors.”
Community Hospital's CCM Vertical is the second installation to date in the United States and has the longest span, with an elevated line at over 16 feet.
The system also significantly reduces manual steps in the laboratory, enhancing error-free handling, safety and process quality.
“Powers Health is proud to offer this technology to our patients,” said Alan Kumar, MD, chief operating officer. “Our ultimate goal as a healthcare provider is to bring the most advanced and effective technology to the patients we serve. The addition of Roche Diagnostics' Total Solution is a perfect example of how we strive to better the quality of life for those who turn to us for help.”
