MERCY Southeast completes new system to transport patients lab work

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) – Mercy Hospital Southeast recently celebrated completion of its renovated Reference Laboratory.

The lab automation system uses robotics to transport patients’ blood tubes from one area of the lab to another, eliminating manual workflows and freeing up lab staff to focus on quality and accuracy of patient testing services.

Since 2020, Mercy Southeast has upgraded its instruments to Abbott’s newer technology, the Alinity and now GLP systems Track.

This is a total lab solution for Mercy Southeast, that includes instruments for chemistry, immunoassay, molecular testing and lab automation.

In addition, the reference lab has implemented new software, Abbott’s AlinilQ AMS, Indexor, and Inventory Management.

These digital health solutions allow the lab to better manage flow of data through the entire laboratory process, leading to standardized decision making, a reduction in errors by automating manual processes, an alleviation on the impact of staff shortages and a reduction in operational costs.

Mercy Southeast has experienced tremendous growth with its Outreach Lab.

They recognized the need to establish Reference Lab services.

Mercy Southeast currently works with 240 Outreach Lab sites locally and over 350 client locations extending to 17 states throughout the nation.

Lauren Thomas is the executive director of Laboratory and Outreach Services at Mercy Southeast explained, “With these newest technologies, we now have the ability to support additional growth to expand across the country at Mercy Southeast Reference Laboratory. Quality lab results is an expectation of the Providers and patients we serve – Abbott GLP automation helps us to achieve this by reducing manual steps in lab workflows such as sorting and sample aliquoting. We can track a specimen from collection to result using RFID tech and software to ensure that results are accurate and efficient.”

GLP systems Track showcases the intelligent self-propelled single sample carrier – called CAR.

Samples move independently, not attached to rigid, fixed mechanized track systems.

This reduces mechanical failures that can stop the entire system, guaranteeing the continuity of the operation and the flexibility to change when the laboratory requires it.

The automation system is the first in the U.S. for clinical labs featuring this smart CAR technology, which allows samples in self-propelled cars to travel throughout the track without a belt.

This increases flexibility for labs and helps boost performance.

The smart CAR technology streamlines operations so labs can provide quick, accurate results and deliver the best care to patients and customers.

Up to 70% of medical decisions depend on lab test results.

Abbott’s GLP systems Track can increase quality of care by automating lab operations while focusing on cost reduction in healthcare.

The system offers several other advantages:

· Allows samples to travel automatically throughout the system

· Meets demand and maximizes output because it can be customized for each lab

· Works in harmony with lab technicians and staff, making workflows more efficient

· Helps ensure lab worker safety by minimizing contact with patients’ blood samples and preventing exposure to biomedical waste

Across different care settings, this automation system can handle a high number of test tubes each day, up to 25,000, improving turnaround time of test results for patients.

It also can help reduce operational costs and eliminate manual errors.

GLP systems Track is not approved for use in U.S. blood donor and plasma testing laboratories.

About Mercy Southeast Mercy Southeast, one of the 20 largest U.S. health systems and named the top large system in the U.S. for excellent patient experience by NRC Health, serves millions annually with nationally recognized care and one of the nation’s largest and highest performing Accountable Care Organizations in quality and cost.

Mercy is a highly integrated, multi-state health care system including more than 50 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, convenient and urgent care locations, imaging centers and pharmacies.

Mercy has over 900 physician practice locations and outpatient facilities, more than 4,500 physicians and advanced practitioners and 50,000 co-workers serving patients and families across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.

In fiscal year 2023 alone, Mercy provided more than half a billion dollars of free care and other community benefits, including traditional charity care and unreimbursed Medicaid.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life.

Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional’s and branded generic medicines.

Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.