Ohio M
i Mercy Is First n Northeast
to Achieve CAP 15189 Accreditation
ERCY MEDICAL CENTER in Canton, OH recently became the fi rst hospital in Northeast Ohio to achieve
the College of American Pathologists CAP 15189 accreditation based on the quality standards outlined by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The accreditation focuses on improved patient safety and risk reduction, outlin- ing standards for quality and competence particular to medical laboratories. CAP 15189 is a voluntary, non-
regulatory accreditation to the ISO 15189:2007 Standards as published by the International Organization for Standardization. The program does not replace the CAP's Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-based Laboratory Accreditation Program, but complements CAP accreditation and other quality systems. The program optimizes processes to improve patient care and strengthen quality standards while reducing institutional errors and risks and controls costs. CAP 15189 is an educational program that offers a highly disciplined approach to implementing and sustaining change. Mercy's laboratory team began prepar-
ing for the accreditation in 2009. The rigorous review included a written appli- cation and several onsite assessments. n
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2011 MDNEWS.COM MD NEWS Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 39
