Baptist Health Paducah laboratories earn reaccreditation

The Baptist Health Paducah clinical laboratories on the hospital campus and at Strawberry Hills, and the blood gas laboratory were all recently reaccredited by the College of American Pathologists.

The Baptist Health Paducah clinical laboratories on the hospital campus and at Strawberry Hills, and the blood gas laboratory were all recently reaccredited by the College of American Pathologists.

The Baptist Health Paducah lab has been accredited for 46 years. There are more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities worldwide. 

The two-year accreditation follows an intensive on-site assessment and establishes that the level of technical and administrative performance meets or exceeds national standards.

“The CAP accreditation procedure is voluntary,” said Jena Flood, Baptist Health Paducah laboratory director. “Baptist seeks CAP accreditation every two years because this program assists facilities around the world in achieving excellence by promoting a level of professional and technical expertise that contributes to quality performance and patient safety.”

The US government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, which began in the early 1960s, as being equal or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program. 

“I appreciate the hard work of the members of the respiratory therapy department to make sure our blood gas laboratory remains accredited by the CAP,” added Jeffrey Clarke, MD, who serves as the blood gas lab’s medical director.