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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 7, 2007 - 11 Focus on Laboratory Medicine Positive Patient Identification (PPID) System Enhances Patient Safety at HHS Patients at OTMH may notice that their hospital wristband now includes a bar code similar to those found on their groceries. This bar code is part of a new system at the hospital that will enhance patient identification and specimen labeling. Halton Healthcare Services' Laboratory at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital was the first in Canada to pilot a new electronic patient identification system called Mobilab by Iatric Systems in the Spring of 2007. This positive patient identification (PPID) and labeling system improves patient safety by reducing patient and specimen identification errors. For phlebotomists or laboratory staff who travel throughout the hospital drawing blood specimens for laboratory testing, this system helps organize their day and streamlines their workload. Based on barcode technology, the PPID system consists of a wireless handheld computer with a fully integrated scanner and a portable barcode label printer. When tests are ordered for a patient, the request is transmitted by a wireless connection to the handheld computer of one of the OTMH phlebotomists within seconds. At the bedside, the phlebotomist scans the patient's barcode identification on the hospital wristband to make sure that the barcode on the wristband matches that of the patient requiring the tests. "This technology helps us make significant safety advancements in patient identification and specimen labeling. It is an invaluable tool to improve patient safety," explains Kathryn Snell, HHS Laboratory Services Technical Director. "It ensures that specimens are collected from the right patient, at the right time, into the right container ­ and all are accurately labelled at the patient's bedside." Did You Know... · 22,000 surgical tissue biopsies · 2.14 million blood tests · 316,000 microbiology tests The OTMH Laboratory is a hub of activity. Over the last year it conducted: · 5,950 units of blood and blood products transfused · More than 80,000 Complete Blood Count (CBC) tests · 10,000 blood gas tests on critical and ICU patients Community Support in Action Today, government funding does not cover the majority of our equipment costs. It is thanks to community support and the efforts of the Oakville Hospital Foundation, that we can purchase the equipment to do all these tests. ? Thanks to donations this past year, the Laboratory at OTMH has some new state-of-the-art medical equipment to help provide the most reliable, accurate tests results possible ­ a new Haemotology Analyzer and two (2) Blood Gas Analyzers. Haemotology Analyzer A Haematology Analyzer is an automated machine that prepares and runs a panel of tests to examine the different cells in your blood. The results of the CBC (Complete Blood Count) are used to diagnose infections, dietary problems and hereditary conditions. It can also assess the severity of blood loss and monitor drug or radiation treatment. A CBC test is ordered for one in five people coming in to the Emergency Department. - Over $275,000 was raised for this machine. Blood Gas Analyzers A Blood Gas Analyzer measures and analyzes the gases in a patient's blood stream in seconds. It provides our doctors and nurses with invaluable information ­ especially when stabilizing patients in critical care (ER or ICU). These sophisticated machines are also used to diagnose carbon monoxide poisoning and to measure smoke inhalation in fire victims. Each Blood Gas Analyzer costs $37,600. - Generously donated to OTMH in loving memory of Barbara Varty. " - Dr. Nancy Liu Laboratory medicine is a service that supports all aspects of patient care at Halton Healthcare Services. The work in our hospitals is made possible through the testing and analysis performed by our Laboratory team behind the scenes. Our critical information forms the basis for over 80% of medical decisions. Medical Director of HHS Laboratory Medicine OAKVILLE-TRAFALGAR MEMORIAL HOSPITAL · 327 REYNOLDS STREET · OAKVILLE · ON · L6J 3L7 · 905-845-2571 " For more information about donating to OTMH, call the Oakville Hospital Foundation at 905-338-4642 or log on to www.oakvillehospitalfoundation.com