• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

USNH Yokosuka Lab Renovations Equal Enhanced Services

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100503-05
5/3/2010

By Richard McManus, U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka, Japan, completed renovations in its laboratory April 19, bringing to close a three-month project to improve laboratory services.

"We incorporated a linear workflow design into the laboratory area," said Lt. Edgardo Guzman, the laboratory officer at USNH Yokosuka. "Basically, this means we looked at the instruments and equipment we use most often, re-configured them so laboratory staff members have better access to them creating less travel time between highly-used stations."

In a laboratory that processes more than 800 specimens a day from the hospital's core facility, eight branch clinics in mainland Japan, Korea and Diego Garcia and area ships, saving time traveling between stations means more samples can be processed.

The new laboratory area makes processing specimens more efficient, improves the accuracy of results and reduces human error. As part of the re-configuration, the lab added a specimen drop off window to collect all incoming specimens in one location and separated the preparation and processing areas, which is an important safeguard against mislabeling samples.

The driving factor behind this renovation is that nearly 80 percent of the information used by physicians to make medical decisions comes from the clinical laboratory, therefore accuracy and reliable results are imperative for better patient care.

"A patient dropping off a specimen or getting blood drawn may not see many changes, but behind-the-scenes the lab has been transformed," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Brian Lynn, a laboratory technician at USNH. "Where the patient will see the difference is the shorter time it takes for results to come back. Sometimes waiting for these results, or having to get re-tested because of an error, can be stressful and we're happy to be able to alleviate that stress a little."

Although it is relatively simple for patients to drop off specimens, once the samples are in the lab's hands a thorough, verification and testing process takes place. After the specimen has been received, the laboratory confirms that the proper sample is being tested. After confirmation, the specimen is then labeled and prepared for testing. Depending on what type of test is ordered, just preparing the sample can be a lengthy process. Once it is ready to be tested, a combination of technicians, computers and machines analyze the sample and then results are verified and documented. The result is then on its way to the provider so the results can be shared with the patient.

Thanks to the new streamlined environment, laboratory specimen processing will be available sooner to clinicians and their patients.