Laboratory Expansion Offers State-Of-The-Art Capabilities Pages 2-3
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Licking Memorial Health Systems Volume 15, Issue 5 September/October 2018 Laboratory Expansion Offers State-of-the-Art Capabilities pages 2-3 LMHS Medical Campus Expansion Project page 3 Alternative Therapy Improves Symptoms of Depression page 4 Project SEARCH Program Returns to LMHS page 15 Check out our Quality Report Cards online at www.LMHealth.org. See pages 18-25 for Quality Report Cards in this issue. Measurably Different ... for Your Health! Laboratory Expansion LMHS Medical Campus Offers State-of-the-Art Capabilities Expansion Project The Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) The new equipment is engineered Additionally, as samples move testing to our patients, while enhancing In early July, Licking Memorial Laboratory Department is undergoing to optimize run time by allowing the through the automated track system, the work environment for our Health Systems (LMHS) began significant renovations and equipment operator to load reagents without any specialized modules perform tasks that employees.” construction on a 32,210 square foot upgrades. The Core Lab, which pauses in sample testing. The single eliminate possibilities for employees addition to the Licking Memorial performs testing for chemistry and loading point for specimens also will to be exposed to samples that could Furthermore, the new design features Medical Campus located at hematology, is responsible for the increase efficiency. After the testing potentially contain infectious materials. movable workspaces, allowing for 1717 West Main Street in Newark. majority of the testing completed in the phase of the specimen is completed, Several new instruments possessing future expansion, increasing efficiency The Medical Campus building sits Department, totaling over 5,000 tests per it is routed to the sealer module to updated technology will be situated as other laboratory fields are added on nearly 14 acres of property that day. A two-year research and evaluation prepare the specimen for archival and along the automated track, acting as to the line. The renovation, which was originally purchased in 2004. process to select the proper vendor storage. After each specimen is sealed, the workhouse for the Lab and providing will cost more than $1 million, is a Currently, the LMHS facility is the and equipment included demonstration it moves to the refrigerator storage unit. fast and accurate results. Each piece long-term investment for LMH and location for three medical practices: units, allowing staff to test equipment The 9,000-sample refrigerated storage of equipment offers an administrative incorporates numerous aspects of Center For Sight, Licking Memorial functionality and accessibility. Four new module accurately tracks all specimens suite of reporting mechanisms, providing construction, Family Practice – West Main and instruments will be installed and upon contained inside, allowing the Medical timely and accurate data. The updated including electrical, Licking Memorial Orthopedic completion, which is expected in April Laboratory Scientist to locate and retrieve instruments can perform up to 240 tests plumbing and Surgery. 2019, LMH will be the only Hospital any specimen needed for additional per hour even during peak workload. information in the state with this combination of testing. It also automatically locates and Backup equipment also will now be systems. The Medical Campus addition, instrumentation and testing capabilities. discards samples that are expired. The available. which will mirror the design of current method requires the Medical the existing building, will serve as Currently, the Laboratory areas are Laboratory Scientist to manually file “This is an extremely exciting project for the new location for expanded sectioned off by aisles that obstruct the tubes in order, so each can be our Department,” said Lorei Reinhard, Physical, Occupational and Speech the view of employees and inhibit located if needed. This method leaves Director of Laboratory Services. “As a Therapy services to accommodate communication between them. Patient a chance for error and potentially can be community hospital, we are proud to be patient needs. Dermatology and samples are dropped off at various counterproductive if a specimen is filed able to offer such timely, comprehensive Gastroenterology physician offices, locations making workflow inefficient. incorrectly. as well as a Wellness Center, also The new open-concept Laboratory will will be located in the expanded allow employees to see one another facility. In addition, an extended visually, improving interdepartmental parking area and an access road communication and teamwork while from Terrace Drive are included reducing errors. in the project. Throughout several stages, an The general contractor is Corna automated track system will replace Kokosing and several local the current layout. This technology companies are assisting with the will help streamline the work of project, including Gutridge Plumbing Laboratory employees. Presently, many and Claypool Electric. Construction Medical Laboratory Scientists spend a is projected to be completed by considerable amount of time on process May 2019. tasks, unable to fully utilize critical thinking and technical skills. The new automated system will perform many of these manual steps that take additional time. A Medical Laboratory Scientist will be able to focus more closely on the samples that need their technical expertise and less time on duties such as sorting, de-capping, re-capping, storing and retrieval. This focus will result in more predictable turn-around times, an increase in sample tracking, and fewer human errors. 2 Community Connection September/October 2018 3 Alternative Therapy LMH Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Staff Improves Symptoms of Depression Reunites with Former Patients Repetitive transcranial magnetic very rapidly. TMS magnetic fields do and typically feel a tapping sensation stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive not affect the whole brain, but only under the treatment coil. Individuals A special reunion event at Licking the great team we have on the unit and to “I can’t begin to count the ways the Acute procedure that uses magnetic fields reach about 2 to 3 centimeters into the are required to wear earplugs during Memorial Hospital (LMH) on August 16 celebrate the tremendous progress each of Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit prepared me to stimulate nerve cells in the brain brain directly beneath the treatment coil. treatment for their comfort and hearing reconnected former patients of the Acute you have made,” Dr. Koontz said. for my trip home,” Marilyn said. “Once I and improve symptoms of depression. During the process, the magnetic fields protection, as TMS produces a loud Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit with the staff was released, I continued my prescribed TMS is used for the treatment of major move into the brain and produce very clicking sound with each pulse. Each members who helped them become more The featured speaker was Marilyn Sundin, exercises every day. The efforts paid depressive disorder in adult patients small electrical currents. Each magnetic treatment lasts about an hour with independent after an illness, accident or a Chicago native who has resided in off two months after surgery when the who have failed to achieve satisfactory field is the same type and strength as the entire treatment course consisting surgery. The patients and their guests Granville since 1957. She received her walker I had been using for assistance improvement from prior antidepressant that produced by a magnetic resonance of five treatments per week over a enjoyed a catered dinner in the LMH Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from The permanently went into the attic. The medication. The therapy also has imaging machine. The electrical currents six-week period. Adverse effects are Café, received massages and blood Ohio State University, then served as the work all of the staff members did with me shown benefits for patients experiencing activate neurons within the brain which uncommon, but can include feelings pressure screenings, explored Academic Administrative Assistant at the while I was a patient on the Unit enabled postpartum depression. are thought to release neurotransmitters, of lightheadedness, temporary hearing informational tables, and met others who Denison University Department of my quick recovery. All I can say is thank such as serotonin, norepinephrine problems, mild headaches and tingling in also participated in acute rehabilitation. Theatre from 1978 through her retirement you.” During a TMS session, a small and dopamine, that treat depression. the face, jaw or scalp. in 2017. She also has been active with the electromagnetic coil is placed against These are the same neurotransmitters Licking Memorial Health Systems Vice Licking County Players and Weathervane The Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit the scalp above the targeted area of that are provided artificially through The TMS procedure is now available at President Development & Public Relations Playhouse as an actor and director. opened in 2012 on the Hospital’s sixth the brain, called the prefrontal cortex. antidepressant medications; however, Licking Memorial Outpatient Psychiatric Veronica Patton welcomed the attendees floor and is a specialized care center that This part of the brain is involved with TMS provides such directly. Services. The office is open Monday and introduced Acute Inpatient In her more than 60 years as a Licking provides at least three hours of skilled mood regulation.