CRISFIELD — The Edward W. McCready Memorial Hospital has announced it earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Laboratory Services Accreditation by demonstrating continuous compliance with its performance standards.

The Gold Seal of Approval is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care.

The McCready Lab underwent a rigorous, unannounced on-site survey in February. During the review, a Joint Commission expert surveyor evaluated compliance with laboratory standards related to several areas, including document and process control, healthcare-associated conditions, risk reduction, and staff qualifications and competency. The surveyor also conducted on-site observations and interviews.

The Joint Commission has accredited hospital laboratory services since 1979 and freestanding laboratories since 1995. More than 1,500 organizations, including laboratories in hospitals, reference labs, blood transfusion and donor centers, public health laboratories, and point-of-care test sites, currently maintain Laboratory Services Accreditation from The Joint Commission, awarded for a two-year cycle.

“Joint Commission accreditation provides laboratories with the processes needed to improve in a variety of areas from specimen collection to result reporting,” said Stacy Olea, MT(ASCP), FACHE executive director, Laboratory Services Accreditation program, The Joint Commission.

“We are pleased to receive accreditation from The Joint Commission, the premier health care quality improvement and accrediting body in the nation,” stated Joy Strand, McCready CEO. “Our lab staff continually work together to develop and implement approaches and strategies improve care for the patients in our community.”

The McCready Lab is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to noon.  Walk-ins welcome and appointments are not needed, for more information call 410-968-1047.