COVINGTON – St. Tammany Health System has partnered with representatives from global healthcare company Abbott to unveil the installation of Abbott’s innovative GLP systems Track automated laboratory solution at the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital. The leading-edge upgrade represents the first installation of the system in Louisiana.
“This milestone reflects not only technical excellence but also a shared commitment to progress and collaboration, all wrapped up in achieving the highest quality patient care,” STHS President and CEO Joan Coffman said. “It aligns beautifully with our vision here at St. Tammany Health System to strengthen the health of our community with compassion, innovation and partnership.”
Custom designed to suit both the health system’s needs and the lab’s existing footprint, the automated system centers on Abbott’s next-generation Smart CAR Technology, which utilizes self-propelled sample carriers – or “CARs” – to route individual patient samples through the lab on a proprietary, belt-free track system.
Working in concert with Abbott’s Alinity ci-series and AlinIQ Digital Health Solutions platforms, the GLP systems Track solution is designed to minimize manual processes by as much as 80%, reduce errors and improve turnaround time for test results.
Although it all happens behind the scenes, each of those benefits has a direct, positive impact on patient care, STHS Chief Operating Officer Jack Khashou said.
“This system allows our med techs to work at the top of their competencies, increase time for physician interactions and consultation, and deliver faster results for patients and their providers,” Khashou said. “Automation also allows our teams to efficiently process high-volume workloads, allowing St. Tammany Health System to grow and offer services in step with the needs of our growing community.”
Following brief remarks and a ribbon cutting earlier this month, those gathered were invited into the lab for a close-up look at the new system in action. There, they watched as dozens of vials in individual CARs – each boasting a unique bar code – zipped between instruments along enclosed tracks resembling high-tech versions of those used by slot-car racers.
Throughout, the automated system repeatedly verified that each CAR – and each vial – was where it was supposed to be in its journey. Final test results were then provided via readout to lab team members for interpretation, dissemination and diagnosis.
The installation of Abbott’s GLP systems Track technology represents only the latest expansion of capabilities for the St. Tammany Parish Hospital Lab, which opened with the hospital in 1954. In its first year, the lab served a reported 1,240 patients. Today, it processes well over a million patient specimens annually, providing timely data to the front-line care providers at the hospital as well as the numerous STHS facilities located throughout the community.
#####
About St. Tammany Health System
The heartbeat of its community, St. Tammany Health System cares for patients and families with excellence, compassion and teamwork. It is recognized for quality, safety and service excellence by CareChex, Leapfrog, Healthgrades, Hospital Compare, Women’s Choice and US News & World Report. St. Tammany Parish Hospital Service District No. 1 and Ochsner Health work together in partnership to improve the community’s health and quality of life. Together, west St. Tammany’s top two independent health leaders represent the most complete system of care, aligning behind the common goals of improving access, expanding specialty care and making care affordable. Under their agreement, each retains its autonomy; neither manages nor owns the other. Self-supporting, not-for-profit STHS is A+ rated by Fitch and receives no tax funding. More at StTammany.health.