Harrison Memorial Hospital’s Laboratory Department Receives Accreditation from College of American Pathologists

Harrison Memorial Hospital Laboratory in Cynthiana, KY, has been awarded reaccreditation by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent onsite inspection.

The laboratory’s medical director, Fred Picklesimer, M.D., was advised of this national recognition and congratulated for the excellence of services being provided.

The U.S. federal government recognizes the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, as being equal to or more stringent than the government's own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, designed to ensure the highest standard of care for all laboratory patients, inspectors examine the laboratory's records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management.

The CAP accreditation process occurs every two years. HMH has maintained CAP Accreditation since 2006.

“The achievement of the College of American Pathologists accreditation reinforces our goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in healthcare,” said Dr. Stephen Toadvine, HMH Chief Executive Officer. “Our HMH Laboratory Department is committed to providing the most accurate and timely results possible for our patients. And the accreditation substantiates this commitment.”

The HMH Laboratory Department is a full-service lab, providing quick, convenient service for lab screenings/testing. The HMH outpatient laboratory is located on the first floor in the same area as the radiology and respiratory department, which is to the right after exiting HMH’s front lobby. Private areas are provided for patients to have blood drawn by our qualified phlebotomists.  Operating hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and Saturday from

7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  In addition, HMH patients can also experience the convenience of phlebotomy services in Carlisle.

The lab is staffed 24 hours, 7 days a week and makes every effort to accommodate patients.  Special arrangements can be made with advance notice. The lab staff is made up of phlebotomists, medical laboratory technicians (MLT) and medical technologists (MT). 

Tests and screenings available include CBC, or comprehensive blood count; CMP, or comprehensive metabolic panel; BMP, or basic metabolic panel; PT, or prothrombin time; this is commonly used for patients using blood thinners to ensure blood is thin enough; Extensive thyroid testing; Cancer markers, or indicators of progression or remission of disease like prostate and colon cancers; Lipid panel, cholesterol testing for HDL and LDL levels; Urinalysis; DNA collection and paternity testing collections. In addition, the HMH Laboratory Department offers microbiology testing called Polymerization Chain Reaction (PCR). PCR is a state-of-the-art process, whereby a small, single strand of DNA is isolated and then duplicated repeatedly until it can be detected. Also, in 2020 and 2021, the HMH lab purchased equipment to diagnose COVID-19. The HMH Lab uses PCR testing for COVID-19, which is the most accurate.

HMH is affiliated with Pathology and Cytology Laboratories in Lexington, KY.  Dr. Fred Picklesimer from the group is the HMH lab medical director.