JUNEAU, Alaska — The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is proud to announce that the SEARHC laboratories have been nationally recognized for their outstanding quality and performance. This prestigious honor follows recent biennial inspections by both the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA).
SEARHC laboratories across the Consortium underwent rigorous inspections with remarkable results. In June, SEARHC’s Ethel Lund Medical Center (ELMC) in Juneau, Haines Medical Center and the Sitka Medical Center (SMC) laboratories, underwent inspections by COLA. Each lab received outstanding results, achieving perfect surveys. The ELMC and SMC labs were further honored with laboratory excellence awards from COLA, reflecting their commitment to maintaining high standards. Earlier in April, the Mt. Edgecumbe Medical Center laboratory in Sitka was accredited following its biennial inspection by CAP in critical testing areas such as chemistry, hematology, microbiology, blood banking and laboratory leadership.
These achievements place SEARHC laboratories within the top one percent of laboratories nationally for achieving the highest quality standards.
“These are extraordinary achievements that reflect the dedication and professionalism of our laboratory teams,” said Constance Stager, SEARHC System Director of Laboratory Services. “It also speaks to the strong collaboration across departments — providers, nurses, surgical teams, clinics and administration — whose dedication to patient care and quality services all play a role in supporting our work.”
The College of American Pathologists’ accreditation is widely regarded as the gold standard in laboratory quality, exceeding regulatory requirements and helping labs improve accuracy, safety and efficiency to benefit patients directly. COLA accredits nearly 8,000 medical laboratories and provides the clinical laboratory with a program of education, consultation and accreditation.
“This level of recognition is not something that happens by accident,” Stager added. “It’s a reflection of SEARHC’s broader commitment to excellence and safety in every aspect of care. We are honored to receive recognition on a national level.”
For more information about SEARHC and its laboratory services, visit searhc.org.
About SEARHC
Established in 1975, SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is one of the largest Native-run healthcare organizations in the United States. Operating as an independent and nonprofit health Consortium, SEARHC provides a comprehensive range of health-related services, including primary, urgent and specialty medical care, dental services, behavioral health support, wellness programs, optometry services and more. We proudly serve 26 communities across the diverse region of Southeast Alaska and are dedicated to improving the health, well-being and quality of life for all people in these communities. For more information about our services and community health initiatives, visit searhc.org.
Media Contact
Matt Carle, searhcnewsroom@searhc.org, 907.903.8210
Download the press release here.