(Friday, September 13, 2019; Dededo, Guam) The Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) Laboratory received its reaccreditation by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in August 2019. GRMC received its initial CAP accreditation in 2018.
“The inspection is very thorough,” said Laboratory director and pathologist Mohamad Alsabban, MD, “they meticulously examine every piece of equipment and process to ensure our accuracy and safety. It’s quite an accomplishment to be accredited by CAP.”
The accreditation process includes an on-site inspection by the Accreditation Committee, who also examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications, equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management.
“I am really happy with performance of our staff in the lab. They are doing an excellent job at keeping the GRMC laboratory operating at optimum efficiency, so we were renewed by CAP, but more importantly, for the benefit of our patients,” said Chief Medical Officer Felix T. Cabrera, MD.
The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program began in the 1960s and is recognized by the US federal government as being equal-to or more-stringent-than its own inspection program for laboratories. GRMC’s laboratory is also accredited by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, or CLIA, which regulates all laboratory testing performed on humans in the U.S., other than research, under the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS).
“Our vision at GRMC is to be the premier healthcare system to Guam and the Micronesia region,” said president and CEO Michael Cruz, MD, “our team accomplishes this when we achieve goals like renewing our CAP accreditation. I am very proud of our Lab team.”