Team UHS speeds lab results for faster, better care

In this digital age, everyone looks for results and answers from the best and brightest at the click of a button. The team at UHS understands the desire for peace of mind quickly, which is why UHS Laboratory Services works to get test results back as fast as possible without sacrificing quality and accuracy.

This is made possible by exceptional, comprehensive clinical and anatomical pathology services available right on the premises at UHS, where lab professionals work closely with the medical staff to deliver the best care possible for patients.

UHS’ modern labs feature state-of-the-art analytical equipment and skilled licensed personnel, including board-certified pathologists qualified in many sub-specialties.  The labs offer quick and easy registration, and no appointments are necessary for routine services. Specialized testing may require an appointment or a visit to a UHS lab. There are currently five conveniently located patient service centers and many physician office draw sites available in our community.

Pathology for Better Treatment

UHS operates laboratories at all of our hospitals, with clinical laboratories at UHS Wilson Medical Center and UHS Binghamton General Hospital open 24/7, delivering timely and accurate analysis for everything from basic blood tests to complex pathologic studies.

On staff are pathologists, physicians who have received advanced training and specialization that enable them to make diagnoses of various illnesses by studying blood, fluid and tissue samples. Our superb anatomical and clinical pathology group includes pathologists, licensed medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians, histotechnologists and cytotechnologists, and expert phlebotomists and support staff.

The main role of a pathologist is to use laboratory tests and techniques to determine the presence and type of disease in tissue and fluid samples from your body. They can do this in several different ways and in virtually all areas of medicine, such as oncology, immunology and genetics, to name a few.

The pathologists at UHS Wilson Medical Center provide clinical and anatomical pathology services and diagnostic testing for all four UHS hospitals. They interpret thousands of biopsies each year and perform a variety of other procedures to provide surgeons and other clinical specialists with crucial information necessary for diagnoses. Our physicians work closely with our pathologists to get a better understanding of what is affecting their patients, allowing for better and more comprehensive treatment. The system in place allows the lab team to achieve the quickest possible turnaround time in getting results to physicians and their patients.

Partnerships for Better Results

The UHS Laboratory Services team can conduct hundreds of different tests at our local laboratories. For those tests that are not performed in-house, they have a special connection to the nationally renowned Mayo Clinic.

UHS has been a primary affiliate of the Mayo Clinic for seven years. The partnership offers additional testing, plus consultation for physicians on testing and provider education. UHS is able to offer additional specialized testing, expanding on what is already offered.

“UHS Laboratories innovative approach to keeping testing within our community delivers the best possible patient and provider experience,” said Mary Kielma, MLS(ASCP)SM, MSCPM, PMP, UHS Administrative Director, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.” Local expertise combined with an active partnership with Mayo Clinic gives us a high quality, personal connection with our community that is unique to the region.”

Results are interfaced with UHS technology, helping us keep our same day turnaround time, with results available in UHS MyChart. It all works in connection with keeping results timely so our providers can begin working on a plan of treatment as soon as possible.

Continued Expansion

The UHS lab team is always working on how to best accommodate our patients. Recently, the hours of operation at UHS draw sites have been expanded to accommodate patient need, with some sites opening as early as 6am.

This expansion also includes getting results to our patents quicker. This is made possible with UHS MyChart, a patient portal that allows patients to message their doctors and get lab results all on their mobile device or computer. This allows for results to get to our patients faster, allowing for quicker follow-up and better care.

Watch for our latest innovation in digital pathology with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to further enhance our services.

As we continue to expand our services, we are also looking to expand our team. Our Lab Services team is currently looking for qualified applicants to help in different positions in the lab. For more information, click here.

To learn more about UHS Laboratory Services, including seeing answers to frequently asked questions, plus more information on lab tests and operations, click here.