Bridgeport, WV—The Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists
(CAP) has awarded accreditation to United Hospital Center Main Laboratory,
Bridgeport, West Virginia, based on results of a recent on-site inspection as part of the
CAP’s Accreditation Programs. Recognized for rigorous and robust standards, CAP
accreditation elevates quality, and mitigates risk, an important way that laboratories can
contribute to improved patient outcomes.
The facility’s director, Gerald T. Wedemeyer, MD, was advised of this national
recognition and congratulated for the excellence of the services being provided. United
Hospital Center Main Laboratory is one of more than 8,000 CAP-accredited facilities
worldwide.
“This award only further validates the high-quality standards performed by our
laboratory at UHC,” said Dr. Wedemeyer. “It is an honor to be nationally recognized
once again for providing excellent laboratory services.”
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. CAP inspectors also examine laboratory staff qualifications,
equipment, facilities, safety program and record, and overall management. These
reviews help verify the most recent best practices.
With more than 23,000 laboratory participants, in addition to accreditation, the CAP
offers proficiency testing/external quality assessment (PT/EQA) programs, quality
improvement tools, protocols, and guidelines to ensure excellence in all areas across
the laboratory. Built on a foundation of pathologist expertise, the College of American
Pathologists (CAP) partners with laboratories worldwide to elevate the quality of
laboratory medicine with best-in-class solutions designed to drive operational
excellence, achieve diagnostic confidence, and ensure the best patient care.
About the College of American Pathologists
As the world’s largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider
of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American
Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and
advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide.
For more information, visit the CAP Newsroom, CAP.org, and yourpathologist.org to
watch pathologists at work and see the stories of the patients who trust them with their
care.
About United Hospital Center
United Hospital Center (UHC) is the result of a merger between St. Mary’s and Union
Protestant hospitals in 1970. This bold move provides North Central West Virginia with
a regional community hospital that offers a vast array of services. The new UHC opened
in 2010 and is located along I-79 in Bridgeport. The 736,403 square foot structure rises
eight stories. It is designed around the environment with the patient, family, employees,
and community in mind—which includes enhanced patient privacy, a high level of
technology integration, and improved access to care. The acute care facility has 292
private inpatient rooms and a medical staff that consist of more than 366 physicians,
advanced practice providers, and allied health professionals. UHC has more than 2,450
employees and is a member of WVU Medicine (West Virginia United Health System).
For more information about UHC, please visit uhcwv.org.