By BBGH
Box Butte General Hospital (BBGH) Laboratory has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Laboratory Accreditation (COLA), a leading national laboratory accreditor recognized for its rigorous, education-based approach to quality assurance and patient safety.
“This achievement reflects the dedication, professionalism, and teamwork of our entire laboratory team,” said Angelica Valdez, Laboratory Manager at BBGH. “Day in and day out, our staff approaches their work with precision and a deep sense of responsibility to the patients we serve.”
COLA accreditation is granted to clinical laboratories that demonstrate unwavering commitment to the highest operational standards. To earn this distinction, BBGH Laboratory underwent a comprehensive evaluation process that included consistent accuracy in proficiency testing, adherence to United States Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) requirements and other applicable regulatory standards, and a thorough on-site laboratory survey conducted by COLA assessors.
Gail Burke, Accreditation Specialist, also expressed her appreciation for the team’s commitment. “Achieving COLA accreditation is no small undertaking. It requires sustained diligence across every facet of laboratory operations. The BBGH Lab team embraced this process with professionalism and thoroughness, and their effort speaks for itself. This accreditation gives our patients additional confidence in the accuracy and reliability of their lab results.”
The BBGH Lab also held a blood drive at the hospital in May, and community participation was outstanding. A total of 49 units of blood were donated, and because each donation can help up to three people in critical situations, these donations have the potential to impact as many as 147 lives!
The blood was collected by Western Blood Bank, helping ensure donations remain local and available to patients throughout the Nebraska Panhandle. Communities members showed up in a meaningful way and BBGH is incredibly grateful for everyone who took the time to donate and support their neighbors in need. The BBGH Lab is planning to hold another blood drive later this year and wants to challenge the community to increase the number of units donated. To learn more about the BBGH lab, visit our services page on our website: www.bbgh.org
Box Butte General Hospital is the successor of St. Joseph Hospital, serving the healthcare needs of Box Butte County and the surrounding area since 1976. Box Butte General Hospital is accredited by DNV, a global independent certification, assurance, and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries.
BBGH is a non-profit, Critical Access Hospital with 25-beds for all patient types- acute, observation, swing bed, etc.- with a staff of over 300 employees providing a variety of services. Box Butte General Hospital is an equal opportunity provider and employer.