The Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) Healthcare Network's Department of Laboratory Medicine, at ECMC, is a comprehensive, full-range service and reference laboratory dedicated to provide state-of-the-art quality and timely testing results to area physicians and health care providers.
Licensed and accredited by several agencies and organizations including the New York State Department of Health and the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, the Department of Laboratory Medicine uses QA (quality assurance), QM (quality management), and CQI (continuous quality improvement) to strengthen service delivery and ensure superlative laboratory testing. Accuracy, timeliness, and convenience are the major components of these programs.
STAFF EXPERTISE
The professional staff of the Department of Laboratory Medicine have been awarded Certificates of Qualification from the New York State Department of Health. Many are board certified in their medical specialty and have State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences academic appointments in the departments of medicine, microbiology, biochemistry, pathology, and clinical laboratory sciences.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
The major divisions of the department include:
Biochemistry and Clinical Toxicology
Hematology and Blood Bank
Microbiology and Immunology
Bacteriology
Serology/Immunology
Mycobacteriology
Mycology
Parasitology
Virology
Anatomic Pathology
Phlebotomy Services
Specialized Services
The Department of Laboratory Medicine offers specialized services such as:
TIMELINESS & AVAILABILITY
Most tests are completed within 24 hours of receipt, with printed laboratory reports mailed or delivery the next business day.
The Department of Laboratory Medicine offers convenient hours of operation for you and your patient. Biochemistry, Toxicology, Hematology, and Blood Bank operate 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. Anatomic Pathology and Microbiology and Immunology operate Monday through Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. Microbiology also offers limited coverage in the evening, until 11 pm, 7 days a week. Certain services are available on an on-call basis. Specific questions should be directed to 716-898-3114 for routing to the appropriate division or laboratory professional.
TEST ORDERING
AT THE ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC)
ECMC maintains a specimen collection facility for outpatients. It is located in Suite 13 on the first floor, and is operated by competent, courteous, and experimenced phlebotomy personnel.
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. No appointments are necessary.
Important information regarding outpatient specimen collection (Suite 13) is available upon request by calling 716-898-3869.
OTHER ECMC SITES
Also, for your patients' convenience, the ECMC Healthcare Network has several community-based primary care centers where specimens may be collected. Hours vary and appointments are not necessary. Ask your patients to call free 1-888-894-9444 for the location nearest to them.
TO SEND SPECIMENS
Specimens drawn elsewhere can be dropped off at Central Specimen Receiving and Processing on the first floor of ECMC's Laboratory Building (see map) in room L114 or at any ECMC Healthcare Network primary care center.
YOUR PATIENTS AT ECMC
If your patient is admitted to ECMC, you can rely on the Department of Laboratory Medicine's Cerner Pathnet Laboratory Information System. This on-line system offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art laboratory specimen results by way of computer terminals located throughout patient care areas. Lab tests can be ordered and viewed using this system with convenience and ease.
WHERE TO SEND SPECIMENS