The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Centralised lab service for out-patients

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 08, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Centralised lab service for out-patients

Staff Reporter

To be expanded in second phase

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Medical College Hospital, as part of its efforts towards making its services more patient-friendly, has introduced a centralised laboratory service for out-patients who require clinical investigations.

In the second phase, the system will be expanded so that laboratory samples will be collected directly from the wards and the reports despatched directly to treating clinicians.

The lack of a centralised laboratory system at the hospital has always been at the heart of the difficulties faced by patients here. Almost 30 per cent of the patients coming to the MCH require investigations at the microbiology, biochemistry and pathology labs, which are located at three different places on the campus.

"Till now, out-patients who were advised to get laboratory investigations done had to go to all the three places and take separate needle jabs for giving blood samples. We have earmarked a space near the General Surgery OP, which will function as a common blood sample collection point for out-patients. The paramedical staff will take the samples to the appropriate department for investigations and the results too will be given out from the same point as and when they are ready," said MCH Superintendent D. Dalus.

As this is the time when outbreak of infectious diseases such as malaria and dengue is reported, the new facility will make it easier for out-patients to have clinical investigations completed so that diagnosis is also quick. The new system was put in place following a suggestion from the Health Minister.

The facility for checking the platelet count in blood of those who report with fever has also been set up at the casualty wing, Dr. Dalus said.

Meanwhile, MCH's major project to set up a full-fledged centralised lab is expected to materialise soon. This will ensure that the functioning of all the laboratories is streamlined and that there is no duplication of work.

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