CMH Laboratory Services Blood Bank earns AABB accreditation
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Clinton Memorial Hospital has maintained accreditation for its blood bank through the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), completing its recent assessment with no deficiencies.
“The AABB’s accreditation procedures are voluntary,” says Cathy Listermann, manager of CMH Laboratory Services, where the CMH blood bank is housed. “We seek accreditation because this program assists facilities around the world in achieving excellence by promoting a level of professional and technical expertise that contributes to quality performance and patient safety.”
Accreditation follows an intensive on-site assessment by specially trained AABB assessors and establishes that the level of technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by AABB. By successfully meeting those requirements, CMH joins similar facilities located throughout the United States and around the world that also have earned accreditation.
The program contributes to the quality and safety of collecting, processing, testing, distributing and administering blood and cellular therapy products. It assesses the quality and operational systems in place. The basis for assessment is compliance with AABB standards, Code of Federal Regulations and other federal guidance documents.
The program has been recognized by the International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua). In June 1995, AABB was granted “deemed status” as an accrediting organization under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA’ 88) program. This status indicates that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has found the process to provide reasonable assurance that the facilities accredited by it meet or exceed the conditions required by federal law and regulations.
For more information, call CMH Laboratory Services at 937-382-9250.