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Hospital offers a menu of testing |
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Wednesday, 17 October 2007 |
By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS – The Joint Township District Memorial Hospital recently unveiled a unique service that offers common medical tests that patients can order without a doctor being involved.
Laboratory Manager Carla Pond said the service is like a health fair. The tests make access to medical care easier for patients and those with busy schedules.
“It is designed to give people in our community easy and affordable access for their wellness testing,” Pond said. “It’s a health care concept, but we have it available all the time. It cuts out the doctor. People are not required to bring an order. It is specifically targeted to health wellness tests.”
She cautioned though the service offers a limited menu, patients can still get lab tests performed. She said the testing center has a variety of tests such as chemistry panels, blood sugars, and pregnancy testing. Other lab tests include cholesterol, complete blood count and prostate-specific antigen. Some of the tests require fasting such as comprehensive health panel and the kidney function panel. Additional information on specific tests can be found at www.labtestsonline.org.
The tests are offered at a discount but patients do have to pay for the tests up front.
“There are considerable savings because only the lab is involved, no registration, no billing, no records,” Pond said.
Results are delivered only to the patient and it their responsibility to follow up with their doctor. Pond said the lab has 40 people come in each month for direct access testing each month.
The service started in Sept. 2004.
Order forms are available at grandlakehealth.org Web site or one can pick up a form at the Outpatient Registration desk at the hospital. The lab can be reached by phone at 419-394-3387, ext.3513. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 20 October 2007 )
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