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Public Relations / Marketing OfficerDavid Bruzzese For Immediate Release Mercy's Lab Receives Sentry Award from State Health Department DURANGO, Colo.— Mercy Regional Medical Center’s microbiology laboratory was awarded the 2006 Sentry Award by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The award recognizes the lab’s “conspicuous effort in the accurate and timely detection of biologic agents of infection, the reporting of significant laboratory findings, and referral of biologic pathogens and specimens.” The lab was specifically cited for recently reporting six cases of Plague in humans. We recognize the importance of doing timely and thorough testing of specimens and quickly reporting results to the local and state health departments—especially in cases that can pose a threat to public health,” said Laboratory Director Jessica Baken. The data collected by Mercy’s laboratory and other labs throughout the state allows public health officials to identify regional or state-wide trends in communicable diseases. Timely reporting is crucial in managing potential outbreaks. If we believe a specimen may indicate the presence of a certain pathogen, like West Nile virus, that can’t be detected using the equipment we have on site, we send it to the state lab for further testing,” said Baken. Mercy employs highly trained laboratory professionals and physicians who use state-of-the-art technology to analyze everything from tissue samples to blood and other body fluids. In addition to presumptively identifying and referring for confirmation four cases of human Plague in the last four months, Mercy’s lab also has identified 12 cases of Pertussis (Whooping cough). Apart from testing for pathogens and infectious diseases, every year Mercy’s lab performs nearly 300,000 tests for hospital patients, walk-in patients, and physician offices located throughout Southwest Colorado. Last year’s Sentry Award was given to the microbiology lab at Denver Children’s Hospital. Mercy Regional Medical Center, a not-for-profit, acute-care hospital, relocated to a new facility the Three Springs / Grandview area of Durango on June 27, 2006. The 212,000-square-foot, $80 million hospital features 82 private patient rooms, five operating suites, state-of-the-art technology, and amenities such as a healing garden. Attached to the hospital is a 153,000-square-foot medical office building that houses 21 provider practices, an outpatient surgery center, and hospital administrative offices. Mercy Regional Medical Center is a member of the not-for-profit Catholic Health Initiatives health system, which includes 71 hospitals; 42 long-term care, assisted and independent living and residential facilities; and two community-based health organizations located in 19 states. |
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