Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital Clinical Laboratory has been awarded an accreditation by the Commission of Laboratory Accreditation of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), based on the results of a recent on-site inspection.

SSMH Laboratory Director Marlene Lockhart received word of this national recognition and congratulations for the “excellence of the services being provided.” SSMH Clinical Laboratory is one of the more than 6,000 CAP-accredited laboratories nationwide.

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program, begun in the early 1960s, is recognized by the federal government as being equal to or more stringent than the government’s own inspection program.

During the CAP accreditation process, inspectors examine the laboratory’s records and quality control of procedures for the preceding two years. CAP inspectors also examine the entire staff’s qualifications, the laboratory’s equipment, facilities, safety program and record, as well as the overall management of the laboratory. This stringent inspection program is designed to specifically ensure the highest standard of care for the laboratory’s patients.

The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for the high-quality and cost-effective medical care.