Lowville hospital first to use new system

LOWVILLE — Lewis County General Hospital's laboratory last month became the nation's first to use a newly configured robotic sample management system — equipment officials said could save time and money and help cover staff shortages.

While the Siemens VersaCell technology has been around for a few years, its new configuration allows it to connect with machines that perform both simple tests, such as blood sugar level, and more complex screenings for hepatitis and HIV, company spokesman Timothy M. Keating said.

That means a single blood sample can now undergo several tests simultaneously without requiring a technician to move the sample between machines, said Eric R. Burch, chief executive officer at the county-owned hospital.

The VersaCell system, installed here about a month ago, should provide doctors and patients with test results more quickly, Mr. Keating said.

"It really impacts the quality, turnaround time and even cost in the long run," Mr. Keating said.

The automated system also should allow the laboratory to more easily overcome any staffing shortages, Mr. Burch said.

"It's consistent with our philosophy to stay current with technology and resource things that are going to take us into the future," he said.

While the hospital has done a fairly good job of retaining technicians, recruiting new ones has proven difficult, Mr. Burch said. That effort may be aided through a new agreement with Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, allowing its students to come to Lewis County General for hands-on laboratory experience.

The hospital was chosen as the initial test site primarily because of hospital officials' interest in using the VersaCell system and their familiarity with Siemens testing equipment, Mr. Keating said.

"Lewis County has a history with our system," he said.

Hospital officials also assisted the company with preliminary testing over the summer, Mr. Keating said.

While several other facilities around the country have more recently installed VersaCell systems, "nobody is at the point that Lewis County is at," he said.