My Thirty Years at War Memorial Hospital

Don Bumstead, assistant Laboratory Manager at War Memorial Hospital (WMH), provided a presentation to the Lake Superior Elders on May 21, 2013.  He introduced himself. He’s from Ohio, the Dayton area and began his career in the lab in 1983 after attending Lake Superior State College’s three plus one program.  He finished his schooling at the Saginaw Medical Center.  Soon after he finished his college requirements he began working at War Memorial Hospital. 

He covered the various areas during his presentation:

A.       Who works at the lab?

Pathologist (Medical Director)/ Lab Director is the manager

MT/MLT: Supervisory/Bench Staff

MT – Medical Technologist with a four year degree

MLT – Medical Laboratory Technician with a two year degree

Lab Assistants:  in 1983 it was Gladys and now Kim and Courtney fill that role

Phlebotomist (they draw blood)

Receptionist

Histologists: process tissues and specimens for the pathologist to review from surgeries and biopsies.

Cytologist:  Look at cells

B.      Departments:

Hematology/Coagulation – complete blood counts and prepare platelets (Coagulation – body’s ability to form a clot)

Chemistry/Special Chemistry – conduct blood sugar testing; cholesterol; tryglycerides, etc.

Microbiology – cultures, bacteriaUrinalysis

Serology – Strep tests, H Pylori, ulcers in the stomach, pregnancy tests.

Anatomic Pathology

LIS/HIS- Information System  (During the 1980s records were kept on paper)

Sendouts – When WMH does not conduct specific tests- these are sent out usually to Marquette General

C.      Lab when Don started

Shifts – total staff of 14-16

Days started at 07000, Techs drew blood, approx. 6 techs, one lab assistant, one receptionist and one clerical/phlebotomist

1985 – added phlebotomist to afternoons

1988 moved to new lab

D.       Staff transition

Late 80s added a second tech to afternoons and started a third shift (24/365)

2003 added a third tech to afternoons

Currently our bench staff configuration consist of:

Five on days, 3 on afternoons, one on nights during the week

E.       Phlebotomist

Transition during his time from 2 to almost 25

Permits lower costs for specimen acquisition

F.       Equipment

The most radical change was in 1983 on avg. there were 20 CBC (complete blood counts) conducted in one day.

2013:  There are 150 CBCs conducted each day.

G.     Insurance and Regulation

DRG’s –Disease Related Group

ABN’s – Advanced Beneficiary Notice

Healthcare Reform

CLIA – Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act

JCAHO – Joint Commission

DNV – now provides the review process for accreditation

Quality Control is conducted daily

Other discussions were held such as a discussion about the blood disease that may be fatal. The disease is referred to as Sepsis in which bacteria is located in the blood and then it is transferred all over the body, in the organs, etc.  There are certain technologies that measure the electricity in our bodies.  WMH services have expanded to Cedarville and Brimley. The laboratory at WMH provides a vast amount of services.