SUPPORT AREAS:
Laboratory:
results thus eliminating long delays, and
Pathology and Laboratory Service has
(g) saving physician's, nurses and allied
introduced
an
innovative,
cost-
health personnel time because a certified
efficient/cost effective concept in the
medical technologist now performs
delivery of outpatient care called Mobil
patient screenings, monitors results of a
LabTM.
Mobil Lab TM is specifically
patient's
therapy,
and
provides
designed to meet both patient and health
emergency testing for patients needing
care provider needs in an outpatient care
urgent care.
setting such as the Community Based
Outpatient Clinic. Mobil Lab TM is a small
Mobil Lab TM will require only one room
self-contained laboratory testing unit
(200 NSF) and an associated cabinet and
capable of being moved to points within a
counter top and a sink (see CBOC Guide
hospital, clinic or outpatient areas to
Plate 5-4).
No other special design
expedite the delivery of point-to-care
features will be required. With Mobil
testing. Mobil Lab TM is adaptable to both
LabTM, the CBOC will more than likely not
routine and emergency use and provides
have to send out patient specimens to
limited testing for basic chemistry,
either a local referenced lab or to the
hematology, coagulation toxicology and
nearest VA medical center, if the most
urinalysis test most often needed for daily
common range of laboratory tests have
patient monitoring and STAT use. The
been ordered.
lab is operated by a medical technologist
who will offer a menu of clinically
important tests required for immediate
Pharmacy:
case management decisions. Mobil Lab TM
Pharmacy Service in a Community Based
result reporting will rapidly provide the
Outpatient Clinic will reflect the changes
care giver with a permanent record of the
in VA Health Care to primary care.
capability of down-loading information
Emphasis will be placed on the provision
into DHCP on a daily basis.
of medical care as part of an
interdisciplinary team. Pharmacists on
The impact of Mobil Lab TM on day to day
the
team
will
stress
provision
operations of the CBOC will include: (a)
pharmaceutical care including drug
reducing the cost of medical care by
therapy monitoring and patient education.
shortening the therapeutic turnaround
Provision of prescriptions will be
time of laboratory results, (b) making test
supported
through
electronic
results available at the time and place
communications with a primary medical
when therapeutic decisions need to be
facility and establishment of contract
made, (c) allowing health care managers
relationships (PPO, Fee for Service) with
the opportunity to make more efficient
community pharmacies.
use of medical staff, (d) lowering direct
cost of operations,
(e)
placing
immediate test
VA Design Guide
PAGE 2-6
Community Based Outpatient Clinic
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