Craig Daily Press

The Memorial Hospital has entered into an association with Mayo Medical Laboratories, the national reference laboratory of Mayo Clinic, located in Rochester, Minn., to expand its laboratory testing menu.

Through this arrangement, The Memorial Hospital will offer its communities immediate, collaborative access to complex tests performed by Mayo Medical Laboratories, the hospital reported in a news release.

The Memorial Hospital made the decision to change its reference lab association based on the reputation of Mayo Medical Laboratories and the quality of the services that Mayo offers, hospital officials said.

Mayo Medical Laboratories, a medical center-based, physician-led organization, is internationally known for its team of consultative experts who focus on the needs of the patient.

The mission of this collaboration will be to consolidate reference testing, improve turnaround time and strengthen The Memorial Hospital’s efforts to provide exceptional laboratory services and patient care to the community of Craig and Moffat County, according to the news release.

“Mayo is world renowned for being the best,” TMH laboratory manager Kristine Cooper said. “Our laboratory team is excited to give our community the service they deserve.”

The collaboration with Mayo allows The Memorial Hospital to offer access to more specialized laboratory testing to the community.

Specimens taken at any patient service center will be transported via air to Mayo Medical Laboratories, with test results often available through a computer interface the following day.

Mayo Medical Laboratories’ pathologists and scientists in every specialty laboratory will be available to consult with The Memorial Hospital regarding test selection, utilization and methodologies and result interpretation.

Mayo Clinic has one of the largest clinical laboratories in the world, with a highly skilled team of pathologists, physicians, scientists, medical technologists, medical technicians, laboratory assistants, biologists, chemists, microbiologists, geneticists and other specialists.

Routine laboratory testing continues to be done by The Memorial Hospital and will be overseen by Dr. Robert Collins.