Debie Lynn DeCrescenzo, Laboratory Director at Candler County Hospital , gave a presentation to the Metter Kiwanis Club on December 13th.  She talked about the shrinking number of clinical laboratory technologists due in large part to the rigorous academic requirements for licensure.  Technology in laboratory medicine has changed dramatically in the last thirty years.  In 1975, a simple blood sugar determination could take up to ninety minutes; in 2004, a blood sugar can be done in less than forty-five seconds!

The presentation included an overview of the laboratory services available in Candler County and the surrounding area to assist physicians with their diagnoses and treatements.  The hospital laboratory is a frequent participant in local community health fairs performing screening tests for cancer and heart disease.  Another service the hospital laboratorty offers is a urine drug screening program.  Chain of custody, pre-employment drug screening is performed in conjunction with the hospital's reference facility, Mullins Laboratory, in Augusta , Georgia .  On-site drug screening is available for reasonable suspicion, cause or post-accident scenarios.

Advances in clinical laboratory medicine continue at an amazing rate.  Candler County Hospital 's clinical laboratory stays abreast of new developements to provide the best diagnostic testing services possible for our patients.  For more information about departmental services, please call 685-1705 or 685-1729.

Shown with Debie (left) is Kiwanian Linda Whitfield