RVH unveils new automated laboratory testing

BARRIE, Ont. – Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) has unveiled its new state-of-the-art automated laboratory facility to provide increased testing capacity. The RVH laboratory is the first in Canada to have Siemens Healthineers Atellica Solution connected to Aptio Automation, which also includes hematology and coagulation testing, creating a total lab automation solution.

“As the leading full-service laboratory serving the North Simcoe Muskoka region, we must continue to offer physicians state-of-the-art technology that enables us to improve turn-around times as our testing volume increases, and reduce downtime associated with maintenance and upkeep – without compromising on quality,” said Dr. Russell Price (pictured), medical director, RVH Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. “This installation enables us the flexibility to grow and adapt our operations to meet demand, as well as maintain our reputation for delivering quick accurate diagnosis and solid patient care.”

The Atellica Solution provides labs with better utilization of resources, increased efficiency, and consistent turn-around-time. This will provide RVH with unprecedented flexibility to grow patient testing capacity and increase test speed, helping. to manage rising patient testing demands and future-proof its laboratory testing capabilities.

Since its inception in 1897, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie has been driven by explosive population growth, particularly in its laboratory. RVH’s Department of Laboratory Medicine is ISO 15189 Plus accredited, performing over 2.2 million tests annually. In recent months, facilities outside the health centre’s catchment area have reached out for support due to combined pandemic and staffing pressures. The new technology will help standardize and optimize clinical operations, increase workflow productivity, and deliver predictable turnaround times.

“Over 70 percent of patients who come into our hospital will require the laboratory for diagnosis or treatment,” said Arbour MacLachlan, RVH laboratory supervisor. “In order to meet current and future needs, and provide best patient care, it was imperative that our laboratory deployed the next generation of automated solutions. The new automation will allow the laboratory to maintain standard of care, while building in ability to accommodate future increase in regional population growth and volumes.”

“RVH has been a long-standing customer of Siemens Healthineers,” said Sevket On, managing director, Siemens Healthineers, Canada. “We are so proud to be a valued partner of RVH and bring the latest Siemens Healthineers solutions to the hospital to help them continue their impressive care. As with all our successful implementations, it takes close partnership working and understanding between all parties involved, and the swift implementation and completion of this project is testament to this. We look forward to continuing working with the laboratory team at RVH to maximize the Atellica systems and ensure the laboratory remains at the forefront of quality testing.”