DRIVE-THROUGH DIAGNOSTICS

Jamie Stout, a medical technologist at St. Francis Medical Center, showed how a specimen is picked up under the flashing red light in the lab.

Todd Roth, phlebotomist, showed how he answers a call to the lab from a drive-up patient.

"Welcome to Mc-St. Francis. May I take your order?"

It hasn't quite come to that, but laboratory technicians at St. Francis Medical Center are greeting customers in a new way with drive-through, curb-side lab service.

Convenient Lab lets patients deliver samples and have some laboratory tests done without ever leaving their cars.

When a customer drives up and presses the button, a car-hop technician straps on a fanny pack with laboratory equipment and heads for the car. The technicians can draw blood or do throat cultures in addition to collecting samples that patients need to drop off.

Dan Fieser, clinical coordinator of laboratory outreach services, said Convenient Lab is an example of how health care is changing.

"The old way, health care and waiting room were synonymous," Fieser said. "Our goal for the lab is that everyone is seen within 15 minutes."

And lots of patients are seen even faster.

Fieser said the drive-through service isn't for every patient.

"Anyone who would prefer to come into the lab certainly may," he said. "But for some people, the drive-through service will be convenient."

Many people have laboratory tests scheduled on a regular basis, every month or even every week. The service can be beneficial to them, said Rodney Patterson, a laboratory processor.

"So many people use fast food drive-up, why not a lab?" he said.

Patients who have had strokes, the elderly and others with physical disabilities won't have to leave their cars and come into the hospital. Patients who are in a hurry can drive through and save a little time finding a parking space and coming inside. Parents with youngsters won't have to unbuckle the children and bring them into the lab.

The curb-side lab service has rules. Patients need an order from their physician for the laboratory tests to be performed. For safety reasons, the patient must be a passenger in the car.

The drive-through lab is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is located at the covered entrance of the Same Day Surgery area, near the emergency room entrance. The cost is the same as a walk-in visit.

Fieser recommends that for the first visit to the lab, patients come in to fill out the required paperwork. Technicians can fill out paperwork at the car, but it takes a little time. "In this hot weather, people would probably prefer to come in," he said.

Curb-side lab work has been done on a limited basis at St. Francis for several weeks.

"We started with a small group of regular patients to make sure it will work," Fieser said.

Now the service is available to anyone who would like to drive up and give it a try.