Clinical Programs Description
Clinical programs and patient care services are under the overall supervision
of Dr. Fred Gorstein, Director of Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University
Hospital. The clinical faculty of the Anatomic Pathology division have authored
several texts in Anatomic Pathology, including Drs. Emanuel Rubin and John Farber
(Pathology, 3rd Ed.), Dr. Marluce Bibbo (Cytopathology),
Dr. Robert Petersen (Urologic Pathology) and Dr. Aleksander Talerman
(Testicular Tumors). In Clinical Pathology recent texts include Current
Diagnosis (Conn, Borer and Snyder) and Clinics in Laboratory Medicine
- Diagnosis and Management of DIabetes (Gorstein and Goldstein).
An integral part of Jefferson Health System, the Clinical Laboratories at Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH) annually perform approximately two million
assays on a timely and high quality basis for hospital inpatients and private
outpatients. Our professional, technical, and support staff of approximately
250 FTE's provides laboratory services in state-of-the-art facilities using
the latest in medical laboratory technology. The laboratory is licensed by the
Federal Government (CLIA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and accredited
by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The hospital is accredited by
the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospitals (JCAHO).
As part of the TJU academic medical center, diagnostic laboratories serve as
a clinical training site for medical students, pathology residents, and fellows,
as well as students in the TJU College of Health Professions. The laboratory
also provides clinical support for a variety of research programs throughout
the University.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital's Diagnostic Laboratories are comprised
of two principal divisions: Anatomic and Clinical Pathology occupy approximately
28,000 square feet of the Foerderer Pavilion at 11th and Walnut Streets
in Center City, Philadelphia. Sections include Chemistry, Toxicology, Hematology,
Coagulation, Special Hematology, Urinanalysis, Serology, and Microbiology. Most
clinical lab sections are open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
Anatomic Pathology, which occupies approximately 12,500 feet of the Main and
Thompson Buildings, encompasses Surgical Pathology, Cytology, Electron Microscopy,
Molecular Pathology, Oncogenetics, and Immunopathology. The Cytogenetics Laboratory
is located in the Medical Office Building.
Modern, high volume, accurate instrumentation with comprehensive quality control
measures are used throughout the Clinical Laboratories. All high volume instruments
are directly interfaced to the laboratory's computer system for rapid posting
of patients' results and immediate access by the users.
Major instrumentation is designed to prevent laboratory downtime and includes
the Beckman LX42 for routine Chemistry, and Abbott Axsym for drug analyses,
two Coulter Gen-S Counters in Hematology, STA Coagulation Analyzers, and one
Yellow Iris Automated Urinalysis System. A number of other automated instruments
are used in various sections of the laboratory. To ensure accuracy of reporting,
results are reviewed by a laboratory technologist before being filed in the
computer system.
The laboratory computer provides appropriate QC measures, such as comparison
of the current result with the last one, and alerts the technologist about any
unusual deviations. Each section of the laboratory is under the direct management
of highly qualified supervisory personnel; each supervisor reports to a technical
director. All directors are at the doctorate level (M.D. or Ph.D.). Each section
director is available for consultation with laboratory clients regarding all
aspects of testing performed by their laboratory section. See key personnel
listing at the end of this document.
The Laboratories' Professional Services Section oversees the outreach program,
including outpatient laboratory services at hospitals, nursing homes, and physicians'
offices, as well as our Ford Road Campus for ambulatory procedures. Services
include specimen pickup, mail delivery, and billing. The Professional Services
staff is also available to answer all routine questions related to specimen
transport, accessioning, and reporting, and to help resolve any difficulties
that may arise.
The laboratories utilize two advanced computer systems for workflow processing,
results reporting, interfacing to the hospital information system, billing,
archiving, and data retrieval. These systems provide results reporting for the
laboratories' outpatient clients, on demand faxing for immediate communication
of written reports, and ad hoc reports to support research activities.
The quality of the laboratory services rendered to our clients is assessed
on an on-going basis by a comprehensive quality assurance program. The program
includes participation in the CAP proficiency testing program and laboratory
inspection process, and internal quality control programs in each lab section.
In addition, a blind sample program is administered by the laboratory's quality
assurance section which monitors pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical
processes.
Quality control is an integral part of daily operations. TJUH utilizes both
internal and external systems to monitor the accuracy and precision for every
assay performed. Data from quality control and proficiency testing surveys are
available upon request for tests performed at TJUH.
TJUH maintains on site the following laboratory documentation covering laboratory
policies and procedures, which are available for inspection anytime.
- Laboratory Services Policies
- Safety and Infection Control Procedures
- Quality Control Records
- Records of Instrument Function
- Maintenance of Repair Records in all Areas
- Medical Safety Data Sheets
- Job Descriptions
- Specimen Collection Manuals
- Laboratory Advisory
- Quality Assessment Manuals/Monitors
- Specimen Collection Manual (Laboratory Information Handbook)
- Glucometer Manual
- Laboratory Safety Manual
- Laboratory Policies and Procedures
Key Personnel Listing
Fred Gorstein, M.D. Vice Chairman and Professor of the Department of Pathology.
Director of Laboratories. Graduate of NYU School of Medicine. Author of numerous
publications, including Editor of Human Pathology. Chairman of the Department
of Pathology at Vanderbilt University. Certified by the American Board of Pathology
in Clinical Pathology and Anatomic Pathology. Recipient of numerous grants for
research.
Marluce Bibbo, M.D., Sc.D. Director of Cytopathology and Professor of Pathology.
Graduate of University of Sao Paolo, Brazil, Magna Cum Laude, M.D. degree. Widely
recognized as a leading Cytopathologist in this country. Has over 200 publications
in the field of Cytopathology. Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Acta Cytologica. Editorial
board member of 4 other cytology journals.
Donald Jungkind, Ph.D. Director of Microbiology and Professor. Graduate
of University of Texas. Post doctoral fellow at Temple University. Numerous
publications in the field of Microbiology. Certified by the American Board of
Medical Microbiology.
William Kocher, M.D. Director of Hematology. Graduate of Jefferson Medical
College. Board Certified in Clinical and Anatomic Pathology. Publications in
Hematology. Previously Assistant Laboratory Director at Nazareth Hospital.
Roland Schwarting, M.D. Director of Hematopathology, Immunopathology, and
Molecular Diagnostics. Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology. Graduate
of the School of Medicine, Christian Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. Many
scientific discoveries, including several patents, and numerous publications.
Biotechnology and Legal Consultant. Presentations in conferences, workshops,
and symposia.
Clinical Faculty Attending Staff:
Gene Gulati, Ph.D. (Director of Hematology); Jay Herman, M.D. (Associate Director
of the Blood Bank); Samir Ballas, M.D. (Director of the Blood Bank); Frank Burns,
Ph.D. (Director of Molecular Pathology); Laura McCloskey, M.D. (Director of
Clinical Immunology).
Emanuel Rubin, M.D.
Peter McCue, M.D.
Pamela Edmonds, M.D.
Robert Petersen, M.D., Ph.D.
John Farber, M.D.
Renato Iozzo, M.D.
David Strayer, M.D., Ph.D.
Mary Cunnane, M.D.
Brian O'Hara, M.D.
Juan Palazzo, M.D.
Raphael Rubin, M.D.
Melissa Burke, M.D.
Lawrence Kenyon, M.D., Ph.D.
Mark Curtis, M.D., Ph.D.
Moira Wood
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