Section Spotlight: LGH Remote Lab Services Team
InFocus • Spring 2025 Issue • May 27, 2025
More than 13 years ago, LGH Remote Laboratory Services was established in response to a request from a nursing facility in Lancaster County for on-site phlebotomy services. This initiative aimed to assist patients who were physically unable to travel to an ambulatory facility. Since then, the Remote Lab has significantly expanded its services by partnering with 33 different extended care nursing facilities throughout Lancaster County. These partnerships involve interfaced computer systems, regular courier services, and daily specimen collection rounds.
The nursing home and home collection team has grown from two to nearly 20 Phlebotomists, who provide both routine and urgent phlebotomy services while visiting these facilities daily. Remote Lab Phlebotomists start their day from home, where they complete specimen registrations and print specimen labels. After making rounds at the facilities to collect specimens, they transport them to designated drop-off locations for processing. In addition to phlebotomy services, the Remote Lab has recently introduced basic cardiology services, including Holter monitoring and EKGs, as well as performing venipunctures for homebound patients.
Through these collaborative efforts, the Remote Lab completes approximately 3,300 collections each month, both in extended care facilities and in patients' homes, providing an essential service to our Lancaster community.
