New laboratory boosts health center’s efficiency
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
Thanks to the efforts of some concerned members of the diocese, Catholic Charities, Metuchen, is providing more efficient health care to needy families.
The Circle of Friends of the Flame of Charity Foundation helped raise more than $90,000 to help build a new laboratory in St. John’s Health and Family Service Center, New Brunswick. Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski blessed and dedicated the laboratory Oct. 22.
Bishop Bootkoski said the clinic “is
another fine example of what it means to
be Catholic and caring for all no matter
who comes through these doors.”
Also, a new examination room was built where the lab used to be and a larger employee lounge was added as well.
Also attending the ceremony were Msgr. William Benwell, a vicar general and moderator of the curia; Marianne Majewski, executive director of Catholic Charities, Metuchen; Ernest Revoir, division director of Catholic Charities’ Health Services Division, and representatives from St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, which provides medical personnel and financial support to the clinic.
The average income for a family of four that visits the clinic is $10,000, Majewski said.
From July, 2003 to June, it recorded 9,467 medical visits; 12,968 lab tests and 6,612 outreach encounters, Revoir said.
The Health Services Division also operates the Trinity Health Center, Perth Amboy.
Both Trinity and St. John’s offer family medicine and pediatric services as well as on-site laboratory and medication services. St. John’s Medical Center also offers HIV medical treatment and case management, immunization, medical and prenatal outreach services.
About 80 percent of the clinic’s patients are Spanish speaking, Revoir said. Because of the demand, patients must wait about four to six weeks to start receiving care.
Dr. Zamia Loom-Durham, laboratory director, said the changes are appreciated by the staff.
“We were very creative (in the old lab), but our floor space was absolutely cramped,” she said. “Looking at (slides under) the microscope was difficult.”
Blood tests performed in the new lab allow a hemoglobin check for anemia, liver profile and function of electrolytes. The lab also has a new automated urinalysis reader.
Sharon Oshatz, medical technologist and clinic director, said the new lab and examining room have made the facility“much more efficient.”
“She (Jodi Wolff, medical lab technician) can get things done while other nurses can come in and use the things that they need to. Before you really couldn’t fit more than one person at a time,” Oshatz said. “A new examining room allows us to see more patients.”
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law