Laboratory

Day Kimball Hospital provides a full range of clinical laboratory services, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for receiving and processing blood, fluid and tissue samples. The hospital’s laboratory underwent a complete renovation in 1996 and houses an array of comprehensive and accurate testing equipment. Laboratory personnel perform over 1.9 million tests a year.

As a convenience to the community it serves, Day Kimball has three laboratory drawing centers available: at Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, the Danielson Health Center in Danielson and the Plainfield Health Center Plainfield. Further, the laboratory has a courier service that picks up specimens from various physician offices for analysis at the main laboratory at Day Kimball Hospital. For patients whom are home-bound for medical reasons, the laboratory has “bed-side” phlebotomy services, in which the phlebotomists will collect specimens at the nursing or private home.

At the main lab at Day Kimball, once a sample is received at the lab, it is bar coded. A computer then tracks the sample throughout the analysis process. Bar coding helps to increase accuracy when reporting patient results, another example of Day Kimball Hospital’s commitment to quality throughout the hospital. Results for most tests performed at the lab are reported to the ordering physician within 24 hours. Tests that require a sample to be cultured, such as a test for tuberculosis, for example, may take longer.

Test results are then entered into the secured hospital information system. Physicians on staff at Day Kimball Hospital can access these results directly from their offices, greatly enhancing the speed of results. Reports to physicians not on Day Kimball’s Medical Staff are faxed, called or mailed to the physician’s office as requested or required.

Services Provided

All out patient and inpatient medical laboratory specimen collections can be accommodated at the main laboratory at Day Kimball Hospital, including those involving young children. Some specialized laboratory specimens can only be collected early on weekdays due to testing requirements and locations. Young children are not tested at the Danielson and Plainfield locations, unless special arrangements are made.

What to expect during your visit/procedure

• The hospital’s main laboratory is busiest during the morning, keep this in mind when scheduling your day.
• It is helpful if you have your insurance information readily available and that you bring your laboratory requisition sheet.
• If the doctor has sent the requisition over earlier, if you are an oncology patient, a “blue-book repeater,” or a one-time faxed order, please tell the laboratory’s registrant. This will help us find your order in a timely manner.
• If the reports are to go to an out-of-town physician, please have the doctor’s name and address so we can send the report as requested.
• Remember to wear loose-sleeved clothing so that we can examine your arm for an appropriate site.
• We are staffed with experienced phlebotomists but if you have a personal request or want your blood drawn from a specific site please let us know, and we will try to accommodate you.

Important reminders/things to remember

It is recommended that tests such as profiles, glucose and HDL panels be drawn while fasting unless otherwise specified by physician.

Certain tests such as drug levels should be drawn when recommended by the ordering physician to assure test level is representative of the medication steady state.

We try to meet the needs of all our patients with friendly skilled service. If we did not meet your needs please let the laboratory’s Administrative Director, John Hall, know at 860-928-6541, ext. 2450. Your comments help us improve our services.

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Day Kimball Hospital
320 Pomfret Street (Route 44)
Putnam, Connecticut 06260
Phone: (860) 928-6541 or (860) 774-3366
TTY: (860) 963-6422