Whether a physician orders a cardiac panel to determine the injury caused by a heart attack or a spinal fluid analysis to investigate a possible autoimmune disorder, the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine team is responsible for assessing specimens and paving the way for diagnosis and treatment. Between collecting patients’ samples at the bedside and examining them at the bench, all specimens make a stop at Central Receiving.
Led by supervisor Tamika Tillery, PPMC’s Central Receiving team is responsible for scanning and processing every specimen provided by a Presby patient. From urine samples to blood draws to tissue panels, every specimen has its own protocol. Some are collected in tubes that must be protected from light, while others need to be spun down in a centrifuge and separated into their components. The team then determines where to send the specimens for testing. High-priority “stat” tests are kept in-house, while others are transported to the laboratories at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) just a mile away.
In addition to being skilled technicians, Tillery and her 15 colleagues are also keen detectives, using their sharp observation skills to verify that every specimen’s label is aligned properly and free of errors. Whether it’s staying at PPMC or heading to HUP, each sample needs to be checked meticulously.
“People are often surprised that it’s such a detailed process, but it’s important that we’re precise,” Tillery said. A lost sample could lead to delayed treatment and another needle stick for the patient, while an incorrect label could lead to the wrong diagnosis. “We’re behind the doctors ensuring the patients get the right treatment as soon as possible, and we want to do our part to provide quality care.”
The Central Receiving team processes specimens around the clock — and even when COVID-19 added a whole new batch of tests to their plate, they continued to work tirelessly and smoothly.
“Our workload has grown tremendously since the beginning of the pandemic, but our staff have met every challenge in front of them. I am so grateful for their efforts,” Tillery said. “Strangely enough, the challenges are actually my favorite part of the job because we all come together to figure out a plan and get our patients the results they need.”
