COLA FAST FACTS 13

COLAFAST FACTS 131 of 3COMMUNITY HOSPITALAND INDEPENDENT LABORATORY ACCREDITATIONCOLA’s Community Hospital and Independent Laboratory Accreditation programs are speciallydesigned for laboratories looking for cost-effective and educational accreditation.Affordable PricingCOLA’s accreditation program is affordably priced and, inmost cases, less expensive than the federal government.You’ll save money and benefit from an educationalapproach to accreditation.Educationally-OrientedCOLA’s approach to compliance is educational. ThroughCOLA’s newsletters and easy-to-read manuals, you willcontinually improve your skills and keep up-to-date onthe latest technical advances in your industry.Federally Approved andJoint Commission-RecognizedThe COLA Laboratory Accreditation program has beenapproved by the federal governmnet to meet CLIA regulationsand is recognized by the Joint Commission onAccreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) forlaboratory surveys and accreditation.Regulatory LiaisonThrough our professional relationship with state and federalagencies, COLA keeps you current on regulatoryissues affecting your laboratory.Quality AssuranceCOLA’s emphasis is on quality. All our materials aredesigned to improve the quality of laboratory testing andpromote excellence in medicine and patient care.PricingCOLA’s pricing structure is based on the laboratory'stest volume and the number of specialties in whichtesting is performed. The rates are set according toeach state.COLA provides a credit of $100 at the time of enrollmentto laboratories switching from a Certificate ofCompliance to a Certificate of Accreditation.Additional discounts may also apply.While COLA's pricing is based on test volume, it isimportant to identify the number of specialties thatare performed at time of enrollment.To enroll in COLA Accreditation, please contact aCOLA Information Resource Representative at 800-981-9883.All fees are subject to change without prior notice.Refunds of these fees will be given if requested inwriting by an applicant laboratory within 60 days ofapplication and prior to an on-site survey. A cancellationfee of $400 will be charged to the laboratory.WWW.COLA.ORGFor information about COLA services or for technical inquiries, call our Information Resource Center at (800) 981-9883.©COLA 10/05

2 of 2Unique Self-AssessmentThere are no surprises with COLA’s accreditation process,because you can voluntarily evaluate the laboratory usingthe same questions that our own Surveyors will use. Afteryou return the Self-Assessment, COLA provides you with aconfidential report of deficiencies that can be correctedbefore your on-site survey, saving your staff valuable time.Immediate FeedbackSurvey findings and improvement recommendations areroutinely delivered within approximately one week after anon-site survey. You and your staff can begin making anynecessary improvements at once.EligibilityCommunity hospitals and independent laboratories whichperform testing in pathology, cytology, chemistry/urinalysis,hematology, microbiology, immunology/serology, andimmunohematology (full transfusion services or blood componentstorage only) are eligible for this program. Individualdepartments and point-of-care stations within a facilityperforming tests in these specialties are also eligible forenrollment with COLA.Laboratories that conduct routine donor collection orsophisticated blood component processing should contactCOLA for eligibility requirements.For questions on eligibility and other information onCommunity Hospital and Independent LaboratoryAccreditation, please contact the COLA InformationResource Center at (800) 981-9883.©COLA 10/05