mikescott

Mercy Health located in St Louis installed Epic in all of their hospitals over the last 2 years. The new Epic lab system has not yet been implimented. Mercy is rolling Epic's lab system (Beaker) in 2011. We are starting training in Jan 2011. The Epic HIS is a nightmare for most labs. A whole different mentality is needed. Good luck.

I worked for an Immucor Sales Rep here in the Midwest during 2002-2004 part-time. I installed and validated an ABS 2000 in 2001 and from my experience was even given a chance to speak at AABB in 2004. Safety and the fact that instrumentation documents the whole process from start to finish are key factors, but not the only factors. Instruments can be performing work when techs are actually performing different tasks. Instruments don't go on vacations very often, call in sick, or have to take their kids to the doctor, dentist, etc. They can work long hours and don't complain very often. The new Echo series has a continous work flow in that it can be performing tests and still start more. Not many techs can multitask stats as well and not compromise patient quality. Cost is not the only factor to consider. Instrumentation was often the extra tech I needed when business was really booming like when I walked in at 6:30 am and was faced with 4 or 5 surgeries that were to start at 8am and no preop work had been performed. Instruments read reactions consistently like no tech can.