COLA Inc. announces that its Pathology Accreditation Program has been approved in the State of California. The California Department of Public Health, Laboratory Field Services has granted COLA the authority to deem California clinical laboratories to be in compliance with California law for the specialty of Pathology, including the subspecialties of histopathology, cytology and oral pathology. COLA’s deeming authority in California for pathology laboratories is effective September 8, 2022.
“COLA received deemed status for Pathology from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in March 2022. With the approval of our Pathology accreditation in California, we are looking forward to serving a growing number of hospitals, pathology groups and specialists with our comprehensive accreditation program,” says Nancy Stratton, CEO of COLA. “COLA will continue to provide superior service, with emphasis on high-quality patient results, to a larger number of laboratories than ever before.”
COLA has a team of subject matter experts and resources in Pathology for its Pathology Accreditation Program, including David Chhieng, MD, MBA, MSHI, MSEM, MLS, COLA’s chief medical officer, and Kathy Wilson, HT(ASCP)QLS, COLA’s director of Pathology Accreditation.
COLA, Inc. is a physician-directed organization whose purpose is to promote health and safety through accreditation and educational programs. In 1993, COLA was granted deemed status by CMS to provide laboratory accreditation. As U.S. laboratory accreditor, COLA operates its laboratory accreditation program in accordance with a quality management system certified to ISO 9001:2015. This means COLA offers its customers a unique, standardized program, and staff dedicated to satisfaction and laboratory quality. COLA’s surveyors and technical advisors are guided by a coaching approach and uncomplicated quality engineered processes. Laboratories of all types and sizes are evaluated and mentored to produce accurate test results and meet CLIA regulations.
