IMPAC Names Hamilton and Fritz Laboratory Professionals of the Year
IMPAC Medical Systems Inc has announced the recipients of the 2006 IMPAC Laboratory Professional of the Year award. Grace Hamilton, Baylor College of Medicine (Baylor) in Houston, received the award for anatomic pathology, and Jeanine Fritz, Pronger Smith Medical Care (Pronger) in Blue Island, Ill, received the clinical laboratory award.

IMPAC’s Laboratory Professional of the Year program honors outstanding staff members who have made valuable contributions to the success of anatomic pathology and clinical laboratories throughout the year. Hamilton, pathology lab manager at Baylor, was recognized for more than 30 years of service and leadership at Baylor. She led Baylor’s laboratory expansion from a small basic research lab to a full-service anatomic pathology lab that today handles more than 20,000 specimens per year. She was also influential in helping Baylor’s lab maintain its CAP status through the College of American Pathologists. Hamilton’s management contributed to the efficiency of the lab, resulting in annual cost savings.

Fritz, a medical technologist in her 17th year of service at Pronger, is renowned for her contributions to process improvements, access initiatives, and HIT integration, including her key role on the IMPAC/MISYS/Quest Diagnostics multidisciplinary beta team that works to interface labs into Pronger’s electronic medical record. Additionally, Fritz’s initiative to improve lab access enabled her colleagues to monitor important data in a timely and efficient manner to improve patient safety and outcomes.

“IMPAC is pleased to recognize Grace Hamilton and Jeanine Fritz as the 2006 IMPAC Laboratory Professionals of the Year in anatomic pathology and clinical laboratory,” says George Rugg, IMPAC vice president and general manager, Laboratory Systems. “But perhaps the greater honor is that Grace and Jeanine have first been recognized by their own colleagues, since all nominations were submitted by the people with whom they work. In effect, IMPAC is helping these labs recognize one of their own.”

IMPAC also announced two recipients of Honorable Mention awards. Shannon Buskirk, senior systems analyst at Health First Inc, Rockledge, Fla, received an Honorable Mention in anatomic pathology, and Mary Hlady, laboratory phlebotomist at Hinsdale Hematology Oncology Associates, Hinsdale, Ill, received an Honorable Mention for clinical laboratory.

In recognition of their accomplishments, IMPAC will provide the award recipients with stipends to support their ongoing professional development.