Tools, Technologies and Training for Healthcare Laboratories

Winchester Medical Center Verification of Sigma Performance

Winchester Medical Center, part of the Valley Health System, in Winchester, Virginia, has become the first laboratory in the United States to receive its Sigma Verification of Performance. It was long overdue.

 Winchester Medical Center Verification of Sigma-metric Performance

Original Verification: April 28th, 2017
Current Verification: December 20th, 2022 through December 31st, 2023

In April of 2017, Westgard QC was pleased to verify the performance of Winchester Medical Center in Virginia.

Winchester Medical Center Sigma VP, Sten Westgard, and Dr Joseph Litten

"A not-for-profit hospital, Winchester Medical Center has been serving the region since 1903. As a regional referral center, Winchester Medical Center is a resource for more than 400,000 residents in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and western Maryland. Our experienced team of physicians provides comprehensive, high quality care and access to specialists right here in Winchester. We offer a broad spectrum of services – from diagnostic and medical procedures to advanced surgical options and rehabilitative care. Winchester Medical Center is a:

  • Level II Trauma Center
  • Chest Pain Center
  • Advanced Primary Stroke Center
  • Level 4 Epilepsy Center
  • Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • Magnet Designated Hospital"

Dr. Joseph Litten has been an early adopter of Six Sigma metrics, using it to benchmark vendors as early as 2008, long before the Sigma Verification program existed. Dr. Litten also provided a chapter detailing his experiences in the latest edition of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine that we helmed.

The original verification was completed on three ARCHITECT chemistry instruments and three immunoassay instruments. In 2019, the the instruments are now Alinity for chemistry and immunoassy. The analytes verified include

Not only is there are strong consistency in performance from instrument to instrument, there is an equally strong consistency from quarter to quarter. Winchester Medical Center has years worth of performance data and very steady high Sigma-metrics.

Chemistry and Urine Assays

Chemistry Assays

Alinity c#1 Verified

Alinity c#2 Verified

Alinity c#3 Verified

Albumin

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Alk Phos

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

ALT

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Amylase

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

AST

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Bilirubin, Direct

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Bilirubin, Total

Five Sigma

Five Sigma

Five Sigma

Calcium

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Chloride

Four Sigma

Four Sigma

Four Sigma

Cholesterol

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Creatinine Kinase

Six Sigma

-

-

Creatinine

-

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

GGT

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Glucose

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

HDL

Six Sigma

-

Six Sigma

Lactate

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Lithium

Six Sigma

-

Six Sigma

LDL

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

LDH

-

-

Four Sigma

Magnesium

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Phosphorous

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Five Sigma

Prealbumin

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Potassium

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Protein, Total

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Triglycerides

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Uric Acid

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

more chemistry instruments verified:

Chemistry Assays

Architect c8000 #2 Verified

Architect c8000 #3 Verified

Albumin

Five Sigma

Five Sigma

Alk Phos

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

ALT

Five Sigma

Six Sigma

Amylase

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

AST

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Bilirubin, Direct

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Bilirubin, Total

Four Sigma

Four Sigma

C3

Five Sigma

-

C4

Five Sigma

-

C-Reactive Protein

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Calcium

Five Sigma

Four Sigma

Chloride

Six Sigma

Five Sigma

Cholesterol

-

Six Sigma

Creatinine Kinase

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Creatinine

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Glucose

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

HDL

-

Five Sigma

IgA

Five Sigma

-

IgG

Six Sigma

-

IgM

Four Sigma

-

Iron

Five Sigma

Five Sigma

Lactate

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

LDL

-

Five Sigma

Lipase

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Phosphorous

-

Four Sigma

Prealbumin

-

Six Sigma

Potassium

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Protein, Total

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Transferrin

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Triglycerides

-

Six Sigma

Urea Nitrogen

Four Sigma

Four Sigma

Uric Acid

-

Six Sigma

Immunoassays

Immunoassays

Alinity c#1 Verified

Alinity c#2 Verified

Alinity c#3 Verified

Gentamicin

Four Sigma

-

-

Salicylate

Four Sigma

Six Sigma

Six Sigma

Tobramycin

Four Sigma

-

-

 

Immunoassays

Architect c8000 #2 Verified

Architect c8000 #3 Verified

Acetaminophen

Four Sigma

-

Salicylate

Five Sigma

Five Sigma

  • World Class = Six Sigma performance
  • Excellent = Five Sigma performance
  • Good = Four Sigma performance

Performance of Winchester Medical Center

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX1

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX2

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX3

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX4

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX5

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX6

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX7

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX8

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX9

2022 winchester re vp NMEDX10

Winchester Medical Center Laboratory Staff

Winchester Medical Center Staff and Sten Westgard

Congratulations to Winchester Medical Center on their well-deserved verification of performance.