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