January 2005
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Christmas Crafts made by MCGH Rehab Patients
Recreational Therapist, Kathy Thering made crafts this year with patients during Therapeutic Recreation and Occupation Therapy. They will be used for display in the Acute Inpatient Rehab Unit, will be patient keepsakes, and will soon be sold at the Mecosta Senior Center.

  
Rehab Center achieves another Accreditation
Mecosta County General Hospital's In-Patient Rehab Center has been accredited for a period of three years for its Medical Rehabilitation program by CARF (the Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission). This marks the third consecutive Three-year Accreditation awarded to the Rehab Center by CARF, an international accrediting body. This accreditation represents the highest level achievable, and reflects a rigorous peer review process and has demonstrated to a team of surveyors that its programs and services are of the highest quality, measurable, and accountable.


They will also be sold in the MCGH gift shop, and for Nurse Liaison, Suzie Pierce to give as gifts to Rehab contacts. "Crafts are great therapy for using fine motor skills, socialization, renewing interest in a hobby, or to learn a new skill. The patients really enjoy them," says Kathy.
MCGH Lab Receives AABB Accreditation
The MCGH Laboratory Services recently received accreditation by AABB. Accreditation follows an intensive all day on-site assessment by specially trained AABB officials and establishes that the level of medical, technical and administrative performance within the facility meets or exceeds the standards set by AABB. By successfully meeting the requirements,

 MCGH joins approximately 1,700 similar facilities across the United States and abroad that have earned AABB accreditation. John Keuhn, Lab Manager said, "This is a voluntary process and the highest standard in the blood bank community that a lab can seek to satisfy. Not many small hospitals are accredited so MCGH is unique in gaining and maintaining their accreditation for over 30 years."

Linda Butterfield, Medical Technologist:

[Linda prepared the lab for the AABB accreditation]