The OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center Laboratory is certified to the CLIA standard, CAP accredited, and OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center is accredited by The Joint Commission. 

All of these accomplishments require continual self-evaluation, auditing to strict regulations, and adherence to the highest analytic standards. The following is a brief description of each and the importance of participation:

CAP Accreditation

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) is widely considered the leader in laboratory quality assurance and advocates for high-quality and cost-effective medical care.  The CAP inspects and accredits medical laboratories under deemed authority of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). 

The CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program’s goal is to improve patient safety by advancing the quality of pathology and laboratory services through education, standard setting, and ensuring laboratories meet or exceed regulatory requirements.

The program incorporates stringent requirements while also providing laboratories the road map and tools to achieve these requirements. 

CLIA Certification

2021 CLIA Certificate (PDF) With CAP having deemed status as a laboratory accrediting organization by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center Laboratory meets or exceeds applicable CLIA regulations via CAP accreditation and possesses a CLIA Certificate of Accreditation.

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 are United States federal regulatory standards, regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, that apply to all clinical laboratory testing performed on humans in the United States. 

One of the primary objectives of CLIA regulations and laboratory certification/accreditation is to ensure on-going, documented evidence of accuracy, reliability and timeliness of all laboratory test results.

Joint Commission Accreditation

Joint Commission Gold SealAn organization's accreditation is for three years. The only exception is for laboratories, which have a two-year accreditation. Accreditation is not automatically renewed. To become accredited again, an organization must reapply, participate in a survey, and demonstrate compliance with the standards.

OSF HealhCare Saint Francis Medical Center is fully accredited by The Joint Commission (JC).

JC accreditation involves evaluating a health care organization's performance in areas that most affect patient health and safety. These areas are defined in JC standards.

By achieving accreditation, a healthcare organization makes a commitment to follow JC standards, which provide the framework for safe, quality care.

Joint Commission Public Notice

OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and OSF HealthCare Medical Group are accredited by the Joint Commission.

The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, the OSF Healthcare System Board of Directors, and Administration of OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center and OSF HealthCare Medical Group have chosen to be accredited by this voluntary organization, which deals with organizational quality of care issues and the safety of the environment in which care is provided, to assist in providing our patients with the greatest care and love.

Therefore, if anyone has any unresolved patient safety or quality of care concern, he/she may contact the Joint Commission. The concern should be submitted in writing and addressed to:

Division of Accreditation Operations
Office of Quality Monitoring
Joint Commission
One Renaissance Boulevard
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

Concerns can also be faxed to 630-792-5636, or sent via email to complaint@jointcommision.org.

See our latest accreditation report