Gone are the days when patients would flood the NKTI lobby for their laboratory needs.

Formally opened last October 18, 2006, the New Laboratory Reception Hall is now fully operational.

With patient care in mind, the new hall is designed for utmost comfort and convenience.

Upon entering, one is transported to a place reminiscent of a 5-star hotel or some world class international airport with its glass-paneled walls, granite topped counters, tastefully decorated interiors, mood lighting, special art deco flooring, and piped-in lounge music. While waiting, one can sit back and watch programs playing on two LCD television sets. An electronic message board serves as a guide for all transactions at the hall.

The new hall is spacious enough to accommodate and seat 120 persons comfortably. There are 10 extraction chairs, a pediatric extraction bed, a VIP extraction room and a special extraction room for disabled patients. There are several comfort rooms within the hall, equipped with bidets to ensure a “clean catch” urine specimen collection.

The blood extraction hall is a major improvement from the previous facility as it addresses so many problems encountered in the past like patient safety and pre-analytical variables that could affect laboratory results. Beyond the glass paneled walls, rests a beautifully landscaped garden. It is hoped that the serenity of the surroundings would allay one’s fear of the needle. To ensure patient safety, extraction chairs come with safety belts. Bar coding of specimens is employed for accurate identification and faster specimen processing.

Innovatively, it operates under the concept of “one-stop shopping” where charging, request generation, blood extraction, releasing of results and payment is done all in one roof! It utilizes the Smart Queuing system wherein one number is assigned per person for all their needs. One doesn’t have to make several stops and fall in line at different places within the hospital to get all these done. Absolutely convenient!

And of course, the new hall is manned by courteous, efficient and professional staff to assist patients with their laboratory needs.

The opening of the hall represents the first phase of the expansion and renovation of the Department of Laboratory Medicine. With a truly world-class Laboratory Reception Hall such as this, one can expect more great things to come in the near future. Meanwhile, “fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the view.”