The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in February 2020 exposed vulnerabilities in unprepared regions across the USA, including Los Angeles (LA) County. Initially, the challenge was simply testing the few patients exhibiting symptoms. This quickly escalated into a massive need to conduct hundreds of tests daily for both inpatients and outpatients. Health Services Laboratories played a critical role in meeting this unprecedented demand, leveraging a pre-existing enterprise lab integration initiative to effectively coordinate their network and significantly improve patient care during this crisis.
In the early days of the pandemic, testing capabilities were severely limited. The first confirmed COVID-19 case at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center (OVMC) relied on sending nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs to the Public Health Lab and then to the CDC for diagnosis – a process that was far too slow for the rapidly escalating situation. As case numbers surged, rapid test results became crucial for informed treatment decisions, patient cohorting to control spread, and determining appropriate levels of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. Without quick confirmation of COVID-19 status, any patient with respiratory symptoms required quarantine and enhanced PPE for staff, straining precious PPE supplies, limiting bed availability, and causing significant emergency department delays.
Fortunately, Health Services laboratories had initiated a strategic reorganization in 2017, years before the pandemic struck. This multi-year project transformed previously isolated, facility-specific labs into a unified laboratory network operating across ten locations under central oversight. This established framework proved invaluable, enabling Health Services laboratories to effectively and swiftly implement widespread COVID-19 testing for patients. This pre-emptive integration was key to their success in navigating complex resource limitations while simultaneously managing an increasing patient population.
By strategically implementing multiple testing platforms across their integrated network, Health Services laboratories dramatically reduced testing turnaround times. What initially took as long as 9 days was reduced to under 4 hours for inpatients and within 24 hours for the majority of outpatients. This rapid response not only significantly enhanced patient care but also proved to be a more economical approach, generating estimated savings exceeding $2 million. The proactive measures taken by Health Services laboratories, particularly their prior integration efforts, were instrumental in effectively managing the COVID-19 testing crisis in Los Angeles County and underscore the importance of preparedness and collaboration in healthcare systems.
