Vancouver B.C. – August 16, 2024 – LifeLabs, a proud partner of the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) GetCheckedOnline (GCO) program, is thrilled to announce that the program has been recognized as the 2024 Global Winner of the prestigious UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award. This award highlights LifeLabs’ role in helping deliver the GCO program through customized collection services at select Patient Service Centres (PSC).
The UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award recognizes teams around the world who collaborate across disciplines and transform healthcare delivery and, ultimately, patient lives. Celebrating 10 years of improving the health of British Columbians this year, the GCO program has received international acclaim for its significant impact on transforming healthcare delivery and increasing access to screening for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI).
LifeLabs has been integral in providing accessible specimen collection points, transporting specimens to the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory in Vancouver for testing, and expanding services to various locations throughout British Columbia, including plans for a new community in northern BC later this summer. The GCO program has played a vital role in making STBBI testing more accessible and private for individuals facing barriers such as stigma or lack of access to clinic-based STBBI testing. Through the GCO website, patients can create anonymous test requisitions and visit participating LifeLabs locations for collection.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the global recognition of the GCO program, a testament to the collaborative efforts between BCCDC and LifeLabs in revolutionizing STBBI testing,” said Erica Zarkovich, Senior V.P. of Government Markets at LifeLabs. “Our teams came together to make a difference in the lives of individuals by providing an innovative and convenient testing solution, resulting in earlier and more frequent testing among users.”
“Laboratories and diagnostic services are integral to patient care” said Dr. Linda Hoang, Medical Director of the BCCDC Public Health Laboratory. “GetCheckedOnline is a great example of how we can achieve success through innovation that is implemented by having all the touch points of a patient’s journey coordinated, with the goal of improving access and care.”
The program’s unique approach has garnered a satisfaction rate of 97% and has led to an 87% increase in users testing earlier and more frequently compared to traditional clinic testing.
To learn more, watch the video of how GetCheckedOnline is making an impact.