At Xcel Delivery, our medical couriers and lab couriers have years of experience. We partner with couriers who have demonstrated a commitment to excellence, thorough knowledge of proper medical specimen handling procedures, and an understanding of the importance of efficiency, confidentiality, and compassion in every step of the journey.
We believe that our job goes beyond just making sure medical deliveries get safely and efficiently from point A to point B. We think our medical and lab couriers should also be dedicated to protecting their cargo, maintaining integrity and compliance from start to finish so that the medical team, patient, and their family get the answers they need. Here is a look at how we treat the transportation of medical specimens and lab samples.
Instilling the Importance of the Cargo in Our Medical Couriers
We begin by instilling the importance of the specific cargo in our medical couriers. We ensure they understand that each sample represents a patient and their family who are anxiously awaiting answers from their medical team. If something goes wrong with the transportation or delivery, that could result in a delay that affects patient care or prolongs someone’s discomfort.
Encouraging Compassion
Next, we encourage our couriers to be compassionate about the job they have to do. While every job has its ups and downs, the job of delivering medical specimens or lab samples is paramount to patient care and comfort. Our delivery drivers must understand that real people are involved, and we tell our drivers to imagine that it is their mother or partner counting on the delivery of the specimen in order to get the answers they need.
Maintaining Confidentiality and Chain of Custody
Confidentiality and chain of custody are crucial in the handling of medical specimens. We provide our medical couriers with access to tracking tools that provide real-time tracking information to designated personnel. We also provide delivery updates, signature release, delivery confirmation photos, and more. Our couriers are thoroughly experienced in chain of custody best practices and will do what is necessary to prevent loss, damage, or tampering. We keep highly accurate logs and have robust security measures in place to protect our medical deliveries.
Guaranteeing Proper Handling and Specimen Integrity
The drivers we contract with also guarantee proper handling and specimen integrity. They are certified on proper specimen handling procedures, including packaging, temperature control, and emergency protocols. We use temperature packaging along with dry ice or cold packs. Our packaging is leak-proof and puncture- and tamper-resistant, and everything is properly labeled according to regulations. We also have emergency response plans in place in the event of an uncontrollable delay, vehicle breakdown, or other issue.
Ensuring Compliance with All Regulations
Our medical couriers comply with HIPAA, OSHA regulations, and all local and federal regulations related to the transportation and handling of medical specimens, laboratory samples, medical supplies and equipment, and other medical deliveries. We stay up to date on changing regulations and regularly check in with our contracted drivers to ensure they have undergone required training courses, certification courses, or continuing education courses.
Xcel Delivery handles medical delivery and courier services throughout Arizona and beyond. In addition to one-time same-day and STAT deliveries, we also offer scheduled delivery routes for the pick-up and delivery of test samples, medical specimens, prescriptions, medical supplies and equipment, medical records, and more. To learn more about our medical and lab delivery services in Arizona and beyond, contact us online.