Bangkok--19 Dec--Bumrungrad International Bumrungrad International will raise patient service and safety to new levels when it introduces Thailandกฆs first modern medical lab automation system in 2008. Beckman Coulterกฆs Lab Automation is the same technology used by many world-class hospitals. It reduces lab turnaround time, ensures accuracy and safety, and increases work efficiency. This new system will help physicians diagnose and interpret lab test results accurately and properly. Bumrungrad, in cooperation with PCL Holdings Co., Ltd., sole distributor of Beckman Coulter in Thailand, signed a contract to install and implement a complete version of Beckman Coulterกฆs Lab Automation, the worldกฆs top lab automation system according to Advance for Administrators of the Laboratory magazine. The comprehensive system has outstanding features such as temperature-controlled sample storage, flexibility to add new instrumentation, and guaranteed on-time scheduling of test results. Bumrungrad CEO Mack Banner explained how the hospitalกฆs expansion led to the adoption of the new automation technology. กงOur new clinic building is designed to double our capacity from 3,500 outpatients per day to 6,500. As we expand into this building in 2008, the current hospital facility will be modified to accommodate more patient beds. We currently process over 1,500 specimens & conduct nearly 6,500 individual lab tests every day. This advanced lab automation system will allow us to provide such service, efficiently and accurately. Dr. Karoon Mekanontchai, Bumrungrad Internationalกฆs Medical Director, added that กงthe laboratory improvements are part of the hospitalกฆs continuing commitment to quality, including patient safety. This can be seen from the hospitalกฆs achievement of ISO: 15189, an international certification especially for medical laboratories. We are the first private hospital in Thailand to receive this certification, which should increase patientsกฆ confidence in the hospitalกฆs quality. Mr. Pisit Wannvithayapa, Managing Director of PCL Holdings Co., Ltd. said that กงour company not only sees Bumrungrad International as a major supporter; we think of them as our strategic partner. Our company is happy to provide the hospital with this medical laboratory technology for the benefit of its patients, doctors and staff. Mr. Ronald Berman, Vice President for Automation & Information Systems, Beckman Coulter Inc., added that กงwe regard this as another good opportunity to see our top of the class medical lab automation system installed to serve patients in a world-class hospital. This is another significant cooperation in developing medical service quality for patients of the region and of the world.