Some people see blood-work disruptions as regional health system switches labs
Patients in the Virginia Mason Franciscan Health network have reported disruptions in recent weeks when it comes to getting blood work completed at various lab sites.
Social media posts asking what happened to former Labcorp Patient Service Centers have been appearing in various Facebook neighborhood groups.
VMFH posted June 27 on its website that it was bringing “lab services in-house.”
Labcorp Patient Service Centers in VMFH facilities in South King and Pierce counties “closed on Friday, June 27,” according to the announcement.
It added, “New VMFH lab services opened in the same locations on Monday, June 30, 2025. Business hours will remain the same.”
In a statement sent to The News Tribune in response to questions, the health system said that, “This transition allows us to enhance the patient experience by improving turnaround times for lab results and supporting more seamless care coordination through a single electronic health record system.”
While the health system is working with United WestLabs, “They are just providing some management services and are not patient facing,” according to VMFH.
UWL is “a healthcare service company that implements and manages facility-based laboratory services,” the statement noted.
Some customers reported at least two closures by mid-June in Gig Harbor. One photo posted online showed a closure notice taped to one lab’s door that stated, “There is supposed to be a new lab coming into this suite sometime the first/second week of July.”
The statement from VMFH noted that while LabCorp locations were originally expected to operate through the end of June, “several sites closed earlier than anticipated.”
Outpatient lab services are available for VMFH and Franciscan Medical Group patients or those referred from an outside provider. Those referred must bring “a completed lab order with demographic and billing information (and) a fax number for the referring provider to receive results,” VMFH said on its website.
Blood work related to a hospital-scheduled surgery or procedure, including blood transfusions, “can be done at any Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospital laboratory or one of the Outpatient Patient Service Centers,” it added.
For a complete list of lab locations, go to VMFH’s online list.
As for Labcorp, the company’s website still shows locations in Bonney Lake, Tacoma, Puyallup and other parts of the state. Gig Harbor is no longer listed.
Labcorp did not respond to a request for comment.
Article updated July 10 to clarify role of United WestLabs.
This story was originally published July 6, 2025 at 5:15 AM.
