Patient Safety and the Medical Laboratory Using the IOM Aims

Abstract

LEARNING OBJECIVES 1. Identify steps in the total testing process at the greatest risk for errors. 2. Explain the relationship of evidence-based management to evidence-based medicine. 3. Discuss the difference between patient-centered and system-focused healthcare. 4. Define timeliness with respect to patient-centered care. 5. Differentiate efficient and effective laboratory testing services. 6. Identify methods to provide equitable laboratory services.

Improving Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality in the 21st Century—Competencies Required of Future Medical Laboratory Science Practitioners

“…Focusing on patient-centered laboratory care generates significant developmental opportunities for future medical laboratory practitioners. 7 A new relationship of shared decisionmaking between patients and healthcare providers is needed, with more attention to patient values, preferences, and cultural backgrounds. It is necessary for laboratory professionals to interact with patients and families, listen to their concerns, and answer their questions.…”

“…Students should understand that implementing methods that decrease the time from ordering the laboratory test to its receipt in the laboratory and the time from test completion to action taken on the patient's behalf will make significant impact on patient care. 7 Case studies and problembased learning are techniques in which students can discover the consequences of untimely laboratory testing services on patient outcomes. Assignments which require collaboration with other healthcare students will provide medical laboratory students opportunities to develop skills in communicating information about laboratory testing with other healthcare practitioners.…”

“…Because timeliness in healthcare is closely linked to efficiency of healthcare, content in laboratory management curriculum should address the impact of enhancing the efficiency of laboratory testing services, i.e., addressing deficiencies in the testing process, such as reducing mislabeled, unlabeled and lost specimens; improving specimen integrity; and reducing missed and multiple specimen collections. 7 Emphasis should also be placed on the impact of laboratory services on the efficiency of patient care, from the perspective both of the patient and of other members of the healthcare team. Inefficiencies that impact other healthcare providers can delay subsequent care intended for the patient, such as scheduling radiology procedures and other therapies such as blood transfusions, chemotherapy and antimicrobial infusions.…”

“…Teaching future practitioners to educate patients on proper preparation for specimen collection, preparation and care for venipuncture sites, and the purpose of the laboratory tests are all part of the MLS scope of practice. 7 Patients want to understand the timeline of the testing cycle and how to interpret results. For instance, patients should always be told approximately when their physicians will have the results of their tests, and encouraged to call if they do not receive a timely report.…”

“…Laboratory professionals should understand basic safety design principles, such as standardization and simplification, so that they can include these features in process improvement processes and methodologies. 7 They also need to understand the basic principles of "plan -dostudy -act", to test and refine proposed process improvements. 11…”