Quality Management

Question 1

Quality Management

Answer 1

A program that stresses the interdependence of processes throughout an organization (processes effect each other)

They set standards for quality of care for patients

Question 2

Quality Assurance

Answer 2

Evaluate the outcomes of patient care

Was the specimen handled properly from the time of retrieval to the time the patient diagnosis was rendered and delivered to the physician?

Question 3

Quality Control

Answer 3

Evaluates the uniformity of processes in the laboratory

Is the equipment functioning properly to ensure the best results?

Question 4

Pre-Analytic Indicator

Answer 4

Assesses the proper handling of a specimen prior to testing (pre-examination)

Question 5

Analytic Indicator

Answer 5

The procedures and processes for treating a patient specimen (testing procedures like processing and staining tissue)

Question 6

Post-Analytic Indicator

Answer 6

Determine the quality/success of patient care after the diagnosis is rendered via a final report on the patient’s condition

Question 7

Key Indicator

Answer 7

Quality indicators selected by the QM committee as part of the quality management plan

The indicators chosen to be measured

Question 8

Proficiency Testing

Answer 8

“Peer group testing”

Determination of laboratory testing performance by means of inter-laboratory comparisons (comparing similar labs results to assess consistency)

Question 9

Examples of Key Indicators

Answer 9

Patient/specimen identification and verification
Turnaround time TAT
Customer satisfaction
Final reports and corrected reports
Specimen labeling
Specimen transport

Question 10

What are the criteria for developing key indicators?

Answer 10

Key indicators are chosen based on:

Routine procedures that are critical to patient outcomes

Things that affect a large number of the laboratory’s patients

Factors concerning patients that have been problematic in the past