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To:

Hospital Chief Operating Officers, Vice Presidents, Administrative Laboratory Directors, and Pathologists

From:

Barry Portugal

Subject:

Quick Quiz - NEW LABORATORY DIRECTOR ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES

 
Top 7 Questions you need to know the answers to in order to meet the
NEW LABORATORY DIRECTOR ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES
  1. How should hospital administrators measure and evaluate an effective Laboratory Director?

  2. Who is responsible for determining if the Lab Director has sufficient authority to carry out his/her responsibilities?

  3. How do administrators assure that there are no organizational impediments that prohibit the Lab Director from effectively performing his/her job?

  4. What factors must be considered when delegating Laboratory Director responsibilities to non-physician lab staff?

  1. How much time should the Laboratory Director devote to his or her direct Part A responsibilities? What is fair compensation for these responsibilities?

  2. How should hospital administrators measure whether the Laboratory Director is "sufficiently available"?

  3. Should PhD's serve as Laboratory Directors? What certifications are required for a PhD to qualify as a Laboratory Director?

If you can't answer these questions, please consider purchasing a copy of the speaker presentation materials and twelve CD set from the May 11 and 12 SUMMIT ON THE NEW LABORATORY DIRECTOR ACCREDITATION GUIDELINES. This important conference presented new information concerning the effect these guidelines have on Laboratory Director direct and delegated responsibilities, liability coverage, hospital policies, and pathology group contracts. Please click on the order form and see how you can save $50.

Representatives from the major organizations that accredit hospital and healthcare system laboratories (CLIA and state departments of health, the College of American Pathologists, and JCAHO) were joined by the leadership of CLMA, AACC, and ASCP to discuss how hospital administrators, administrative laboratory directors, and pathologists should construct the role of the Laboratory Director under the new guidelines. The former General Counsel of the American Hospital Association described how the new accreditation guidelines may require hospital administrators to update policies, liability coverage, and contracts with pathology groups.

Other conference faculty included a healthcare system president and CEO who shared his views on the challenges ahead to forge closer relationships between hospital administrators, administrative laboratory directors, and pathology group leaders. A pathologist chief of a multi-hospital laboratory system presented his views concerning relationships with hospital administrators.in academic medical centers, teaching, and community hospitals. Two Administrative Laboratory Directors, representing uniquely organized laboratory systems, discussed how they have been able to develop highly workable shared responsibilities in their respective hospital systems.

Please click on Meeting Agenda and Faculty links to review conference information

All of the conferees agreed that hospital administrators and laboratorians need to more carefully review who is in charge of the laboratory, which Laboratory Director responsibilities can or should be delegated to non-physician personnel, and how those responsibilities are defined in hospital policies, liability coverage, and contracts. Since CLIA, CAP, and JCAHO do not mandate the scope of laboratory organizational responsibilities, it is the responsibility of hospital administrators to assure that:

  • Laboratory Director responsibilities are delegated to individuals with the appropriate education, experience, and training.

  • Hospital policies, liability coverage, and contracts clearly describe the extent of the Laboratory Director's role and authority.

  • No organizational impediments limit or restrict the Laboratory Director's ability to perform his or her duties.

  • The individual appointed Laboratory Director can demonstrate that they are qualified, experienced, and effective in the performance of their duties.

Conference Registrant Comments To Order Conference Materials

"Superior faculty, exceptional information."

Use the online order form to order your copy of the speaker presentation materials. You may also order a set of twelve CD's of the speaker's presentations that include both question and answer sessions. Order both the conference handout materials and the CD's and save $50!

To order, please click on order form.

"CLIA, CAP, and JCAHO speakers shared valuable insights. I appreciated the new reference materials they provided."

"Case studies of Laboratory Director delegated responsibilities helped me better understand available alternatives".

"Hospital administrator points of view really opened my eyes".

"Contract and liability information was very helpful".

 

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