{"title":"Integrating quality management into clinical systems: tools for achieving clinical integration.","authors":"L M Berte","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This article describes the use of quality systems as a tool for managers of health-care clinical services to establish a common framework across the different disciplines in the continuum of care. Quality systems used internationally in the manufacturing and service sectors are applicable to multidisciplinary clinical systems management because the essential elements of quality are universal. These elements have been redefined into health-care terminology and can be used by clinical systems managers as a basis for implementing a quality system. The structure for documents in a quality system also has been adapted to health care and allows for a common set of quality policies and processes to unify the different clinical services. By using a consistent quality management approach and documentation, managers can transcend technical operational differences and ensure effective clinical integration.</p>","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 4","pages":"197-202"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21417560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Estimating costs and turnaround times: presenting a user-friendly tool for analyzing costs and performance.","authors":"M L Kilgore, S J Steindel, J A Smith","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A review of the literature finds wide variation in the costs and turnaround times associated with central laboratories, satellite laboratories, and point-of-care testing. The greatest variation occurs when comparing options for blood gas and electrolyte testing. Some variation can be attributed to costing methods, but substantial variation arises from circumstances under which testing is undertaken in specific sites. These circumstances include the site-specific costs of resources used in testing, volumes of testing conducted, and performance requirements demanded by the users of laboratory information.</p>","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 4","pages":"179-87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21417561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"As we see it. Laboratory tests: use with care.","authors":"R Savard, D Waggoner, B Anderson, B Rokus","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 4","pages":"228-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21417572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Access to laboratory testing: the impact of managed care in the Pacific Northwest.","authors":"K M LaBeau, M Simon, S J Steindel","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Patient access to health-care services has become an important issue owing to the growth of managed care organizations and the number of patients enrolled. To better understand the current issues related to access to laboratory testing, with a particular focus on the impact of managed care, we gathered information from a network of clinical laboratories in the Pacific Northwest. Two questionnaires were sent to the 257 Laboratory Medicine Sentinel Monitoring Network participants in November 1995 and March 1996 to investigate trends in the availability and utilization of laboratory testing services and changes in onsite testing menus. Although laboratories reported that managed care was a factor in their decisions about laboratory practices, testing decisions were more likely made for business reasons, based on medical practice changes and marketplace influences not associated with managed care.</p>","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 3","pages":"137-42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21416966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Confidentiality and HIV screening following employee needlestick.","authors":"L J Weber, M G Bissell","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 3","pages":"156-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21416967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bayesian analysis: an objective, scientific approach to better decisions.","authors":"H Jones","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An important responsibility for managers is to see that good decisions are made, which includes training other decision makers in how to make them. In our rapidly changing health-care environment, it is important that the best decisions be made based on cost-effectiveness (tests we perform or outsource), productivity (employees we hire), service quality (how we organize services), technology (equipment and methods we purchase), and outcomes (what we accomplish for patients). A decision analysis method is described that uses an objective, scientific approach to decision making. Bayesian analysis is a statistical method that allows researchers (decision makers) to take into account data as well as prior beliefs to calculate the probability that an alternative (decision, treatment) is superior. Developing criteria, prior rating, of options, and calculating assessments and final assessment are included in the analysis. An example is provided to show how our laboratory compared routine hematology automation alternatives (automated cell counter, automated microscope, and automated flow cytometry cell counter) using the Bayesian analytical technique. Discussion follows related to how the technique is effective in managing team decisions by allowing different opinions, past experiences, and beliefs to be expressed and evaluated.</p>","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 3","pages":"148-53"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21416969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Laboratory end-stage renal disease testing.","authors":"F Mesaros","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General has incorporated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) into its 1999 Work Plan. Specifically, they will focus on identifying inappropriate Medicare payments for clinical laboratory services and their medical appropriateness. Under Medicare's composite rate reimbursement system, certain laboratory tests at established frequencies are covered under the composite rate. Any additional tests billed that are beyond the established frequencies must be supported by medical necessity. When billing laboratory tests for ESRD patients, it is important to know what tests are covered and at what frequencies under the composite rate. It also is important to understand the use of the 50/50 rule for determining whether automated multichannel tests are billable. This article reviews these details and provides insight into how laboratories should apply these rules when billing for ESRD testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 3","pages":"132-6"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21416968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"As we see it. A difficult task.","authors":"L Malgerstorfe, D Johnson, D Cain, M C Watters","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 3","pages":"160-3"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21417711","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Improve your hiring process with team interviews.","authors":"R R Camp, M V Hermon","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hiring highly qualified employees in today's competitive job market is one of the most important responsibilities for managers. The time, effort, and money that are involved in recruiting, hiring, and training a new employee provide a powerful argument for improving the way we select new employees. Today, many organizations are using team interviews to improve their hiring processes. In this article, we discuss the ways team interviews can enhance selection accuracy and provide a range of benefits for both the candidate and the organization. Specific guidelines on how to use team interviews to make better hiring decisions also are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":79576,"journal":{"name":"Clinical laboratory management review : official publication of the Clinical Laboratory Management Association","volume":"13 3","pages":"143-7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1999-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"21416965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}