Quality Improvement Essay

Quality Improvement Essay

Abstract

Laboratories have a significant role in patient treatment procedures. By using results from the laboratories physicians can decide the type of treatment that a patient should consider given that they have solid proof of the illness. In thee modern times, it is of the essence for healthcare institutions to consider equipping their laboratories with the necessary tools and workforce. To attain quality improvement in the healthcare system, care organization are obliged to develop laboratories that can conduct different tests and provide precise results. This article identifies some of the measures that can implemented to guarantee improvement in healthcare laboratories as well as identify how accreditation of laboratories improves quality care.

 

Quality Improvement: Accrediting Laboratories

Introduction

Studies describe accreditation as the process of determining the technical acquiescence of laboratories to conduct various significant tests, measurements and calibration (Leaman & Moore, 2017). This article aims to describe development in regards to medical laboratories as well as identity measures that can be implemented to enhance safety and accuracy in healthcare laboratories. According to studies, a laboratory is one of the core bodies in the healthcare institution that nations are obliged to properly develop for the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR). For years, laboratory services have played a crucial role in all significant procedures in a healthcare institution (Leaman & Moore, 2017). These procedures include detection, assessment, response, notification and monitoring of patient’s incidents. For a physician to establishing therapy process and the medicine that a patient is necessitating, they depend on the outcome of the test from the laboratories (Leaman & Moore, 2017). Laboratories have played a significant role in treatment procedure, improving patient trust in regards to the results and treatment procedure.

In these present days, the risk of international spread of infectious illnesses has dramatically increased. This is well demonstrated by the fast spread of the current Covid-19 virus which has threatened continents around the world necessitating for fast and accurate tests. Healthcare organizations are obliged to improve their laboratories to guarantee swift and precise outcomes to determine and improve treatment (Sinha et al., 2018). A well-equipped laboratory assists healthcare staff to conduct accurate tests and develop an appropriate measure of therapy given that all requirements are provided. For instance, the Covid-19 virus requires adequate inspections with proper types of equipment to come up with the appropriate methods of treatment. It is no doubt that currently, healthcare institutions need well-equipped laboratories to overcome the current pandemic. Even so, equipping laboratories with the appropriate tools and failing to employ laboratories experts will not guarantee quality healthcare.

Accreditation of laboratories guarantees improvement from quality administration system to patient outcome (Sinha et al., 2018). Quality in the healthcare department is closely associated with the standard of excellence of the care offered concerning the current level of awareness and technical development. The accreditation of laboratories enhances facilitation of precise and fast diagnostics, the competence of therapy and minimization of errors in the laboratory procedures that result in mistakes in prescriptions (Sinha et al., 2018).  Medical studies emphasize that accreditation in laboratories is not just about the purchasing the types of equipment, instead, it is about how to develop standard measures that have the potential to maintain and calibrate the machines to deliver accurate results. 

Requirements to obtain accreditation

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Laboratory tools maintenance and calibration are one of the significant components of enhancing the quality of laboratory services and achieving accreditation of laboratories. Well maintained and calibrated equipment ensure accurate, reliable and valid results (Tack et al., 2018). Moreover, healthcare institutions should consider buying more laboratory equipment to ensure that the institution conducts all tests necessary for treatment. Shortage of tools in laboratories has been a significant hindrance to providing effective and efficient results. For healthcare organization to overcome this issue of unequipped laboratories, organizations are obliged to consider collaborating with initiatives such as COFRAC, UKAS and CIA, among others that have centred on the subject laboratory accreditation (Tack et al., 2018). Research from various medical institution indicates that these programs organize training sessions intending to develop a team of regional and local biomedical engineers and equipment technicians with the capacity to address the demands of laboratory equipment preservation and calibration as a regular basis.

These trainings develop the regional ability that minimizes the costs of having the laboratory tools serviced and calibrated.  A full equipped laboratory comprises of the necessary tools for conducting tests and experts with the capability to handle and maintain the equipment. Institutions should consider employing individuals who are trained to maintain the types of equipment and be part of the health ministry institution (Tack et al., 2018). Biomedical engineers and equipment technician are trained in servicing and calibration of different laboratory tools (Karthiyayini & Rajendran, 2017). Through collaborating with these programs, healthcare institutions can have their staff trained to pass the knowledge to their institutions.  Equipping laboratories with the necessary tool is one step; having them maintained is another step. Healthcare organizations need to consider that this equipment need to be maintained and calibrated to guarantee accurate results. Without proper maintenance of laboratory equipment, a healthcare organization may fail to conduct various tests, therefore, presenting risks to patient care. 

Quality metrics

Medical laboratory services are vital to patient care. For this reason, laboratory services have to be often available to address the demands of all patients and the clinical staff accountable for the care of these patients (Karthiyayini & Rajendran, 2017). Laboratory services range from, patient preparation, identification, gathering of samples, storage, transportation and advice in addition to the consideration of the safety of ethics in medical laboratory procedures (Karthiyayini & Rajendran, 2017). It is, therefore, of the essence to consider proper staffing in regards to maintenance and calibration of equipment.  Laboratory equipment is tools that need to be appropriately maintained to provide accurate results and avoid transmission of diseases among other care issues.

Healthcare institutions need to take part in initiatives developed by programs from the World Health Organization, (WHO), Clinical Pathologists Accreditation (CAP) and Global Health System Solutions among other programs to improve laboratory services and equipment. Major healthcare institutions should consider hiring more trained individuals who can maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment (Karthiyayini & Rajendran, 2017). Minor healthcare institutions, including clinics, are obliged to take part in training offered by the accreditation bodies.

The World Health Organization indicates that every city there is at least one accreditation body that assists healthcare institutions to improve their laboratory services through various approaches (Harris & Clauser, 2015). Taking part in training offered by these programs is less expensive compared to buying new equipment after a short time due to poor management and maintenance of the kits. By having experts who are trained to maintain the laboratory tools, healthcare institutions can evade the cost of buying new equipment for an extended period.

Financial impact

Accreditation is essential to demonstrate the competence of laboratories. Moreover, it is a tool utilized to identify laboratories at an international standard. Accreditation is connected to periodical audits stimulating to preserve and enhance care quality (Tack et al., 2018). The accurate result guarantees positive patient care, therefore, minimizing the cost of treatment and medical errors (Tack et al., 2018). Accreditation will assist healthcare institutions to reduce the cost of purchasing new machines within a short period. The cost of buying new tools at intervals due to poor management and maintenance is higher compared to the cost of hiring an individual trained to maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment. 

Conclusion

Healthcare institutions should consider employing biomedical engineers and equipment mechanics, given that it's cheaper than buying new tools. Moreover, accreditation of laboratories creates an opportunity for institutions to develop collaboration with various programs that assist in the development of equipped laboratories thus, easing the financial stress of purchasing some equipment and training of staff on how to maintain laboratory equipment. 

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