ADVANCE presented the 2007 National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW) Laboratory of the Year Award to Department of Pathology, Irwin Army Community Hospital (IACH) in Fort Riley, KS. Laboratory of the Year nominees were judged on instituting innovative concepts; demonstrating successful teamwork; accepting challenges and demonstrating evidence of willingness to improve; celebrating and supporting employees; receiving commendations from clients; and supporting the community through outreach health fairs and other programs.

IACH, a Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) member, was founded on 7 February 1958. The hospital is named in honor of Brigadier General Bernard John Dowling Irwin, “The Fighting Doctor” who won the Congressional Medal of Honor for distinguished gallantry in action during an engagement with the Chiricahua Indians near Apache Pass, Arizona in February 1861.

IACH was in the midst of changes in the year preceding the Laboratory of the Year Award win. “We had upwards of 50% turnover in our laboratory staff,” says CPT Holly Swartz, MT(ASCP), CLS(NCA), Laboratory Manager, IACH. “This involved key positions including the laboratory director, laboratory manager, chief technologist/civilian supervisor, and the senior noncommissioned officer in charge.” She adds, “We also implemented new hematology and chemistry analyzers along with gel technology for blood banking.” Through all of the changes, IACH staff made sure high-quality services and patient care were priorities.

When asked whether CLSI documents help to develop and maintain the prized level of quality in their laboratory, Swartz says that IACH had used CLSI guidelines for several years. She comments, “CLSI documents provide how-to resources that laboratories need to establish and maintain quality.” Most recently, IACH obtained updated copies of quality, laboratory safety, and method evaluation documents from CLSI.

The practical use of the documents is evident in the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and training programs at IACH. Swartz explains, “Laboratory Documents: Development and Control (GP2-A5) was used to implement a new format for SOPs using information mapping. As a result, our procedures are much easier to read and understand from the technician to the technologist level.” Swartz adds, “We have also developed an online document control log that will have links to the electronic versions of our documents.”

Swartz feels CLSI documents are especially important to assist in preparation for College of American Pathologists (CAP) inspections. “Preparation and Testing of Reagent Water in the Clinical Laboratory (C3-A4) helped IACH update our water quality SOP. It provided practical guidance for reagent grade water specifications, usage, and testing. We were therefore able to address the water quality questions in the Laboratory General Checklist.”

IACH takes great pride in educating staff, as well as patients. Swartz says, “CLSI guideline, Training and Competence Assessment (GP21-A2) was utilized to design a competency assessment program. The tools provided by CLSI helped us to establish a culture of ongoing competency assessment through direct observation, problem solving, and other suggested methods. It also offered effective tools to deal with unacceptable performance.”

Overall, CLSI documents are practical, helpful resources that provide valuable recommendations and guidelines for running a high-quality, award-winning laboratory.  Swartz concludes, “CLSI documents are used by our section supervisors and upper level management. They are key resources when we are trying to update a procedure and/or process and need guidance on current practices.”

National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (NMLPW) is a time of recognition for the approximately 265,000 medical laboratory professionals and 15,000 board-certified pathologists who play a vital role in every aspect of health care.

Lab Week is held annually during the last full week of April. The next Lab Week will be held 20-26 April 2008. [ return to top ]