NCCLS eNews - 9 September 2004 (Plain Text Version)Return to Graphical Version | Search back issues | Print all articles In this issue: What is IQLM? Creating the Institute for Quality in Laboratory Medicine
In April 2003, a Quality Institute Conference convened key stakeholders to Atlanta, Georgia to discuss the role of laboratory medicine in addressing healthcare problems. A broad cross-section of the healthcare community participated in the meeting, which was hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These participants urged the creation of a new organization that could engage the healthcare community in improving laboratory services. At the Quality Institute Conference, guest speaker Lucian Leape, M.D., with the Harvard School of Public Health, stated, “The idea that medical errors are caused by bad systems is a transforming concept.” “The Institute of Medicine report, Crossing the Quality Chasm, challenges healthcare providers to make systematic changes to our nation’s healthcare,” noted D. Joseph Boone, Ph.D., Associate Director for Science at the CDC. “The laboratory is a proven leader in establishing quality processes for the analytical phase of testing, but more can be accomplished by opening communications among laboratory professionals, clinicians, health systems, and patients.” CDC took the recommendations from the Quality Institute and initiated plans for a new public-private partnership organization to engage the health care community in improving the use of laboratory tests and services. “The Institute for Quality in Laboratory Medicine (IQLM) will be the first organization bringing together clinicians and laboratory professionals to work on advancing substantial improvements in quality, effectiveness, safety, and appropriateness for the broad universe of laboratory testing,” noted Toby Merlin, M.D., Associate Director for Laboratory Medicine at the CDC. The IQLM seeks to become a trusted source for information on laboratory practices. “Many organizations have made significant contributions to the advancement of the quality of laboratory practices,” explained Dr. Merlin. “But, no one group has the resources or the needed integration to move the quality agenda to the next level.” The IQLM aims to provide a forum for a diversity of organizations to discuss mechanisms to improve the quality and safety of laboratory services. “This ability to work collectively to address issues of communication, accountability, technology, and evidence-based practices is a cornerstone of the IQLM,” adds Dr. Boone. Robin Stombler, principal of a Washington-based healthcare development company, is working with the CDC to assist in bringing together all significant parties interested in improving the health of the public through the better use of laboratory tests. “The broad laboratory community includes laboratory professionals, clinicians, accrediting organizations, payers, health systems, device manufacturers, patients, and government agencies,” said Ms. Stombler. “While groups representing these interests have collaborated in the past, there was not one organization, until now, that brought all these parties together dedicated to a mission to promote improvements in laboratory testing and services. IQLM provides a unique opportunity.” The IQLM Agenda The IQLM aims to:
The Partners Over 30 organizations have agreed to join with the CDC in making the IQLM a reality. This collaboration of groups will assist in furthering the IQLM agenda. According to Ms. Stombler, “These organizations collectively represent over 350,000 physicians, approximately 200,000 laboratory professionals, 1,200 healthcare manufacturing companies, major accrediting bodies, all state public health laboratories, three million volunteers dedicated to improving the health of mothers and children, federal government agencies, and a significant share of the nation’s hospitals.” The Work Groups Before the IQLM was named, CDC was determined to implement promptly some of the recommendations from the 2003 Quality Institute conference. It began by establishing three teams to develop a process for (1) identifying a core set of indicators for quality in laboratory medicine; (2) identifying and demonstrating the feasibility of networks to collect critical information related to laboratory quality; and (3) identifying award categories for recognizing the best in quality laboratory practice. Volunteers were placed on each team based on their individual areas of expertise. The teams have been meeting face-to-face or by conference call at least once a month for the past year to pursue their tasks. The teams evolved into workgroups, and the workgroups eventually fell under the umbrella of the IQLM. The Near Future The IQLM is slated to become an independent, incorporated entity with its own Board of Directors and staff. CDC is providing initial funding to establish the independent organization. Individuals interested in participating in IQLM should watch the IQLM website for upcoming details on the 2005 conference registration and a call for abstracts. The web address is: http://www.phppo.cdc.gov/dls/iqlm/default.asp. NCCLS's Role NCCLS shares CDC's dedication to the improvement of the quality of medical testing and healthcare services and has actively forged partnerships for that goal during its 35-year history. As one of the more than 30 key stakeholders, NCCLS participated in the Quality Institute Conference, remains active in the IQLM Professional Advisory Partnership Council, and is represented on the IQLM Networks Group. As demonstrated by this active participation, NCCLS is committed to the establishment of the IQLM.
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