Managing for total quality in a large laboratory. Some examples.
A large laboratory, processing more than 30,000 requisitions every 24 hours, provides a unique opportunity to document the value of selected approaches to managing for total quality. Proficiency test errors are an important subset of this database. They can provide a quality control manager with essential diagnostic information if data are analyzed in a systematic fashion. There is no benefit to performing proficiency tests in duplicate or in handling them in a manner different from patients. In fact, error rates can be higher when proficiency tests are handled in a special manner. Finally, error is decreased when technologists receive real-time feedback on how well the process is performing.
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D004521:Educational Measurement; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control