Core components of a comprehensive quality assurance program in anatomic pathology.
In this article the core components of a comprehensive quality assurance and improvement plan are outlined. Quality anatomic pathology work comes with focus on accurate, timely, and complete reports. A commitment to continuous quality improvement and a systems approach with a persistent effort helps to achieve this end. Departments should have a quality assurance and improvement plan that includes a risk assessment of real and potential problems facing the laboratory. The plan should also list the individuals responsible for carrying out the program with adequate resources, a defined timetable, and annual assessment for progress and future directions. Quality assurance monitors should address regulatory requirements and be organized by laboratory division (surgical pathology, cytology, etc) as well as 5 segments (preanalytic, analytic, postanalytic phases of the test cycle, turn-around-time, and customer satisfaction). Quality assurance data can also be used to evaluate individual pathologists using multiple parameters with peer group comparison.
Department of Pathology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, 32224, USA. Nakhleh.raouf@mayo.edu
Raouf E
RE
Nakhleh
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000592:standards*; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000592:standards*; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011786:Quality Control; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards