[Essential role of specialists in laboratory medicine--introduction to a novel logistic support system in our hospital].
In cooperation with the clinical laboratory, our Department of Laboratory Medicine has established a novel logistic support system. The goal of this system is to improve the efficacy of laboratory medicine for both the clinician and patient through a new advisory service. Any abnormal patient laboratory data are detected by computer, printed and then checked and analyzed by medical technologists. The resulting comprehensive interpretation report is checked and confirmed by a clinical pathologist. After the results are analyzed, the clinical pathologist sends relevant clinical comments to a clinician via electric medical records. Additional comments are provided if further tests are needed. In serious cases, the clinical pathologist contacts the clinician directly by mobile phone. This system can benefit the clinician and patient in regards to both risk management and medical audit. In addition, other medical staff may become more aware of the role of the clinical laboratory and the Department of Laboratory Medicine. In a community hospital, specialists in laboratory medicine are gatekeepers for risk management and medical audits through advisory services. The day when the necessity and importance of specialists in laboratory medicine are properly recognized will surely come in the future.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seirei General Hospital, Hamamatsu 430-8558, Japan. yonekawa@sis.seirei.or.jp
Osamu
O
Yonekawa
D003253:Consultants; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D010820:Physicians; D013038:Specialization