title: Accountability through regulation in Ontario's Medical Laboratory Sector.
abstract: Although the use of performance indicators for the analytical (and highly measurable) phase of the medical laboratory process has had a long and successful history, it is now recognized that the value of a laboratory test is embedded in a system of care. This case study, using both documents and interview data, examines the approaches to accountability in the Ontario Medical Laboratory Sector, noting both the challenges and benefits. This sector relies heavily on the regulation instrument, including a requirement that all medical laboratories licensed by the provincial government must follow the guidelines set out by the Quality Management Program - Laboratory Services. We found the greatest challenges exist in the pre-analytical phase (where a large portion of total laboratory errors occur), particularly the interface between the laboratory and other providers.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON.
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gamble
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer, University of Ontario, Institute of Technology, Oshawa, ON.
authors.forename: Lavern
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bourne
authors.affiliation: Professor, Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Raisa B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Deber
mesh_terms: D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008004:Licensure; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D012941:Social Responsibility