Section: Laboratory Management & Informatics

Duration: 1 month

Goals & Objectives

The goal of the Laboratory Management rotation is to provide the resident with the opportunity to be exposed to and understand and utilize the basic management principles required to function in the role as an administrative leader in the Department of Pathology. The Laboratory Informatics rotation's goal is to provide training, understanding and use of the varied hardware platforms and software for acquisition, storage, analysis and transmission of clinical laboratory information.

The Laboratory Management/Laboratory Informatics Services rotation is a four-week experience during which time the resident interacts on an essentially full-time basis with various management and administrative members and senior faculty members of the Department of Pathology. Through a series of discussions, readings and interchange, the resident should obtain valuable information and exposure to a variety of topics. Residents may also be asked to attend and participate in certain meetings, as with the pathology work group and hospital administration.

Laboratory management areas of training deal with general management, financial management, operations management, personnel management and marketing. Laboratory Informatics Services will include selection of an laboratory information system (LIS) and criteria, purchase specifications, security issues and system functions. Micro computing will include PC's (IBM's or clones) and Macintosh computers as tools for the physician and manager. Interface issues and specific software are presented as well as some basics in maintenance and troubleshooting.

Duties & Responsiblities

Laboratory Management

Residents will be able to prepare and conduct an interview for a laboratory technical employee or supervisor. Residents will be able to review resumes and develop legal and appropriate interview questions.
Residents will be familiar with preparing and completing employee performance programs and competency-based evaluations and meeting with employees to conduct performance reviews.
Residents will be able to develop pathology performance improvement programs. Residents will have facility with the JACHO 10-step model and principles of continuous quality improvement.
Residents will review various management scenarios and provide feedback about how they would prioritize and propose solutions or delegate for unique situations.
Residents will be familiar with the pathologist's role and committee responsibilities for the Institutional Blood Utilization Review Committee. Residents will have knowledge of appropriate utilization of blood products.
Residents will be familiar with JCAHO and NYS Department of Health regulations regarding Point of Care Testing. Residents will be able to discuss the appropriate steps in overseeing extralaboratory testing, including setting up a program, running multi-disciplinary meetings, review of training and QI and PT records.
Residents with be familiar with CLIA regulations regarding requirements for Physicians Office Laboratories and the distinctions between POL's and hospital clinical laboratories.
Residents will review test-cost analysis and workload methodologies and know the components that are necessary to determine total and marginal costs.
Residents will be familiar with inspection and accreditation by organizations such as the NYS Department of Health, Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Hospital Organizations, College of American Pathologists including preparation for and conducting surveys.
Residents will be able to discuss examples of modern aspects of pathology technology including robotic systems, pneumatic tubes, real time testing.
The residents will be able to discuss marketing of laboratory services including challenges of marketing for varied customers, how to differentiate laboratories; marketing responsibilities for potential and current customers, marketing literature and information distribution analysis and follow up of customer surveys.
Residents will discuss issues related to administration of a pathology medical practice plan including structure, benefits, taxes, liability and insurance.
Residents will be familiar with billing office functions including accounting, reimbursement and financial reports.
Residents will be familiar with billing issues related to Clinical and Anatomic Pathology including appropriate CPT-4 coding for procedures, ICD 9 codes, etc.
Residents will be familiar with a laboratory compliance plan and departmental responsibilities. Residents will know the HIPAA law requirements regarding privacy and security for all methods of handling information.
Residents will have facility with selection criteria for laboratory information systems including purchase specifications and preparation and evaluation of RFP's.

Laboratory Informatics

Residents will be familiar with and be able to operate and perform basic laboratory information system functions including data entry and recall, storage analysis and transmission of laboratory information.
Residents will be able to perform literature searches in the library or on-line via department PC's.
Residents will be familiar with the capabilities of PC's as a tool for the clinician, pathologist, manager, researcher and educator.
Residents will be familiar with the connectivity of PC's and LIS in CP and AP, with the hospital information system, web and outside systems.
Residents will be able to utilize various software programs including, Word, Word Perfect, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Windows and transcriptionist and pathologist workstations for AP. Spread sheets and software presentations will be developed.
Residents will be familiar with use of image processing in Pathology: types of digital images and their use in telecommunications and electronic display.
Residents will be familiar with web development basics including HTMLand Java Script, building a home page, data base design and usage, and web-based image enhanced reporting.