VOLUME 21 NUMBER 3 FALL – 2017 ISSN 1496-3876
EXTENDING THE SCOPE OF EQA TO THE EXTRA ANALYTICAL PHASES
In recent years, the increasing interest in quality improvement and patient safety has made laboratories increasingly aware than focusing only in the analytical phase is not enough, and that the assurance of quality has to be extended throughout the total testing process.
EQA is an essential component for assuring quality testing in a laboratory. By participating, laboratories gain confidence in the quality of their performance, can evaluate staff competency, compare their performance with other laboratories, and take advantage of educational opportunities.
EQALM Symposium 2017
EQALM is the annual conference for folks interested in proficiency testing (EQA) in all medical laboratory disciplines. This year, there were near 100 people coming from 32 countries from 5 continents. Dr. Noble was attending, not only representing CMPT, but also as the current chair of the Microbiology Working Group. In the latter capacity, he hosted two symposia.
CMPT’s AGM
This year, we have our Annual General Meeting at the beautiful Alumni Centre at the UBC campus. We were glad to see many of our faithful committee members and we took the opportunity to thank them personally.
POLQM’S QUALITY CONFERENCE
The Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine’s Program Office for Laboratory Quality Management hosted its 6th October Quality Conference at the Paetzold Education Centre at the Vancouver General Hospital from October 1-3, 2017.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE
In 2014, CMPT proposed a program where laboratorians could receive continuing education credits for reading the critiques in our Clinical Bacteriology, Mycology, and Enteric Parasitology programs and answering an on-line quiz. The program was trialed during 2015 with about 50 people participating. A post program survey indicated a very positive response rating the program as Excellent or Very Good and both Educational and Informative.
