APHL 2022 POSTER ABSTRACTS
Quality Systems
QUALITY SYSTEMS
Continuous Quality Improvement : New Public Health Laboratory Resources
B Su , Association of Public Health Laboratories
The Laboratory Systems and Standards committee , in partnership with APHL staff , federal partners and a consultant , produced multiple new quality-related resources . These documents support public health laboratories ( PHLs ) in their continuous quality improvement efforts through many quality pathways . This poster will cover a brief description of each resource and its practical uses .
Quality Management
• Quality Manager Position Description : Provides a list of standard job requirements and competencies that can be tailored in the level of detail , experience and complexity . The position description supports PHLs who want to define roles and responsibilities of existing staff or for hiring new personnel .
Accreditation
• CLIA Checklist : A fillable document , divided into sections that correspond to the CLIA regulatory requirements for high complexity testing . The checklist has examples of compliance , color-coded laboratory positions and related tools . The checklist guides internal self-assessments and identifies potential deficiencies and corrective actions .
• CLIA resources on the APHL website : an updated list of resources that cover checklists , bench aids , policy , reports and briefs , and external resources from CDC , CMS and FDA .
Quality Management System
• Quality System Essentials ( QSE ) for Non-Conforming Events : Model practices and related templates supported among member PHLs , following the CLSI guidelines . The resource supports PHLs who want to improve their implementation of a QSE .
Public Health Laboratory System
• PHL Outreach Model Practices : Model practices collected from PHLs with robust outreach activities within infectious diseases . Includes information on structure , funding , topics , methods and benefits . The guidance document supports PHLs who want to improve their outreach initiatives .
• PHL Impact Tool : Excel tool that allows PHLs to measure change in Salmonella cases and associated costs due to surveillance activities . Provides easily generated output data to produce a summary of health and economic impacts , as well as estimates of cases , hospitalizations and medical costs avoided . Outputs can be used for educating legislative staff , improving internal operations , or building relationships with clinical partners .
These resources will be shared through the APHL eUpdate , Quality Assurance Community and Quality Improvement Forum calls to ensure they are widely publicized . Utilization of the applicable resources will ensure PHLs have a standardized approach to addressing these areas , saving time to implementation while applying best practices .
Presenter : Bertina Su , Association of Public Health Laboratories , bertina . su @ aphl . org
Pilot Test of a Thirteen Module Quality Assurance Course for Scientific and Technical Personnel in the New Jersey Public Health Laboratory
S Mikorski , T Frez , R Siderits , A Gross , M Carayannopoulos , T Kirn , P Jackman , M Pindling-Watkins , K Patel , H Hergert , D Rivera , S Malaviya , J Ochal , D Markunas , R Kratky and M Carpinona , New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories
A series of quality assurance ( QA ) online learning modules was developed based on the results of a Training Needs Assessment ( TNA ) of public health laboratory staff conducted in 2020 and presented at the APHL 2021 Annual Conference . Results revealed most participants indicating a need for QA training , which launched the development of the course . This effort is being supported through the Epidemiology Laboratory Capacity ( ELC ) Grant . A QA Committee of subject matter experts ( SMEs ) in QA , clinical chemistry and education was formed to design and develop the curriculum . Other SMEs were recruited as required . The order of modules and their titles are : Introduction to Quality , What is Quality Management ?, Personnel , Training and Training Assessments , Facilities and Equipment , Information Management , Regulation and Delegation of Authority , Documentation , Biosafety Risk Assessments , The Total Testing Process , Measuring Analyte Concentrations , Basic Statistics and Quality Control , and Non- Conforming Events . A pre- and post-test for each module was created to measure learning . A final draft of each was vetted by the SMEs for format , relevance , accuracy , continuity , and overall presentation . Eleven participants from the following programs are piloting the course : Clinical Services , Newborn Screening , Microbiology and Biothreat Response , and include two postdoctoral fellows and an undergraduate intern . Pilot group titles are representative of the target audience . The effectiveness of learning is being measured based on the Kirkpatrick Level 2 model : comparison of answers to questions appearing in both pre and posttests , and overall test scores .
All thirteen modules were completed by the pilot group . Comparing the score for all modules per participant , we find the range of participant improvement to be 11.5 % - 43.9 %. Every participant showed an increase in knowledge from taking the course . Comparing the score for all participants per module , we find the range of improvement per module to be 9.9 % - 190.6 %, with the greatest improvements seen for Module 3 : Personnel ( 190.6 %), Module 5 : Facilities and Equipment ( 83.4 %) and Module 7 : Regulations and Delegation of Authority ( 102.0 %). Course completion will be required of all technical and scientific staff and be integrated into their annual performance goals as part of a Total Quality Improvement initiative . The long-term plan is to design and deliver a Kirkpatrick Level 3 evaluation to assess impact on overall work performance .
( APHL 2021 poster : Investing in the Future of the Public Health Laboratory Workforce : Results of a Training Needs Assessment in New Jersey )
Presenter : Tiffany Frez , New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories , tiffany . frez @ doh . nj . gov