quality systems
L-SIP Adds to Assessment , Reassessment Participant Numbers
by Tim Southern , PhD , laboratory director , South Dakota Public Health Laboratory ; Nicole Green , PhD , D ( ABMM ), laboratory director , Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory ; and Bertina Su , MPH , senior specialist , Laboratory Systems and Standards
What do the Casey Tibbs Rodeo Museum in Fort Pierre , SD and the Federal Reserve Bank of Los Angeles have in common with public health laboratories ( PHLs )? In May 2016 , they served as the sites for the South Dakota Laboratory System Improvement Program ( L-SIP ) reassessment ( the fourth state laboratory system to participate in a reassessment ) and the Los Angeles County L-SIP assessment ( the fifth local laboratory to undertake an assessment ).
On May 10 , 45 participants representing partners and stakeholders in the PHL system from across South Dakota gathered for the L-SIP reassessment . Over half of the participants had also attended the initial L-SIP assessment in 2010 . This continuity of participation provided valuable insight into the growth and development of South Dakota ’ s laboratory system . Karen Breckenridge , APHL ’ s Director of Quality Systems , facilitated the plenary session which focused on Essential Service # 2 . All 10 Essential Public Health Services ( see Table 1 ) were discussed and scored over the course of the day . The South Dakota laboratory system showed improvement in all Essential Services with optimal activity in five , including Essential Service # 3 and Essential Service # 8 , and Essential Service # 10 noted as an area for improvement .
“ The L-SIP assessment process was empowering ,” said Tim Southern , PhD , the South Dakota laboratory ’ s new director . “ The success of the day is a testament to the strength of the L-SIP assessment process as well as the dedication of the many partners and stakeholders that make up South Dakota ’ s PHL system . We look forward to strengthening our laboratory system in the years to come .”
On May 12 , the Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories welcomed 52 participants including clinical laboratory professionals , environmental health
specialists , law enforcement , first responders and public health program leaders . Using the local PHL system L-SIP assessment tool , participants scored well in Essential Service # 4 and # 6 . Essential Service # 9 was identified as an area needing improvement . The assessment received many positive reviews from the participants : “ Lots of different partners provided good discussion ,” “ Facilitators were open & very stimulating ” and “ Great collaboration & participation by attendees ” were just some of the comments L-SIP coordinators received .
Nicole Green , PhD , D ( ABMM ), the Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratories director , was encouraged by the findings of the L-SIP assessment . “ Although we have robust systems for detecting and reporting communicable disease , we may not be doing enough for chronic diseases ,” she noted . “ I also would have liked to have additional participants attend who represent environmental health and chronic disease as well as participation from more laboratory clients and community health services .”
“ Continually improving communication with our clients and other public health partners to provide quality testing services for the department is key to a strong and healthy public health laboratory system .”
Table 1 . The 10 Essential Public Health Services
1 . Monitor health status to identify and solve community health problems . 2 . Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community . 3 . Inform , educate and empower people about health issues . 4 . Mobilize community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems . 5 . Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts . 6 . Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety .
7 . Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable .
8 . Assure competent public and personal health care workforce .
9 . Evaluate effectiveness , accessibility and quality of personal and population-based health services .
10 . Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems .
To inquire about conducting an L-SIP assessment or reassessment of your laboratory system , contact Tina Su at bertina . su @ aphl . org . APHL offers training and planning , assessment tools , a facilitator and funding to off-set some associated costs .
( Source : CDC STLT Gateway , National Public Health Performance Standards , http :// www . cdc . gov / nphpsp / essentialservices . html )
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Summer 2016 LAB MATTERS 5 |