Researchers from Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Discuss Findings in Quality of Care (In control? IQC consensus and statutory regulation)

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health & Medicine Week -- Investigators discuss new findings in Health and Medicine - Quality of Care. According to news reporting out of Dublin, Ireland, by NewsRx editors, research stated, "Purpose -Internal quality control (IQC) represents an essential risk management tool within the total testing pathway (TTP) that contributes to the overall objective of assuring the quality of results produced in medical laboratories. Controlling analytical phase quality alone requires significant expertise and input by scientifically trained staff."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, "This effort has escalated exponentially following the publication of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO)15189:2012 requirements for quality and competence in medical laboratories. The reported inconsistency and diversity to IQC approaches in diagnostic laboratories is definitive evidence that international guidance in IQC programme design and implementation is long overdue. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach -Herein, the authors define, describe and critically examine the essential elements four stages of an IQC programme and suggest a template to inform both design and ease of implementation. For practical application, the authors have stratified the proposed methodology into four stages: staff education and training; IQC material; IQC targets; and IQC procedure, and provide recommendations that meet ISO15189:2012 requirements. Findings -These recommendations are informed by the published literature together with the collective experience working in clinical biochemistry and diagnostic endocrinology laboratories. The authors note that the laboratory staff's effort on IQC is a continuous process, driven by changes within each IQC stage, in response to risk analysis, maximising economic value or through professional leadership and central to IQC programme implementation and delivery. Practical implications -The authors offer a template that laboratories can use to inform the design and implementation of their IQC programme. Originality/value -The proposed IQC programme is user friendly, flexible and pragmatic with the potential to harmonise practice. The authors have provided a template to potentially harmonise IQC practice nationally."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Given the central and critical role that IQC practice plays in ensuring the quality of patient results' importance, the authors contend that the time has come for international consensus and statutory regulation regarding the minimally acceptable criteria for its implementation, monitoring and review."

For more information on this research see: In control? IQC consensus and statutory regulation. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 2016;29(5):492-506. International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance can be contacted at: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 60, 62 Toller Lane, Bradford BD8 9BY, W. Yorkshire, England. (Emerald Group Publishing - www.emeraldinsight.com; International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance - www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=0952-6862)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting G.R. Lee, Dept. of Clinical Biochemistry and Diagnostic Endocrinology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Additional authors for this research include M.C. Fitzgibbon and P. O'Shea (see also Health and Medicine - Quality of Care).

Publisher contact information for the International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance is: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 60, 62 Toller Lane, Bradford BD8 9BY, W. Yorkshire, England.

Keywords for this news article include: Dublin, Europe, Ireland, Quality of Care, Health and Medicine.

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