HCPro.com - Laboratory Compliance Insider

Avoid these common errors in molecular testing

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:13:00 GMT

More doctors are demanding molecular testing to help treat their patients, and an increasing number of these tests are coming into the market.

CMS delays enforcement of lab requisition signature requirement; facilities now have until April

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:11:00 GMT

CMS will not require signatures on lab requisitions until April, a three-month reprieve from the original January 1 deadline.

Facility gets Lean in its patient service centers

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:10:00 GMT

In 2010, officials at Wellspan Health in Pennsylvania got two clear messages that all was not well in its patient service centers. First, its customer satisfaction scores related to service center performance had dropped, hovering around 60%. The second clue was phones ringing off the hook and a rising number of complaints about the long waits customers had to endure to get blood tests.

Small stuff adds up in creating a positive workplace

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:08:00 GMT

A cheap grill and a few burgers and hot dogs may have helped a California laboratory earn a No. 3 spot on Modern Healthcare’s 2010 list of the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

Laboratory Compliance Insider, February 2011

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 19:04:00 GMT

A cheap grill and a few burgers and hot dogs may have helped a California laboratory earn a No. 3 spot on Modern Healthcare’s 2010 list of the 100 Best Places to Work in Healthcare.

Laboratory Compliance Insider 2010 index

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:49:00 GMT

Laboratory Compliance Insider 2010 index

Don’t let compliance go out with the trash

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:48:00 GMT

Do you know where your laboratory waste is going? If you’re not keeping tabs on it, you could be in for some compliance problems, says Daniel Scungio, MT(ASCP), SLS, laboratory safety officer for Sentara Laboratory Services in Norfolk, VA.

Get those requisitions signed

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:45:00 GMT

As of presstime, it was uncertain whether laboratories would be required by CMS to obtain signatures on all requisitions paid on the basis of the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule by the original January 1 deadline, or whether the rule would be delayed (see “A requirement in flux” on p. 4).

Laboratory Compliance Insider, January 2011

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 20:41:00 GMT

Critical values no longer top problem on Joint Commission surveys, but still cause for concern

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:33:00 GMT

In 2009, laboratories ran into trouble with The Joint Commission when it came to reporting critical test values to physicians. A clarification to the Joint Commission standards helped laboratories better comply with the standard this year, but labs should maintain focus on delivering critical values as quickly as possible, documenting the process appropriately, and ensuring that results get to someone who can take action immediately.

Get ready for a new year and compliance issues

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:30:00 GMT

It’s almost 2011. Are you ready for a new crop of compliance challenges?

Laboratory Compliance Insider, December 2010

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:28:00 GMT

It’s almost 2011. Are you ready for a new crop of compliance challenges?

Second wave of H1N1 expected: Get your staff ready

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:10:00 GMT

The fervor over H1N1 vaccinations seen during the 2009 flu season isn’t expected to return in 2010. Nevertheless, the H1N1 strain will be back, and labs need to be prepared.

Survey your staff to find out views on safety culture

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:30:00 GMT

You need to know how your laboratory is performing when it comes to culture because it is directly linked to safety. A good safety culture, as illustrated by the nuclear industry, is one in which safety is constantly talked about and is a daily focus. Staff members should always be vigilant, pointing out lapses whenever they occur.

Laboratory Compliance Insider, November 2010

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 19:27:00 GMT

Business associates are still business associates; HITECH includes new criminal penalties

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:38:00 GMT

Q. One of the recent Q&As discussed who must send out breach notification letters if the business associate (BA) was responsible for the breach. The answer was covered entities. Didn’t HITECH make BAs covered entities?

Laboratory associations concerned about requisition signature requirement in proposed rule

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:37:00 GMT

CMS issued a proposed rule that would require a physician signature on every requisition sent to the laboratory, placing an undue burden on laboratories, say officials from laboratory associations.

Put breast pathology on your radar in the wake of increased publicity

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:32:00 GMT

Chances are most breast patients don’t give laboratory quality a second thought when their biopsy results are sent off for analysis.

Laboratory Compliance Insider, October 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:43:00 GMT

Chances are most breast patients don’t give laboratory quality a second thought when their biopsy results are sent off for analysis.

Subcontractors on hook for HIPAA breaches in proposed rule; public comment period ends this month

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:25:00 GMT

If your lab is a covered entity (CE) working with business associates (BA) and subcontractors or a BA or subcontractor itself, it’s time to take a second look at your HIPAA policies and procedures.