Knowledge and perceptions of quality systems among Vermont laboratorians

Abstract

Objectives: This article reports on a survey of medical laboratorians' knowledge of quality systems in their workplace and their perceptions about the effect of job function, education and training, professional credentials, and experience on the overall quality of testing and results.

Methods: The Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey was designed and conducted in Vermont in 2005. Surveys were distributed to all laboratorians working in Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments-regulated laboratories throughout Vermont. Results were analyzed for statistical significance using the Fisher's exact test for overall group comparisons.

Results: Laboratorians perceived that they were generally knowledgeable about the quality systems in place in their laboratories (96% considered themselves familiar with quality assurance [OA] measures in their laboratory), but meeting quality objectives and perceptions of factors that impact quality measures in the laboratory were variably influenced by the laboratorians' years of experience, professional credentials, organization type, and job title. Almost half (47%) of laboratorians said they did not have a role in deciding the QA measures, whereas 77% felt they had a significant impact on meeting the QA objectives.

Conclusions: Not all laboratorians feel that they play a significant role in assuring quality or influencing quality measures used in the laboratory. All laboratorians should be encouraged to take an active approach to influence quality systems in the laboratory to ensure the highest quality health care possible.

Figure 1.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “My laboratory has quality assurance measures based on higher performance standards of national or international organizations (e.g., CAP, ISO)”

Figure 2.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “My laboratory has quality assurance measures guided by the quality system of the parent organization”

Figure 3.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “I believe that laboratorians' level of education has a significant impact on meeting quality assurance objectives”

Figure 4.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “I believe that laboratorians' number of years of experience has a significant impact on meeting quality assurance objectives”

Figure 5.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “I believe that laboratorians' possession of a nationally recognized professional credential has a significant impact on meeting quality assurance objectives”

Figure 6.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “I believe that the turnover rate of laboratory positions has a significant impact on meeting quality assurance objectives”

Figure 7.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “I myself am personally involved in deciding the quality assurance measures used in our laboratory”

Figure 8.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “I myself have a significant impact on meeting the quality assurance objectives of our laboratory”

Figure 9.

Aggregate responses^a of Vermont laboratorians in the 2005 Medical Laboratory Workforce Survey to the statement, “My supervisor is knowledgeable about clinical laboratory practice”