What Is Lab Advantage

W HAT I S L AB A DVANTAGE ?
Lab Advantage is a unique collaboration between the The Joint Commission, the American
Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), and the American Proficiency Institute (API). It will
allow you to coordinate your accreditation, proficiency testing, and educational needs with a
single point of contact.
The Joint Commission
The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is the nation's premier

accrediting body. The Joint Commission has been accrediting laboratory services since 1979 and
free-standing laboratories since 1995. Today, the Joint Commission accredits more than 2,600
organizations with laboratory services, equating to 4,300 CLIA certificates.

Laboratories eligible for accreditation include laboratories in hospitals, clinics, physician offices,
assisted reproductive technology labs, point of care test sites, reference laboratories, and public
health laboratories. The Joint Commission accreditation supports and enhances quality
improvement efforts, offers an educational experience, enhances the organization's image to the
public, purchasers and payers, and provides a competitive advantage.

The Joint Commission accreditation survey provides an assessment of a laboratory's compliance
with state-of-the-art standards. The survey is performance focused and emphasizes the results
a laboratory should achieve, instead of the specific method used.

Accredited laboratories are surveyed every two years. Surveys are conducted by experienced
medical technologists that have passed a rigorous certification examination. The exam tests
knowledge of the surveyors and increases the consistency of the survey process. Joint
Commission surveyors are not volunteers, but professionals who have experienced laboratory
services in many types of settings. They can provide an educational, consultative experience
for staff and often provide information that saves time and money for laboratory managers.
Additionally, the Joint Commission offers the option of enhanced Pathology expertise to
laboratories that want additional consultation for Histology and Cytology services.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) officially recognize the Joint Commission
Laboratory accreditation as meeting the requirements of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments of 1988 (CLIA).

American Society for Clinical Pathology

ASCP is a nonprofit medical specialty society representing 140,000 members, including board
certified pathologists, other physicians, clinical scientists, medical technologists and technicians.
It is the world's largest organization representing pathology and laboratory medicine. As the
leading provider of continuing education for pathologists and medical laboratory personnel, the
ASCP promotes quality of the profession through comprehensive educational programs,
publications, and self-assessment materials.

The ASCP is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide
continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. ASCP Continuing Medical Laboratory
Education (CMLE) credit hours meet the continuing education requirements for the ASCP Board
of Registry Continuing Competence Recognition Program. ASCP educational programs are
accepted by California, Florida, and many other states for relicensure of clinical laboratory
personnel.

ASCP Teleconferences
ASCP Teleconferences are live, interactive audio programs sent over telephone lines and
enhanced with a collection of 35mm transparencies or compact disk, and lecture notes. No
rushing to airports. No expense reports. No excess time away from your laboratory...or your
family. What you do get are outstanding learning experiences full of practical information and
techniques.

Each audio teleconference consists of approximately 50 minutes of didactic presentation followed
by a live 15-20 minute question and answer period. Participating in an ASCP Teleconference is
easy. Participating locations are connected to the speaker with a phone call to the electronic
bridge. The bridge allows all sites to be joined together with the faculty and allows for the high-
quality, noise-free communication link. A slide projector or computer may be used to follow along
with the images ASCP provides.

For each ASCP Teleconference program, certificates of participation are available indicating the
designated number of CME/CMLE credit hours.

Check Sample
Check Sample provides access to national experts in a practical, cost-effective way. Peer
reviewed case studies are sent to Check Sample subscribers monthly. The case studies feature
comprehensive patient histories, laboratory data, and brilliant color images to present significant
findings. Learning objectives are provided with each case study, and questions help guide
subscribers through the various diagnostic considerations. An accompanying discussion
addresses each issue raised in the case presentation material and provides a summary of the
current medical literature.

Learn from the best in the field while your whole laboratory team earns CME/CMLE or just CE
credit at no extra cost. Check Sample physician participants can earn up to 70 credits per year;
technologists can earn up to 44 credits per year. The discussions provide comprehensive
information about differential diagnoses, progression of the disease, and patient prognosis.
Additionally, each case can be used as a prepackaged grand round, complete with color images
(print and electronic) for delivery of staff in-services. Check Sample includes case studies in
Surgical Pathology I and II (CME only), Cytopathology (CME/CMLE), Forensic Pathology (CME
only), Hematology (CME/CMLE), Transfusion Medicine (CME/CMLE), Clinical Chemistry
(CME/CMLE), and Microbiology (CME/CMLE). This product is intended for pathologists,
laboratory administrators, educators, residents, and medical laboratory professionals.

Tech Sample
ASCP Tech Sample is designed for self-paced home study. It's one of the most economical ways
to obtain the CMLE credit needed to meet state licensure as well as JCAHO and CLIA
regulations. Tech Sample focuses on technical rather than diagnostic problems encountered in
the laboratory and as such is ideal for bench through supervisory personnel. Tech Sample offers
study modules in Generalist, Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Immunology, Cytotechnology,
Hematology, Histotechnology, Immunohematology, Management and Education, Microbiology,
and Phlebotomy.

CheckPath
CheckPath is a competency assessment program that allows pathologists and laboratory
professionals to evaluate, document, and improve their diagnostic skills. CheckPath cases
assess strengths and identify knowledge areas requiring further development.

Here's how it works. Each quarter, five to seven cases that have been carefully reviewed by a
panel of experts are sent to subscribers. Each case is accompanied by glass slides, 35mm
transparencies and/or laboratory data. All cases present unknowns for diagnostic interpretation.
The cases are representative of daily practice and do not include esoteric diagnoses.
Participation is easy! Simply review the cases, select the best interpretation for each case from a
list of possible diagnoses, and fax responses to the ASCP.
Laboratory and participant score reports compile the responses of all participants and
provide a confidential comparison of performance against peers. These reports are ideal
documentation of competency assessment for laboratory accreditation surveys. A
concise, referenced discussion of each case addresses the distribution of responses
selected and distinguishes the preferred interpretation from the selected options.
Continuing education certificates are issued quarterly. Only peer-reviewed validated cases
are selected for CheckPath. A panel of national experts reviews each case. Even the follow-up
discussions are peer-reviewed to ensure up-to-date, accurate information. Customizable
packages provide competency assessment and continuing education for pathologists and
cytotechnologists in the anatomic disciplines and for pathologists and medical technologists in
clinical pathology and laboratory medicine disciplines.

LabQ
LabQ is designed for self-paced home study. It's one of the most economical ways to obtain the
CMLE credit needed to meet state licensure, JCAHO and CLIA regulations, and the new ASCP
Board of Registry Certification of Maintenance Program (CMP) requirements. LabQ focuses on
technical rather than diagnostic problems encountered in the laboratory and as such is ideal for
bench through supervisory personnel. LabQ offers a primary study module in Clinical Laboratory
(Clinical Chemistry, Clinical Immunology, Hematology, Immunohematology, Microbiology,
Management, and Molecular) and and a special LabQ-P study module in Phlebotomy.
American Proficiency Institute
In just 12 years, API has become one of the largest proficiency testing providers in the world with
over 11,000 laboratories enrolled. This rapid growth is a tribute to API's focus on customer
service, technical excellence, and innovation. API simplified the entire PT process, being the first
to provide Paperless Proficiency Testing (submit results, review statistics, and access reports
online), Unique Samples (liquid specimens, blood cell photographs), Consolidated Evaluation
Reports (less time spent with testing and review), Rapid Turnaround (evaluations returned
within 30 days), and Administrative Reports (risk management for multiple labs).
API offers a menu of over 100 proficiency testing options with nearly 300 analytes - all suitable
for hospital, clinic, physician office, and point-of-care testing sites.

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W HAT I S L AB A DVANTAGE ?

The Joint Commission

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is the nation's premier

American Proficiency Institute

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