Distance Education in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences: Part of the Solution to the Professional Labor Shortage

The purpose of this paper is introducing research conducted about issues related to influences and barriers to the potential use of distance education for mitigating the clinical laboratory sciences labor shortage. Diagnostic careers such as those in the clinical laboratory sciences remain a mystery to many people because they do not have the same prominence or visibility associated with therapeutic careers. Clinical laboratory science courses often have both didactic and laboratory components. Coursework with laboratory components require additional faculty time for preparation. When health care education is offered in traditional university or college settings not affiliated with a teaching hospital or clinical setting, laboratory costs are higher due to purchasing supplies, reagents and media. Issues are further explored in a brief series of papers addressing them. Using DE for delivering diagnostic clinical educational is a potential viable solution for addressing national diagnostic labor shortages.

Comparative assessment of Knowledge, attitude and practice among students and employees towards the use of the microbiology laboratory equipment

Background: Continuous evaluation of students and employee’s knowledge and attitude in the clinical laboratory is mandatory to ensure a high level of competency, proper practice and to assess the need for training. This shall be reflected on the quality of laboratory results. Objective: the aim of the present study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of employees and students who belong to the department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences in the standard microbiology laboratory towards the use of laboratory equipment. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey in which thirty 2nd year students, twenty-six 3rd year students, twenty-four 4th year students in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences department and thirty employees completed a survey comprising 30 questions to assess their knowledge and attitude towards the use of equipment and practice in the microbiology laboratory in order to assess the achievement of past learning outcomes. Results: The results indicated that there was no significant difference between the average scores of all levels students regarding their knowledge, attitude, and practice in the microbiology laboratory. Employees scores were quite poor, as indicated by the lower average results than that of students. Conclusion: It is concluded that the knowledge, attitude, and practice of students and employees in the microbiology laboratory need to be meticulously monitored and improved using frequent quizzes and continuous education programs to ensure high achievement of learning outcomes and better overall performance in the laboratory.

The Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences: A New Curriculum to Enhance the Connection of the Laboratory to Health Care Providers

This report discusses the need for a Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences program and describes a curriculum to train Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences students. The Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences program was developed to help reduce diagnostic errors in patient care by enhancing connections between the clinical laboratory and health care providers. Data are presented from program implementation in 2016 to 2017 academic year to 2019 to 2020 regarding the faculty and student demographics, program statistics (eg, admissions and attrition rates), and effectiveness. Perceptions of program effectiveness were obtained via surveys from 28 faculty physicians who supervised Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences students during clinical service rotations. Another survey assessed the preferred type of practice after graduation of 33 students. Over the 4-year period, the program had a 50% rate of admission and a 21.8% attrition rate. As of December 2020, 15 students graduated from the program. The majority (69%-82%) of physician faculty who completed the survey agreed that Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences students contributed positively at clinical rounds. Approximately two-thirds of students reported a preference to lead a Diagnostic Management Team or serve as an advanced practice provider in a Diagnostic Management Team with leadership provided by an MD/DO or PhD. This report provides useful information for other institutions that may want to establish similar Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Sciences programs. Early data suggest that our program effectively trains doctoral-level advanced practice medical laboratory scientists, who may play an important role in improving patient safety by reducing diagnostic errors and providing value-based, optimal patient care.

Best Practice Pathology Collection in Australia

Objectives: The specific objectives of the study were to (a) identify current best practice in pathology specimen collection and assess the extent to which Australian pathology services currently satisfy best practice standards; and (b) identify training and other strategies that would mitigate any gaps between current and best practice. Methods: A total of 22 case studies were undertaken with pathology collector employers from public, not for profit and private pathology organisations andacross urban and rural locations and eight focus groups with pathology collection services consumers were conducted in December 2012 in four different cities. Results: The preferred minimum qualification of the majority of case study employers for pathology collectors is the nationally recognised Certificate III in Pathology. This qualification maps well to an accepted international best practice guideline for pathology collection competency standards but has some noted deficiencies identified which need to be rectified. These particularly include competencies related to communicating with consumers. The preferred way of training for this qualification is largely through structured and supervised on the job learning experiences supported by theoretical classroom instruction delivered in-house or in off the job settings. The study found a need to ensure a greater proportion of the pathology collection workforce is appropriately qualified. Conclusion: The most effective pathway to best practice pathology collection requires strong policies that define how pathology samples are to be collected, stored and transported and a pathology collection workforce that is competent and presents to consumers with a credible qualification and in a professional manner. Abbreviations: CHF – Consumer Health Forum of Australia; KIMMS – Key Incident Monitoring and Management Systems; NAACLS – National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences; NACCHO – National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation; NPAAC – National Pathology Accreditation Advisory Council; RCPA – Royal College of Pathology Australasia; RTO – Registered Training Organisation.

Properties and units in the clinical laboratory sciences part XXIV. Properties and units in clinical molecular genetics (IUPAC Technical Report)

This document describes the application of the syntax, semantic rules, and format of the Nomenclature for Properties and Units (NPU) terminology for coded dedicated kinds-of-property in the subject field of clinical molecular genetics. A vocabulary for NPU definitions in this field, based on international terminology and nomenclature, is introduced and examples of actual NPU definitions for different types of investigations are given and explained.

Vocabulary on nominal property, examination, and related concepts for clinical laboratory sciences (IFCC-IUPAC Recommendations 2017)

Scientists of disciplines in clinical laboratory sciences have long worked on a common language for efficient and safe request of investigations, report of results, and communication of experience and scientific achievements. Widening the scope, most scientific disciplines, not only clinical laboratory sciences, rely to some extent on various examinations in addition to measurements. The ‘International vocabulary of metrology – Basic and general concepts and associated terms’ (VIM), is designed for metrology, the science of measurement. The aim of this vocabulary is to suggest definitions and explanations of concepts and a selection of terms related to nominal properties, i.e. properties that have no size.