When inspectors walk into a healthcare facility, they don’t just want to see policies, they want proof. Proof that training was completed, that procedures were followed, and that records haven’t been altered after the fact. For many organizations, that proof lies in the audit trail. Often overlooked, digital audit trails are quietly becoming one of […]
Digital Audit Trails: The Silent Hero of Inspections Read More »
Proficiency Testing (PT) is one of the most visible, and misunderstood, aspects of CLIA compliance. While being correct is important, it’s equally about how you treat PT samples, how thoroughly you document the process, and how you handle failures when they occur. Labs are frequently cited for PT issues even when their results are technically
Proficiency Testing Mistakes That Get Labs Cited Read More »
Before any new test is used to produce patient results, CLIA requires you to verify that it performs accurately, precisely, and consistently in your lab and under your own conditions. Verification of performance specifications is one of the most critical and commonly overlooked CLIA requirements. Failing to verify a new test before clinical use is
New Test? Don’t Skip Performance Specification Verification Read More »
If your lab performs moderate-complexity testing, CLIA requires you to verify test performance at least twice per year. Unfortunately, this requirement consistently ranks among the Top 10 CLIA deficiencies. Why? Because it falls into a gray area: not quite PT, not daily QC, and not tied to new test validation. As a result, it often
Twice-Yearly Verification: Why Labs Miss It (and How to Get It Right) Read More »
In recent CMS reports, failure to assess personnel competency consistently ranks in the top 3 of frequently cited CLIA deficiencies. When lab professionals aren’t properly evaluated and trained, every result they produce may be compromised. This risks patient outcomes, your accreditation status, and your lab’s reputation. This guide breaks down what “competency assessment” means under
How to Fix the #2 CLIA Deficiency: Personnel Competency Assessment Read More »
Reagent and material storage issues are the most-cited CLIA deficiency in and for good reason. In 2024 alone, 5% of citations stemmed from issues as simple as a missing temperature log. A single oversight can compromise test accuracy, delay patient care, and land you with an avoidable deficiency citation. In this post, we’ll explore why
Building an effective on-call schedule in a healthcare setting is crucial to operational continuity. Unfortunately, without the right systems and tools in place, it can lead to confusion, fatigue, and coverage gaps. Protecting your employees from burnout and your payroll from overtime costs is vital for your organization’s practices to be sustainable long term. In
How to Build On-Call Schedules Without Creating Chaos Read More »
Medical and laboratory organizations are under ever increasing pressure to deliver faster turnaround times (TAT), minimize operational bottlenecks, and optimize staff resources. Unfortunately, they are often asked to do so without increasing their headcount or expanding their budget. For many labs, the natural choice for resolving this issue would be to purchase better workforce management
Why Staggered Start Times May Be Your Organization’s Secret Weapon Read More »
Healthcare organizations and more specifically, beleaguered schedulers, operations managers, and administrators, are under constant pressure to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and improve compliance. While clinical technologies get the spotlight, operational tools like automated scheduling systems can often go overlooked. Automated systems can provide overworked schedulers with the tools they need to meet deadlines, but often,
The ROI of Scheduling Automation in Clinical Settings: Why Smarter Staffing Pays Off Read More »
The ability to collaborate, communicate, think critically, manage your calendar, and manage interpersonal relationships is crucial for the ongoing operation of your organization. Unfortunately, these soft skills are not always easy to teach, and it can sometimes be difficult to justify using limited time and resources to focus on improving them when faced with an
The Importance of Soft Skill Competency in Labs Read More »
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