Course Description

This course provides an analysis of the economic, social, regulatory, and professional issues affecting the delivery of cost-effective, quality clinical laboratory services and the appropriate use of laboratory services in clinical decision making. The course includes an examination of alternative laboratory service delivery models and mechanisms that promote cost efficiency, appropriate utilization, quality and patient access, and demonstrate the value of the clinical laboratory and clinical laboratory practitioners in quality healthcare delivery. The use of practice guidelines, critical or clinical pathways, algorithms and reflex testing, direct access testing, evidenced-based practice, and outcomes measurements, as well as initiatives to change the practice of laboratory services in all phases (pre-analytical, analytical and post analytical) will be covered.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits:  3

Participants should anticipate spending approximately 135 hours on the course, or an average of 9-12 hours per week for 15 weeks including the final paper. The course is web-based. Modes of instruction and course format include online instruction, online discussion, journal and Internet readings, written assignments, directed study, and a final paper/project.

Prerequisites

Bachelor’s degree plus education or experience in clinical laboratory science.

Additional Requirements: You may be required to interact with your department supervisor and/or lab administrator, pathologist, physicians, or other healthcare professionals to explore some discussion questions.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

After completion of the course, the student will be able to analyze issues affecting the delivery of clinical laboratory services, and explore alternate models and mechanisms of providing these services.

Discuss the economic, social, regulatory and professional issues that affect the delivery of quality, cost-effective laboratory services.
Explain how algorithms, reflex testing, and evidenced-based practice can improve utilization of laboratory services.
Discuss the advantages, opportunities and pitfalls of direct access testing.
Discuss new models and new clinical laboratory practitioner roles for delivery of quality and cost-effective laboratory services and how outcomes measurement can be used to determine their efficacy.
Critically analyze the laboratory’s role in the delivery of quality healthcare.