E-module Helps Labs Operate in Accordance with Patient-Centered Medical Home Standards
COLUMBIA, MD, August 15, 2013 COLA, a leading laboratory accreditor, today launched a new resource called PCLE (Patient-Centered Laboratory Excellence) Excellerator, an e-module designed to help laboratories deliver quality and value-driven lab medicine to their patients every day. The website address for the new online resource is www.cola.org/patient-centered-laboratory-excellence-pcle/.
The new program enables lab personnel to assess their operations to determine if they are operating in accordance with emerging new healthcare delivery models such as the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). It also provides a wide range of resources that emphasize continuous good laboratory practices above and beyond current regulatory requirements for moderate and high complexity labs.
The program also is available to the growing number of practices performing unregulated, "waived" testing, where studies continue to show significant problems with the quality of lab results, and in the level of education and engagement of employees performing such tests.
"Our new PCLExcellerator is designed to help physician office and other laboratories Œbiopsy' their operations to determine any areas that may need improvement," said COLA Chief Executive Officer Doug Beigel. "It can help laboratories instill a culture of excellence in their delivery of lab medicine, so that practitioners using their services can be assured of consistently high quality results, generated by well-trained staff."
In addition to the easy-to-use, self-assessment tool, the PCLExcellerator features:
- Emerging PCMH standards for laboratories, such as the importance of accurate lab testing as data is increasingly shared via electronic medical records systems
- Case studies illustrating how labs averted potential problems by improving quality standards
- An online library, including links to CMS educational resources as well as a wide variety of online COLA courses and products designed to promote quality practices
Members of the American College of Physicians (ACP) also can access the COLA PCLExcellerator tool through the organization's website at https://www.practiceadvisor.org/modules/managing-your-practice/patient-centered-laboratory-excellence. ACP practices that enroll in the recognition program will be entitled to discounted COLA fees.
Beigel said the PCLExcellerator tool is part of a broader PCLE laboratory recognition program to help physician practices integrate lab medicine into their patient-centered medical home model. As part of the program, COLA is creating educational symposia and online training webinars to help providers prepare their facilities and themselves to provide accurate, high-quality lab test results.
About COLA
COLA accredits nearly 8,000 medical laboratories and provides the clinical laboratory with a program of education, consultation, and accreditation. The organization is an independent, non-profit accreditor whose education program and standards enable clinical laboratories and staff to meet U.S. CLIA and other regulatory requirements. COLA's program is endorsed by the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Family Practitioners (AAFP), the American College of Physicians (ACP), and is recognized by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (TJC). For more information about COLA accreditation services and educational products, and online educational opportunities, please call 800-981-9883 or visit COLA's web site at www.cola.org or www.colainsider.org.
Contact:
Melissa Nichols
Alvare Associates
610-520-6140 x 204
[email protected]
www.alvare.com