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- Title
ALBERTA HEALTH SERVICES: Anatomical Pathology Quality Assurance Plan.
- Authors
Duggan, Máire A.; Trotter, Tamara
- Abstract
Background: A 2010 internal review of Anatomical Pathology (AP) quality assurance (QA) practices in Alberta's laboratories identified significant variations in practices. This review describes how Alberta Health Services (AHS) as the provincial health authority created standardized APQA practices and metrics (- Plan). Materials and Methods: AHS convened a Task Force (-TF) which assessed APQA practices in more detail and formed a Working Group (-WG) and Strategic Implementation Team (-Quality Team) to develop and implement a -Plan which was initially focussed on surgical pathology (SP). Results: Key QA practices were identified by addressing the risks of non-conforming events throughout the pre-exam, exam and post-exam pathways of SP workflow. The -Quality Team finalized the development of 28 quality practices and created 18 associated metrics. Development was informed by accreditation requirements, published best practices, consultation with stakeholders, and experiences of other jurisdictions. By 2015, the SP metrics were fully implemented in each laboratory. Conclusions: A provincial -Plan initially focused on the practice of SP pathology but now expanding to other areas of AP practice is fully implemented by AHS in all laboratories in Alberta. At this time, it is the only such plan in Canada.
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Pathology, 2016, Vol 8, Issue 3, p10
- ISSN
1918-915X
- Publication type
Article