The educational subsidiary of COLA, COLA Resources Inc., (CRI) is sponsoring an interactive workshop designed to help laboratories prepare to implement the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP) on May 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Doubletree by Hilton, Dallas Market Center, 2015 Market Center Blvd., Dallas, TX.
With the IQCP education and transition period having begun January 1, 2014, Sandy Pearson, MT(ASCP), MBA, Laboratory Consultant, CMS/Dallas Regional Office/CLIA Survey Branch, and Kathy Nucifora, COLA Accreditation Division Manager, will explain the key elements of IQCP, describe how labs can prepare for implementation of the new guidelines, and remind lab professionals that the education and transition period affords the opportunity to learn about these new quality control guidelines.
IQCP allows labs to consider all possible sources of errors unique to their individual laboratory, and to develop a quality control plan customized for their testing workflow process, while maintaining compliance with applicable regulations. The new program is the first quality control approach to encompass all three phases of clinical testing: pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical.
“Because IQCP takes a more comprehensive approach to quality control, we are holding workshops in key markets throughout the U.S. to help explain the parameters of the program and the steps labs need to take to both understand and implement it,” says Rose Mary Casados, President of CRI. “Labs are advised to begin this process now, and attending this workshop is an excellent way to start.”
Participants will be able to earn six P.A.C.E. credits by attending the workshop. The fee is $199 for COLA members and $249 for non-COLA members. Click “Read more” for additional information.
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