June 2023 BCSLS ENEWSLETTER and featured guest writer
Workplace Culture: An Influential Factor on Laboratory Quality
Written by: Joanne Isber, MBA, MLT, MLS | Program Director, Interior Health Pathology and Laboratory Medicine | CSMLS Instructor, Quality Systems
The way we think about laboratory quality in the overall health care environment has shifted, both in significance and meaning. What was once considered quality practice in our labs has evolved over time and been heavily influenced by workplace culture.
Workplace culture is shaped from employee attitudes, beliefs, and personal perceptions, in contrast to the principles, practices or strategy of an organization and largely determines how successfully professionals work together to achieve desired organizational outcomes. As management guru Peter Drucker famously said, “culture eats strategy for breakfast.”
A positive work culture is seen as forward-thinking, identifying gaps and initiating continuous improvement solutions that enhance and develop the over-arching environment for individual staff and the organization. Whereas, a negative work culture stimulates a breakdown of cohesive partnerships and cooperation across the system making it ever more challenging to meet objectives and goals.
So, how does workplace culture influence laboratory quality?
Internal factors that influence laboratory workplace culture can include organizational mission, vision and values along with employee engagement, departmental workloads and leadership models. However, labs are now experiencing quality shifts generated by external factors driven by socio-economics, physical environments, population demographics and above all else, the extraordinary workforce deficit.
Historically, laboratory compliance to complex accreditation standards have been the focus or face of quality. Today, workplace culture is shifting that focus and stressing the value of progressive strategies that incorporate solutions to generate workflow efficiency and employee work-life balance. Physical workspaces that meet appropriate ergonomics and safety; schedules that consider lifestyle balance for all age demographics; education and training that strengthen employee professional growth are now a requirement for positive workplace culture.
How does this impact lab strategy and planning?
Laboratory service expectations are at an all time high and the pressures on employees are abundantly evident. Basic quality system elements that laboratory professionals hold in high regard are being overlooked and are cultivating a less than desirable workplace culture. It is time to turn workplace environments around and reframe the core principles of quality. This means rethinking workflow, routine practices and taking the time to methodically plan and execute improvement initiatives to garner the highest value.
Going forward, the ambiguity surrounding laboratory service delivery will no doubt intensify. Human resource deficits are redirecting how labs respond to service requirements with new out-of-the-box service models and the expanded use of digital health technology or new instrument platforms will require skilled change management. In today’s environment, workplace culture is the one facet and core value of quality that cannot be ignored. What we are learning is to engage staff, foster advanced teamwork, form partnerships, enhance communications and ultimately to remember that lab quality is not driven solely from policies and procedures or accreditation compliance….the root of quality is built around people.
Clinical Biochemist or Clinical Chemist- What’s in a name?
Written by: Dr. Karina Rodriguez-Capote, MD, PhD, FCACB, FAACC & Dr. Kristin Hauff, PhD, FCACB, FAACC
Clinical biochemistry/ chemistry is a highly specialized discipline of laboratory medicine that utilizes a wide range of analytical techniques in the biochemical investigation of body fluids, such as blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid, to aid in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of medical conditions. Clinical Biochemists, or Clinical Chemists, are PhD clinical scientists with specialized post-doctoral training in this discipline. The title of clinical biochemist is …
A Short Time in Northern Canada
Written by: Joel Droogers
Finally, the three years of work, tears and sweat during the medical laboratory technology training were over, following was a frantic search for a full-time job as a medical laboratory technologist. I applied everywhere in Canada, willing to take a job where available. Little did I know the adventures that awaited.
The Social Determinants of Health and What Lab Can Do To Make the Patient Experience Better
Written by: Dylan Durham
Shortages in the lab have been the most forefront issue we as lab professionals have seen in the last two years and let’s face it most of us are burned out, extremely fatigued, frustrated and the list could continue. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE
Testing Semi-Retirement and Getting a Positive Result
Written by: Eleanor Hooley BSc MLS, MLT
Two lenses, One microscope: Education and Industry in the face of MLT shortages
Written by: Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards is Dean of Health Sciences at the College of New Caledonia
BC Provincial Blood Coordinating Office
Written by: Brenda Jackson Senior Executive Director, Clinical Laboratory Operations, Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services
Fecal Calprotectin Laboratory Testing at Fraser Health
Yuzi Zheng, PhD, DABCC Clinical Biochemist, Fraser Health Authority, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
Identifying High Risk Genotypes to Determine Cervical Cancer Risk - BD OnclarityTM
Nicholas Collicutt Market Development Manager – Molecular / WH&C, BD IDS
Microbiome Therapy for Recurrent Clostridioides Difficile Infection and Chronic Gastrointestinal Disorders
By Christine Lee, MD, FRCPC Medical Microbiologist and Researcher, Island Health
Clinical Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UBC Faculty of Medicine
New Technology in Phlebotomy
By Shanise Keith. NCPT, NCMA, and a Phlebotomy Program Coordinator
Reflecting on a year of extraordinary teamwork and dedication in B.C.’s medical laboratory system
By Craig Ivany, Chief Provincial Diagnostics Officer, Provincial Health Services Authority
Laboratory Medicine – the core foundation of clinical care excellence
Dr. Reza Alaghehbandan, MD, MSc(Epi), FRCPC, FCAP, FACE | Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology, University of British Columbia (UBC) | Department Head, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Royal Columbian Hospital (RCH): READ FULL ARTICLE