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ABBREVIATIONS: DMAIC = Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control; FMEA = failure modes and effects analysis; MSBOS = maximum surgical blood order schedule; PDCA = Plan, Do, Check, Act; RPN = risk priority number; SPC = statistical process control
INDEX TERMS: quality assurance; quality tools; risk analysis; workflow.
Clin Lab Sci 2007;20(2):113
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Define the application of five quality improvement tools.
2. Define the purpose of a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis.
3. Describe two effect error prevention strategies.
4. Explain three ways to describe a process.
5. Describe effect data display techniques.
The following article is adapted from a lecture presented at the ASCLS Annual Meeting, Chicago IL, July 2006.
Quality tools can be applied to a variety of situations from the manufacturing floor to the clinical laboratory. Some healthcare facilities embraced the quality improvement movement over a decade ago; others are just beginning to adopt their use. Quality tools facilitate problem solving and process improvement within a defined framework such as the simple Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) or the more complex Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control (DMAIC) framework used in the six sigma process. Quality tools are used to gather and display information, make decisions, determine the root cause of a problem, develop action plans, and measure progress. This article uses two problem areas in the transfusion service to illustrate the use of quality tools in the laboratory, however, these tools can be used in any section of the laboratory.
STAFF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT TRAINING
It is usually not possible for all laboratory staff members to attend the same training session. While multiple training sessions could be used to cover all the tools that would be expected to be used, a "just in time" training method works well when staffing does not allow for extended training sessions. This method is to teach one tool at a time just as it is going to be used. It takes only a few minutes to have an inlab session to review how a specific tool is used. Inexpensive pocket guides, available through book stores or purchased on the Internet, can be used as easy references.1,2 "The Memory Jogger" follows the PDCA process and the Six Sigma Pocket Guide by Rath and...