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LABORATORY STAFFING RATIOS - QP222
QP222

Laboratory staff play an important role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease by performing tests in laboratories. These staff account for two-thirds of direct clinical laboratory costs. This study is designed to produce data that will assist laboratorians in managing those costs and gauging their staffing levels. Laboratories participating in this study will submit data on their staffing levels for laboratory sections, and may participate in any or all areas including anatomic pathology, chemistry/hematology/immunology, microbiology, molecular pathology, phlebotomy, point-of-care testing, and transfusion medicine. From these levels, staffing ratios will be calculated for these sections relative to managerial staffing and billable tests. Your laboratory’s staffing ratios will be compared against those of other institutions participating in this study, and, where applicable, against peer groups with similar billable test profiles. Enrollment in this study will help laboratory directors address CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program Checklist statement DRA.11300, that requires sufficient numbers of personnel to be available to meet the needs of the laboratory.

Objectives

This study aims to measure staffing levels in different areas of the laboratory, calculate key staffing ratios and levels, and compare all staffing ratios with those of other institutions participating in this study.

Data Collection

Participants will use their laboratory’s or institution’s revenue and usage reports to obtain billable test counts and staffing measures for the most recently completed fiscal year.

Performance Indicators

  • Anatomic Pathology
    • Histology blocks/Histology non-management FTE
    • Cytology accessions/Cytology non-management FTE
    • Non-management FTE/Management FTE

  • Chemistry/Hematology/Immunology
    • Total billable tests/Non-management FTE
    • Non-management FTE/Management FTE

  • Microbiology
    • Total billable tests/Non-management FTE
    • Non-management FTE/Management FTE

  • Molecular Pathology
    • Total billable tests/Non-management FTE
    • Non-management FTE/Management FTE

  • Phlebotomy
    • Total inpatient blood draws/Inpatient phlebotomist FTE
    • Total outpatient blood draws/Outpatient phlebotomist FTE

  • Point-of-Care Testing (POCT)
    • POCT billable tests/Laboratory FTE overseeing POCT

  • Transfusion Medicine
    • Crossmatches or type and screens/Non-management FTE
    • Transfused units/Non-management FTE
    • Non-management FTE/Management FTE

Shipping Schedule

B Mailing: March 14, 2022

Additional Information

This is a one-time study conducted in the second quarter.

Q-PROBES qualify for Self-Reported Training Opportunities to be used for fulfilling requirements for certification maintenance by agencies such as the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). Please verify with your certifying agency to determine your education requirements.

For Comprehensive Collection of Tools, see Quality Management Tools.


 
Select Q-PROBES and Q-TRACKS studies to support your quality improvement initiatives.
Preanalytic
Analytic
Postanalytic
Anatomic Pathology
Clinical Pathology
Turnaround Time
Patient Safety
Microbiology
Transfusion Medicine
Chemistry/ Hematology
Customer Satisfaction
Q-PROBES
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing: Monitoring and Trend Analysis (QP211)
Laboratory Staffing Rarios (QP222)
Technical Competency Assessment of Peripheral Blood Smears (QPC10/QPC25)
Technical Competency Assessment of Gram Stains (QPD10/QPD25)
Q-TRACKS
Patient Identification Accuracy (QT1)
Blood Culture Contamination (QT2)
Laboratory Specimen Acceptability (QT3)
In-Date Blood Product Wastage (QT4)
Gynecologic Cytology Outcomes: Biopsy Correlation Performance (QT5)
Satisfaction with Outpatient Specimen Collection (QT7)
Stat Test Turnaround Time Outliers (QT8)
Critical Values Reporting (QT10)
Troponin Turnaround Times (QT15)
Corrected Results (QT16)
Outpatient Order Entry Errors (QT17)

*The CAP requires accredited laboratories to have a quality management plan that covers all areas of the laboratory and includes benchmarking key measures of laboratory performance (GEN.13806, GEN.20316, COM.04000). The Joint Commission requires accredited hospitals to regularly collect and analyze performance data (PI.01.01.01, PI.02.01.01). CLIA requires laboratories to monitor, assess, and correct problems identified in preanalytic, analytic, and postanalytic systems (§493.1249, §493.1289, §493.1299).