Abstract
BackgroundImplementing quality management systems and accrediting laboratories in the Caribbean has been a challenge.ObjectivesWe report the development of a stepwise process for quality systems improvement in the Caribbean Region.MethodsThe Caribbean Laboratory Stakeholders met under a joint Pan American Health Organization/US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiative and developed a user-friendly framework called ‘Laboratory Quality Management System – Stepwise Improvement Process (LQMS-SIP) Towards Accreditation’ to support countries in strengthening laboratory services through a stepwise approach toward fulfilling the ISO 15189: 2012 requirements.ResultsThis approach consists of a three-tiered framework. Tier 1 represents the minimum requirements corresponding to the mandatory criteria for obtaining a licence from the Ministry of Health of the participating country. The next two tiers are quality improvement milestones that are achieved through the implementation of specific quality management system requirements. Laboratories that meet the requirements of the three tiers will be encouraged to apply for accreditation. The Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality hosts the LQMS-SIP Secretariat and will work with countries, including the Ministry of Health and stakeholders, including laboratory staff, to coordinate and implement LQMS-SIP activities. The Caribbean Public Health Agency will coordinate and advocate for the LQMS-SIP implementation.ConclusionThis article presents the Caribbean LQMS-SIP framework and describes how it will be implemented among various countries in the region to achieve quality improvement.
Highlights
IntroductionStrengthening health systems, especially medical laboratories, in the Caribbean has been a challenge
Strengthening laboratory services and systems to meet the challenge of the growing burden of diseases of global public health importance has been the focus of discussions and recommendations by the international community.[1,2,3] Implementing laboratory quality management systems (QMS) and attaining accreditation has been an important part of these discussions.[4,5] Laboratory accreditation to international standards verifies laboratories’ competence and ensures that they can provide evidence that test results are reliable and accurate to support patient care and public health practices.[6,7]Strengthening health systems, especially medical laboratories, in the Caribbean has been a challenge
We present the Caribbean LQMS-SIP framework, developed following the above joint initiative
Summary
Strengthening health systems, especially medical laboratories, in the Caribbean has been a challenge. Several country and regional efforts have been made to improve quality systems and achieve accreditation of the laboratories in the region. The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre/European Union-funded project, carried out between 2002–2007, designed and implemented a 30-month blended accredited training programme on laboratory quality systems improvement that graduated 40 senior laboratory staff, initiated the Caribbean Laboratory Accreditation Scheme, and recommended that the International Standard ISO 15189 be the recognised standard in the Caribbean for medical laboratories.[8] Despite these efforts, reports indicate that by 2008 only nine (5.2%) of the http://www.ajlmonline.org. Implementing quality management systems and accrediting laboratories in the Caribbean has been a challenge
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