Quality improvement program; bioethics and medical relevance for clinical laboratories

Abstract

To efficiently meet the needs of Evidence-Based Medicine, Medical Laboratory Professionals shall provide verifiable support through constantly growing activities, demonstrating expertise in multiple disciplines including medical biochemistry, cytology, haematology, immunology, endocrinology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, genetics, and nuclear medicine. This requirement has generated increasing impact of Total Quality Management on performance. Given this situation, last decades have evolved in the three stages of the analytical process in accordance with ISO / IEC 15189 covering quality comprehensively, including ISO/IEC 17043 for Proficiency Testing Providers. In order to achieve the highest level of quality medical laboratories must work on the basis of the Code of Ethics of the Pan American Health Organization which significantly emphasizes combating “dichotomy” that shall be considered as illegitimate paybacks that inevitably harm patients and other customers. In the Latin American Association of Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine we are committed to continuously working with improving the quality of Latin American Medical Laboratories. Once we understood this and took on the task to provide an instrument of international standard and particularly tailored to fulfil the needs and possibilities of our region. Indeed, we proceeded to consult with members of with a proposal that was overwhelmingly accepted to carry it forward. This is how PROMECAL Quality Improvement Program was established to improve performance of Latin American Medical Laboratories. A pro bono and voluntary programs for all laboratories wishing to participate can do so without cost problems inherent in programs Accreditation and Certification. The fundamental of this program is that it provides to be treated on the basis of the principles of ethics, suitability, competence and medical relevance for what can only be carried out between pairs exclusively, i.e., only between authentic medical laboratory professionals.