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LABORATORY STAFFING RATIOS - QP251
QP251

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 QP study is designed to produce data that will assist laboratory managers and directors 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. Each 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 Laboratorry Accreditation Program Checklist statement DRA. 11300, which requires sufficient numbers of personnel to be available to meet the needs of the laboratory, and The Joint Commission Standard HR.01.02.05, which requires the laboratory to have the necessary staff to support the services it provides.


Objectives

The aim of this study are 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 figures 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-managment FTE
      • Non-management FTE/Management FTE

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

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

Shipping Schedule

A Mailing: December 16, 2024

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

 
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
Non-Physician Care Team Satisfaction With Clinical Laboratory Services (QP231)
Technical Competency Assessment of Body Fluid Review (QPB10)
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).