DeLABerations: Forums

CPOE & Transfusion Service Orders?

Eric Height — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:02:39 GMT

We're in the process of implementing Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) and have run into issues with ordering Type & Screens.

Nurses used to call the Lab to see if a type & screen was required.

Some physicians are ordering the type & screen all the time, others aren't ordering it at all.

I'm interested in talking to someone that's encountered this issue and has found a solution.

I've got 4 more hospitals to bring live and I know the problem is going to get worse!

Eric Height

erich@baptisthealth.net

Repetitive Stress Injury and the Alexander Technique

Kelly Graham — Wed, 27 May 2009 22:23:00 GMT

We just received a reader inquiry about applying the Alexander Technique as a way to avoid repetitive stress injuries in the clinical laboratory? Is anyone aware of any labs that have tried this?

Getting Involved in Alzheimer's Research

Kelly Graham — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:39:33 GMT

We got this message from a reader today:

"I was forwarded your editorial “On Record” article by a friend in our lab. I work for Bon Secours Health System, at DePaul Medical Center in Norfolk, Virginia. I was struck by your article in the fact that research is making breakthroughs and at the same time, people like me (I’m 54) will cause healthcare costs to skyrocket due to long term care of Alzheimer patients.

My father had “vascular dementia.” My mom took care of him for about 5 years prior to him breaking his hip. That caused both of them to move in a facility. My folks were in a long term care facility for about 3 years before my father passed away last August 2008.

I now have my own grandson. Funny, how things change that. I’m extremely concerned about what this disease does and how it affects others. I’ve tried, not successfully to get into a long term study as a way to help further knowledge. I have not been diagnosed with any issues, just working on family history. I can’t guarantee that I’ll have it, though I’m about 95 percent sure.

Other than donations to research folks (and I don’t know who is reputable), how can I assist? How can I get tested? Are these tests considered the norm?"

Scott M. Lull, PMP, CPHIMS, director, Information Systems

Bon Secours Virginia/Hampton Roads Health System

scott_lull@bshsi.org

Estimated Creatinine Clearance for GFR

KFMCHEM1 — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 19:53:38 GMT

At our hospital physicians are asking for an Estimated Creatinine Clearance by calculation from weight for every blood sample that a Creatinine is ordered. Knowing that this estimation can be inaccurate I am wondering if other labs have heard requests for this and what solutions have worked well. I have heard of the Cystatin C test that seems like a better way to monitor GFR in general.

coverslipping and bubbles

englandl — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:26:49 GMT

Can anyone in the histology area help me solve the problem of bubbles developing under my coverslips?

phlebotomy recentralization

Sonia Johnson — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:53:48 GMT

We are trying to justify phlebotomy recentralization to administration. Has anyone been through this and can share some unexpected benefits or problems? Thanks

State Accreditation

ddrovetta — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 02:20:49 GMT

Is there someplace that lists all states that require their own lab accreditation in addition to or lieu of CLIA?

Normal Glucose Values

jdamico — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:23:13 GMT

In a recent discussion with a respected endocrinologist concerning normal (non-diabetic) expected values for blood glucose, I was astounded to hear that a normal 1hr glucose value is actually under 85 mg/dL !!! I thought I misunderstood, and asked her to repeat it ... All the references I have searched including ADA say "under 140 mg/dL". Has anyone else encountered this?

MB fractions on normal CPK

tonyeblack — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 00:30:29 GMT

We have several physicians who insist on MB fractions on normal CPK. We have asked several cardiologists and tried to find out what if any clinical value this will provide. Is anyone else having to perform these tests? We perform Beckman Troponin I which when we find a true cardiac is always the best test we have used.

Immunoassay robotics

merelp — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:44:58 GMT

When it comes to make a choice for HIV, HBV, HCV, CMV serology testing automation, I should like to get the feedback of users who already made the choice between: 1-Abbott Architect 2-Bayer Advia Centaur 3-Beckman Coulter DxI 4-Ortho Vitros 5-Roche Modular Of course it depends of throughput, but let's talk about practability of robotics, and performance of tests. Thanxxx.

Patrick Merel, PhD, Bordeaux, France.

Misys Lab skilled professionals

dmolusis — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 11:39:03 GMT

Looking for Misys Lab skilled professionals and advise on where to seek them besides the typical monster.com and hotjobs.com. Any recommendations?

David Molusis, CIO Clinical Laboratory Partners

electronic QC

cpmcadv — Tue, 23 May 2006 06:45:48 GMT

What are the concerns out there regarding the use of elctronic QC in place of liquid QC for POC instruments performing coag, chemistries, blood gases, etc. If liquid QC is used only to validate new shipments of reagents and / or analyzed infrequently per manufacturer's instructions, how is it monitored in a meaningful way? Do LJ charts, calculated means, and SDs play a role in monitoring electronic QC? GJ.

Searching for POC coag meter

jp0324 — Mon, 01 May 2006 22:18:21 GMT

I am looking for a POC PT/INR meter that has LIS Connectivity capabilities. The few I have found do not download into LIS.and have no way of entering the patient ID or tech ID's. The hospital wants POC PT's on all floors and outpatient areas. Hey, what's another huge project to fill up my 0.25FTE for POC I get. LOL. All help is appreciated.

Facility Design

mherrin — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 23:17:51 GMT

Does anyone have a really great, unique, laboratory facility design that is working well, and that you would share at least the concept?