lirpammt

Att All:
 On behalf of pathologists and laboratory professionals, ASCP is urging the laboratory community and other interested individuals to Sign the Petition urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its position that nursing is a biological science for purposes of performing laboratory testing. We ask that you forward this petition to all of your colleagues.
http://cqrcengage.com/ascpath/app/sign-petition?0&engagementId=239813
Here is the link to sign this important petition!
 

It's a bit ironic that CLIA has so many regulations and requirements to insure laboratory testing quality and then flips it on it's head and grants non-laboratorians purview.

Having managed many different teams and mentored new leaders for years, I suspect from the posts that your team does not feel that you respect them or their experience.  Despite their behavior (and I agree with David about accountability and documenting unacceptable behavior or practices) you need to make them feel heard and valued.  Try and include them by discussing the need for change and soliciting their opinions. When they are involved they then have ownership.   Then perhaps (no guarantees) the behavior will start to change.  Being "the boss" is not for wimps! 

Our rapid HIV kit is only waived for fingerstick whole blood! So that's out. Waiting for our pathologist's decision on plan of action.

If my antibody screen is negative I don't go looking for trouble.  I use a 3 cell screen so homozygous cells are present - I don't run 2.

We do type and screens on all OB admissions as well, for potential transfusion needs.

Thanks very much for getting to CAP Debbie!  I still wonder what AABB/FDA/CLIA would have to say about all this (if you can even get them to comment in a useful manner).  Likewise JCAHO. 
 
And for those of us who use panels where the manufacturer's instructions read "should be tested periodically..." (Ortho - damne thee!), I think we are stuck at least doing some QC when the panel is first put into use.
 
Scott

I find it useful for distinguishing weak mixed field reactivity sometimes, as well as rouleaux.I don't endorse routine examination of negative AHG reactions.

they send me material about themselves periodically.  Have not used them.  The Red Cross is my supplier.  Aside from the O Neg shortage, that kind of continues from the summer, I have no need to search for an alternate supplier.  My concerns are that once I purchase a product from them, if it is not transfused I am going to eat the $$$.  Right now I can transfer my shorter dated units to a larger institution and as an overstock I have an exalted rbc inventory.  Wouldn't want to jeopardize this relationship.  The same thing happened a few years ago when Coral became active in northern New England.  If I really needed to get some short term components I'd go to the NBE.  My take is that General Blood wants to be my main supplier or at least have some type of standing order - I am not certain but I am not pursuing them.

Sandi, whilst I see your problem, I have never understood the need to perform a retrospective in vitro cross-match, when an in vivo cross-match has already taken place!  Surely, under such circumstances, if the blood were to be incompatible, you would know quickly enough from the in vivo situation?

I will be following this topic with great interest.

You're lucky...everyone here gets the same raise, based on their union contract. So the low performers get good raises, and your high performers can't be recognized for their efforts with a better raise.

Hi!
I am also new to this forum and loving this!
I am a MT(ASCP) Blood Bank Supervisor of a 150 bed hospital.
I am planning to start my MS in Healthcare Administration this fall

Welcome! I am also new and I have been amazed at the wealth of knowledge available here.

Just remember that these specimens are supposed to be tested in a manner that mimics "real" specimens.

You should have a process in place to monitor temps of units sent to the OR and then returned to you if you plan on returning them back into inventory,  i.e. Safe-T-Vues