Author
information
Lucy A Perrone1, Vireak Voeurng2, Sophat Sek2, Sophanna Song2, Nora Vong2, Chansamrach Tous2, Jean-Frederic Flandin1, Deborah Confer1, Alexandre Costa3 & Robert Martin3
1. International Training and Education Center for Health, Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 901 Boren Ave, Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98104, United States of America.
2. International Training and Education Center for Health-Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
3. World Health Organization, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Lucy A Perrone1, Vireak Voeurng2, Sophat Sek2, Sophanna Song2, Nora Vong2, Chansamrach Tous2, Jean-Frederic Flandin1, Deborah Confer1, Alexandre Costa3 & Robert Martin3
1. International Training and Education Center for Health, Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 901 Boren Ave, Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98104, United States of America.
2. International Training and Education Center for Health-Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
3. World Health Organization, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Abstract
Objective
To implement a mentored laboratory quality
stepwise implementation (LQSI) program to strengthen the quality and capacity
of Cambodian hospital laboratories.
Methods
We recruited four laboratory technicians to be mentors and trained them in
mentoring skills, laboratory quality management practices and international
standard organization (ISO) 15189 requirements for medical laboratories.
Separately, we trained staff from 12 referral hospital laboratories in
laboratory quality management systems followed by tri-weekly in-person
mentoring on quality management systems implementation using the LQSI tool,
which is aligned with the ISO 15189 standard. The tool was adapted from a
web-based resource into a software-based spreadsheet checklist, which includes
a detailed action plan and can be used to qualitatively monitor each
laboratory’s progress. The tool – translated into Khmer – included a set
of quality improvement activities grouped into four phases for implementation
with increasing complexity. Project staff reviewed the laboratories’ progress
and challenges in weekly conference calls and bi-monthly meetings with focal
points of the health ministry, participating laboratories and local partners.
We present the achievements in implementation from September 2014 to March
2016.
Findings
As of March 2016, the 12 laboratories have completed 74–90% of the
104 activities in phase 1, 53–78% of the 178 activities in phase 2, and 18–26%
of the 129 activities in phase 3.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Regular on-site mentoring of laboratories using a
detailed action plan in the local language allows staff to learn concepts of
quality management system and learn on the job without disruption to laboratory
service provision.
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