American Society for Clinical Pathology - Laboratory Professionals Meeting to Highlight Reducing Medical Errors Through Innovation

Lab professionals, educators to convene at ASCP Leadership Exchange in Philadelphia

CHICAGO – Feb. 24, 2009 – In this ailing economy, everyone is learning to do more with less – including hospital laboratories. How does a laboratory cut back and still provide accurate results to patients? What new technology can increase efficiency and decrease cost? How does a laboratory improve processes to ensure patient safety and responsibly use available resources?

The answers to these questions benefit not only hospital administration, but also the everyday patient who wants to remain informed and empowered. These and many other questions will be answered at the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Leadership Exchange, a two-day conference for all levels of hospital laboratory personnel. This year’s meeting is March 20-21 at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia.

Attendees and faculty will exchange ideas on everything from the latest laboratory technology to staff management to reducing laboratory errors. The keynote speaker, Michael Laposata, MD, PhD, FASCP, will highlight the expanding role of laboratory professionals in patient care. The exchange of information between laboratory scientists and physicians can be critical to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient, and the expertise of the scientist can cut down the amount of time a physician spends in analysis.

While laboratories play a crucial role in healthcare – laboratory tests comprise some 70 percent of a patient’s medical record – much of their work and dedication is not communicated to the patient or the public. Sometimes referred to as the “hidden health care workforce,” laboratory professionals spend their days analyzing blood, tissue, cells and other samples, often the first to identify abnormalities.

Below are some of the session highlights. For complete meeting details, you can visit www.ascp.org/leadershipexchange.

• ASCP Awards and Keynote Luncheon
Michael Laposata, MD, PhD, FASCP, Professor of Pathology and Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine; Pathologist-in-Chief and Director of Clinical Laboratories, Vanderbilt University Hospital
Friday, 3/20, Noon – 1:30 p.m.

• Measurement and Correction of Laboratory Errors in a Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Environment
Donna H. MacMillan, MBA, MT(ASCP), Director of Operations, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Friday, 3/20, 1:45 – 5 p.m.

• Keeping Staff in a Stressed Market
Ann Smith, MPA, MT(ASCP), FACHE, Associate Hospital Director, University of Kentucky Hospital
Saturday, 3/21, 1:45 – 3:15 p.m.

Leadership Exchange is the premiere continuing education session for pathology and laboratory medicine. It is designed by laboratory professionals for laboratory professionals at every level to strengthen skills in handling change, conflict resolution, innovation and fostering quality processes.

To register as media for this event, please contact Gelasia Croom at 312-541-4754 or gelasia.croom@ascp.org.

Founded in 1922, ASCP is a professional society with 130,000 member pathologists and laboratory professionals. Based in Chicago, the ASCP provides excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals. Visit ASCP’s Web site at www.ascp.org.

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