July 2008 Chair's Message, ASCP Council of Laboratory Professionals by E. Susan Cease, MT(ASCP)

The ASCP Board of Directors each summer traditionally fine tunes and formally delineates the Society's strategic plan for the coming year. To prepare, Board members review the Society’s goals and achievements from previous years. This helps us determine whether the Society is meeting its goals and whether those goals remain relevant. I knew ASCP had gone through a period of change, but I did not appreciate its magnitude until I reviewed the goals and achievements of the last few years. Highlights include:

2002-2004: This was a time of introspection that resulted in clarification of the Society’s mission and priorities and, ultimately, the development of a new governance structure. The old structure was complex and did not effectively represent all categories of members. The restructure simplified things and realigned the commissions and committees into related service or purpose lines. We also saw increased representation of non-physician members in all areas of governance, a new focus on effective communication within the organization, and active collaboration with related organizations.

2005-2006: The next two years were extremely busy as the focus on structural revision and communication continued. The Society’s main office moved to a new location, introduced cytology proficiency testing developed by MIME, and ASCP globalization became a reality. Our global efforts included introduction of international certification in several Pacific Rim nations, ASCP participation in the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief in Africa, and the offering of the RISE exam in three foreign countries. These projects were all designed to help raise the level of training available to laboratory staff and improve the quality of lab results in the countries involved.

A formal process for goal setting that allows greater input from members was also initiated. Volunteers working at the local, state and regional levels share input with Council and Commission members, who then work with the Board of Directors, staff, and committees to develop appropriate goals and objectives. ASCP also pursued more effective use of technology to provide new interactive educational programs. Notable among these are the ASCP eCourses and the Leadership Exchange.

2007: Over the next year, strategies for achieving our goals grew more numerous, detailed and measurable. While ASCP has always advocated in the public interest, we now focused on how to best share specific ASCP projects and achievements with members and the public. The Task Force on Volunteers, which was chaired by Barbara McKenna, MD, took a comprehensive look at the role volunteers play in ASCP. The report provided additional organizational direction to recognize and provide support for our volunteer base. One of the highlights of the year was when ASCP received its fifth consecutive six-year ACCME Accreditation with Commendation.

2008: ASCP continues to increase the visibility of the profession by focusing on the workforce shortage, the advancement of public health, and greater patient safety. The mechanisms are numerous and include reaching out to collaborate with healthcare providers and organizations outside the laboratory, exploring new ways to interface with and provide data to clinicians and patients, and working with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s “5 Million Lives” program to reduce medical harm to patients.

ASCP is also working to use new information technology to provide more convenient and accessible educational opportunities. The ASCP website now includes blended learning programs that combine teleconferences with eCourses. We responded to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention request by designing a blended learning program that helps clinicians understand and apply molecular genetic laboratory test result reports. Daily Diagnosis was developed in partnership with U.S. News and World Report as a way of providing timely and informative medical and scientific news briefs via email. We also introduced Critical Values, a quarterly magazine for the entire Laboratory team that includes news and feature stories highlighting the current and potential value of laboratory medicine.

By carefully crafting our goals, then using them to dictate a concrete and measurable plan of action, we have positioned ASCP to better represent and meet the needs of its members while, at the same time, improving the delivery of healthcare worldwide. Has this brief synopsis made you curious about where we will go next? Perhaps you even have some thoughts on what our future direction should be. If so, I challenge you to put your thoughts in writing. Tell us where you think we need to go and how we should get there. Include even your “pie in the sky” ideas, and email them to me at MemberChair@ascp.org.