Workflow Management Processes to Improve Productivity (Online CE Course)

Continuing Education Credits

P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours (acceptable for AMT, ASCP, and state recertification): 1 hour(s) Approved through 11/30/2025

Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel Credit Hours - Supervision/Administration, Quality Control/Quality Assurance, and Safety: 1 hour(s) Approved through 11/30/2025

Objectives

• Explain the meaning of workflow management.
• Apply some of the industry principles of workflow management to the clinical laboratory.
• Describe the streamlining process for improving the workflow path.
• Be able to create a workflow plan.
• Set baseline metrics to measure success in implementation of a new workflow plan.
• Describe a root cause analysis and how it is used to find the cause of problems in workflow in the clinical laboratory.
• Describe the "Five Whys" technique that can be used in the root cause analysis process.
• Utilize "fishbone" root cause analysis and the "Five Whys" to identify root causes and ways to improve workflow.
• List nine things that can be done to enhance the path of workflow.
• Describe how automation can improve workflow and reduce errors.

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Course Outline

• Introduction to Workflow Management
• What is Workflow in the Clinical laboratory?
• What Exactly is Workflow in the Clinical Laboratory?
• Introduction to Workflow Management
• Workflow Management and Streamlining
• When Should the Laboratory Decide to Look Into Streamlining a Workflow Path?
• Which of the following examples is not a good reason for looking into streamlining a workflow path?
• Laboratory Path of Workflow and Workflow Plan
• An aim of workflow management is to:
• Why is Workflow Management Important?
• Importance of Workflow Management
• Which of the following is not an example of good workflow management?
• True or False? One important reason to have a workflow management plan is to empower workers.
• Phases of Workflow
• Phases of Workflow in the Clinical Laboratory
• True or False? The pre-examination phase is also known as preanalytical and refers to the recording and reporting of laboratory tests.
• Creating a Workflow Plan
• Leader Responsibilities
• Leader Responsibilities
• In the development of a workflow plan, leader responsibilities include which of the following?
• Initial Workflow Planning Steps
• Design of a Road Map for the Workflow Planning Process
• True or False? One step in the initial design of a workflow management plan is to identify resources available to implement the plan.
• Selecting the Team and Setting Guidelines
• Selecting the Team
• When selecting the workflow planning team and setting guidelines, the leader should:
• Setting Baseline Metrics
• Setting Baseline Metrics
• Which of the following is not a useful metric in assessing a new workflow plan for improvement of the workflow process?
• Team Planning Activities
• Workflow Planning Team Activities
• True or False? As part of the workflow team planning activities it is best if the leader (usually the supervisor) initially does a walk of the whole p...
• Devising the Strategy for Solving the Problem
• Root Cause Analysis Explained
• What is Root Cause Analysis?
• What is root cause analysis?
• The "Five Whys" Strategy
• The "Five Whys" Root Cause Analysis Strategy Explained
• In the workflow problem example of the excessive chemistry repeats (recall the prior page), the Five Whys technique was used. Choose the correct answe...
• The Fishbone Analysis Root Cause Strategy
• Fishbone Analysis Explained
• A commonly used visualization tool for identifying and analyzing the root causes of a problem or inefficiencies may be called any of the following, ex...
• Case Study: Improving the Workflow Process in the Pre-examination Phase
• Case Study: Improving Workflow in the Pre-examination Phase of Testing
• Establishing Metrics
• Root Cause Analysis Strategies for the Case Study
• Test Selection and Ordering
• Patient Identification
• Collection of Samples
• Handling of Sample Collected
• Processing of Specimens
• Final Preparation for Testing
• Workflow Planning Team Recommended General Solutions
• A great majority of lab errors are attributed to all of the following pre-examination (preanalytical) errors, except:
• Referring to the case study: After doing the Five Whys stage for each collection of samples problem, the team determined that:
• Summary
• Improving Workflow Management in the Clinical Laboratory: Summary (Use These Nine Ways to Enhance Workflow)
• References
• References

Additional Information