Management Skills Basics in Six Parts

To hone your operational management skills in the rapidly changing world of laboratory medicine, sign up for AACC’s latest certificate program, “Laboratory Operational Management Certificate Program 2015.” Introduced for the first time this fall, each in the series of six online courses—worth a total of 8.5 ACCENT credits—includes a lecture from a seasoned lab professional, reference materials, and a quiz.

The program offers the basics to help laboratorians develop their skills in the critical areas of operational management of the laboratory, “including rapid change management projects, the oversight of testing quality, process improvement initiatives, and evaluating factors that affect clinical patient care and operational costs,” Leo A. Serrano, ASCP, clinical and operations consultant at First Path, LLC, in Boca Raton, Florida, and chair of the certificate program’s faculty, told CLN Stat.

AACC has another, older management certificate program called “Clinical Laboratory Leadership and Management,” which does a good job of covering the basics. The new management series builds on this existing program, Serrano explained. “AACC stepped up and made it a reality. We have a whole new generation of laboratory leaders coming up that needed guidance” on key areas offered in the new program. The certificate program’s content also reflects needs assessment feedback from AACC members, who indicated their interest in delving further into management topics.

A committee of expert faculty and educators helped craft the program’s material. Each member developed a section of the program “and we all collaborated in reviewing and critiquing,” said Serrano, who worked on the section on utilization management.

The following experts developed other sections:

Rapid Change Management – Jim Ellis, MS, MBA, MBB, managing partner at MME Consulting, LLC, in Aiken, South Carolina;
Quality Management Systems – Cheryl Wildermuth, MS, MT (ASCP), quality management manager at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota;
Process Improvement Systems – Maureen Harte, president of HartePro Consulting, LLC, Midvale, Utah;
Financial Management and Metrics – Thomas Joseph, president and CEO of Visiun, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan; and
Equipment Acquisition and Contracting – Praful Shah, BS, DMT, vice president, diagnostic services with GNYHA Services, Inc., New York, New York.

Participants, especially those who also have completed the older AACC management program, will be more prepared to work with senior executives in the overall management of their labs, Serrano said.

“Our program focuses on dealing with rapid change, process improvements, utilization management and quality management systems, all of which have more emphasis in today’s environment,” he said. In addition, the courses “encourage the use of data analytics in developing metrics and present equipment acquisition and contracting information from a very experienced negotiator.”

The self-paced course enables participants to hone their management skills at times of their own choosing. Enrollment is open until December 31, 2015, and courses should be completed by July 31, 2016. In addition to 8.5 ACCENT credits, participants will receive a certificate of completion. AACC members enjoy a 50% discount from the non-member price.