All webinar times are in Eastern Time except where noted. Convert to your time zone
Register for this webinar to learn about how healthcare institutions can address the vacuum tube shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. With your registration, you will have access to the recording on demand through December 31, 2022.
DESCRIPTION
During the COVID-19 pandemic, American healthcare institutions have experienced a shortage of blue top vacuum tubes for blood sample collection because of high volume use of these tubes for coagulation tests. It is now clear that we are experiencing a far greater shortage for all types of vacuum tubes for sample collection because of limited supplies to manufacture the tubes. Most importantly, it is now clear the shortage will persist for more than one year. To address this problem, the first step is to reduce the use of vacuum tubes for sample collection to include only those truly needed for laboratory testing.
The webinar will begin with information from a manufacturer of the blood collection tubes on the expected severity and duration of the shortage. This initial segment will be followed by a 30-minute discussion with more than a dozen strategies to limit the use of vacuum tubes for blood sample collection. The webinar will also highlight the obstacles faced by leaders in the clinical laboratory to identify and enforce the necessary measures to eliminate unnecessary collection of blood samples and to improve the process of blood collection to reduce the number of occasions in which samples must be redrawn.
TARGET AUDIENCE
This activity is designed for physicians, lab supervisors, lab directors (and/or assistant directors), lab managers (supervisory and/or non-supervisory), point-of-care coordinators, pathologists, fellows, residents, in-training individuals, and other laboratory professionals.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Describe the extent of vacuum tube shortages for blood sample collection and the expected duration of the shortage.
- Establish a list of opportunities to reduce blood sample collection and thereby reduce the use of vacuum tubes.
- Explain the likely problems experienced by laboratory leadership in providing solutions to the shortage of sample collection tubes.
FACULTY
Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC
Vice President, Medical Affairs, BD Integrated Diagnostic Solutions
Sparks, Maryland
Michael Laposata, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman, University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas
DISCLOSURES AND STATEMENT OF INDEPENDENCE
AACC is dedicated to ensuring balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all educational activities. All participating planning committee members and faculty are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance in order to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. The intent of this disclosure is to provide participants with information on which they can make their own judgments.
Jeff Andrews, MD, FRCSC
- Salary: BD
- Stocks/Bonds: BD
The following faculty and reviewers reported no relevant financial relationship:
Michael Laposata, MD, PhD
CONTENT VALIDITY
All recommendations involving clinical medicine are based on evidence accepted within the profession of medicine as adequate justification for their indications and contraindications in the care of patients; AND/OR all scientific research referred to or reported in support or justification of a patient care recommendation conforms to generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis.
ACCREDITATION STATEMENT
This activity is approved for 1.0 ACCENT credit(s) by AACC. Activity ID# 4021. This activity was planned in accordance with ACCENT Standards and Policies.
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION STATEMENT
Verification of Participation certificates are provided to registered participants based on completion of the activity, in its entirety, and the activity evaluation. For questions regarding continuing education, please email [email protected].