API, ASCP AND JCAHO Provide Additional Details on Collaborative Relationship

News Releases

Contacts:
API - Stacey McCalpin (800-333-0958)
ASCP - Robin Stombler (202-347-4450)

(December 11, 2002) In November, the American Proficiency Institute (API), the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) announced a collaborative relationship to offer, as an option, a combined package of laboratory accreditation services, customized proficiency testing and technological and scientific educational services.

We are excited about the opportunity to integrate menu-driven, web-based API proficiency testing that meets JCAHO accreditation requirements and participate in cutting-edge ASCP technological and scientific educational programs that are uniquely designed for customer needs. Through this collaborative effort, the expertise of pathologists, skilled medical technologist surveyors and an experienced proficiency testing provider will be integrated into the JCAHO survey process. We are heartened by the tremendous positive response from our members for this collaboration. Pathologists, laboratory directors, and medical technologists alike have registered their interest in this endeavor.

As we move toward meeting the needs of laboratories by offering a one-stop, no-hassle way to reduce costs, improve service, provide new educational opportunities and enhanced surveyor expertise, questions have risen along the way. The questions and answers below we hope will provide some additional insight into this collaborative relationship.

Who is involved with this collaboration?
The American Proficiency Institute (API) is a nonprofit corporation providing high quality proficiency testing services to over 11,000 hospital, clinic, and physician office laboratories nationwide, making it one of the largest proficiency testing services in the world.

The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) is a nonprofit medical specialty society representing 151,000 board certified pathologists, other physicians, clinical scientists (PhDs), medical technologists and technicians. It is the world's largest organization representing pathology and laboratory medicine. As the leading provider of continuing education for pathologists and medical laboratory personnel, the ASCP enhances the quality of the profession through comprehensive educational programs and materials.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) is an independent, not-for profit organization, and is the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. JCAHO offers expertise in the area of certification and accreditation in the hospital marketplace, evaluating and accrediting nearly 18,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States, including over 2500 laboratory organizations involving more than 4,000 CLIA certified laboratories.
Why are these organizations collaborating?
JCAHO, API, and ASCP together will provide an opportunity for its customers to obtain needed survey, proficiency testing, and education products in a one-step, no-hassle fashion.

By providing this opportunity, we hope to enhance the value of accreditation and related services, and - importantly - reduce costs, improve service, provide new and exciting educational opportunities and enhance the breadth of survey expertise for our members and customers.
How will you accomplish this goal?
We are working on a cooperative agreement among the three organizations to bring the strengths of each organization together to address important issues of quality and efficiency in laboratory performance.

We are exploring the best approach to providing one-stop, low-cost shopping in meeting the needs of our members and customers.
Will ASCP become an accrediting organization? Will JCAHO provide proficiency testing? Will API develop educational products?
No. We are commencing a cooperative agreement among the three organizations to bring the strengths of each organization together to address important issues of quality and efficiency in laboratory performance.

Laboratories will be able to integrate menu-driven, web-based proficiency testing that meets JCAHO accreditation requirements and lessens the time a surveyor spends in your laboratory. Accredited laboratories will have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge educational programs that are uniquely designed for customer needs. Through this collaborative effort, the expertise of pathologists, medical technologists, skilled surveyors, and an experienced proficiency testing provider will be integrated into both the JCAHO survey cadre and its advisory structure.
What will it cost?
It is anticipated that the collaboration will result in reduced costs to laboratories. It is our goal to work toward this end, and introduce other efficiencies into the accreditation process.
Why should these organizations collaborate?
JCAHO, API, and ASCP are all committed to delivering high quality services at the lowest reasonable cost to our members. We can enhance our individual product lines through a collaborative approach.
What about the competition?
To our knowledge, there is no other organization that provides the laboratory survey experience, customized proficiency testing, and cutting-edge technological and scientific educational programs in one place and at a very reasonable price. Collectively, JCAHO, API and ASCP have well over 100 years of experience working with pathology and laboratory medicine.
Will peer-driven laboratory surveys be performed?
Yes. The laboratory survey team will include professional, well-trained medical technologist surveyors and pathologist specialists.
When will this enhancement be available?
It is expected that this collaborative product will be available in early 2003 or by mid-2003.