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International Symposium Responds to a World at Risk
COLA assembles first World Lab Forum in Baltimore, MD
COLUMBIA, MD, August 28, 2006 - COLA, a leader in accreditation, education, and
consultation services, convened its first International Symposium July 30-August 1, 2006, and
brought together a diverse group of thought leaders to discuss the role of laboratory medicine in
response to public health needs and crises.
COLA's vision was to create a community of leaders through the World Lab Forum
that share a vision to improve the quality of laboratory medicine
around the world.
"We need to understand where we are in the world as a first
step, and to find out some of the common threads - issues we all
share - around the world," said Doug Beigel, CEO of COLA. "My
insight is that leaders will emerge from different parts of the
world to bring about quality in laboratory medicine."
Participants convened for a two-day symposium in Baltimore, Maryland,
to explore a global vision for creating quality in medical laboratory
testing through four cafe-style discussions and presentations.
"I have never been to a seminar like this before," said
Dr. John Nelson, MD, Past-President of the American Medical Association.
"When I heard the opening speaker, that is what I expected
would occur, but what I was not prepared for was the level of engagement
of the participants and the breadth of views shared."
Participants in the International Symposium included public health
leaders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the World Medical
Association and World Health Organization; industry leaders from
Pfizer, Bio-Rad, and JHPIEGO in the U.S.; and government and industry
leaders from Egypt, Southern Africa, India, Singapore, Mexico, Thailand,
the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and the U.S.
Several shared visions came from this diverse group of thought leaders
as they acknowledged that medical laboratories are the critical
front line in diagnosis and treatment of diseases. A few major underlying
themes included lab quality and standards, the need to focus on
the healthcare system in its entirety as opposed to specific diseases,
and that labs around the world each have their own specific needs.
Some of the specific insights from this forum included:
| • |
We must evaluate the relevance of laboratory standards
and training needs to laboratory personnel and the region |
| • |
There is often a misplaced focus on programs and
funding for diseases rather than on entire healthcare systems
that creates the secondary problem of a disconnected system
of healthcare |
| • |
There is a lack of patient-centered standards
and systems |
| • |
There needs to be integration of the entire healthcare
system |
| • |
Sharing knowledge worldwide through a confidential
"One World Lab" database |
| • |
Expanded role of medical tourism is partly driving
global quality |
| • |
There is an increasing role of government in ensuring
laboratory quality and information |
| • |
We should define a base level of standards and
guidelines that labs with different technologies and social
standards can meet |
| • |
We should consider factors other than those related
to financial and business models to develop solutions applicable
in all parts of the world |
| • |
We can apply the existing "nucleus"
of essential quality system standards to all laboratories |
"This is one of the few, if not only forums, where people
have come together to discuss the application of laboratory quality
standards in the international setting," said Dr. John Ridderhof
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The International Symposium was an opportunity for all attendees to meet and
learn from one another to gain a collective awareness and understanding of the unique and
varying needs of different countries and regions and prepare laboratories for the challenges
ahead.
To learn more about the International Symposium, please visit www.worldlabforum.org.
About COLA
COLA, completing over 33,000 laboratory surveys, is the premier
clinical laboratory education, consultation, and accreditation organization.
We are an independent accreditor whose practical, educational standards
have a positive and immediate impact. Our services enable clinical
laboratories and staff to meet U.S. Clinical Laboratory Improvement
Amendments and other regulatory requirements, act in accordance
with quality systems, and provide the best possible patient care.
For more information about COLA accreditation services and educational
products, and on-line educational opportunities please call 800-981-9883
or visit COLA's Web Site at www.cola.org.
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