Ch 2 Vocab

Assault

An act or threat causing another to be in fear of immediate battery

Battery

Intentional harmful or offensive touching or use of force on a person without that person’s consent or legal justification

Breach of confidentiality

Failure to keep privileged medical information private

CAP

College of American Pathologists - offers proficiency testing and a continuous form of lab inspection by a team of pathologists and lab professionals. Designed only for pathology/lab services.

CAPA

Corrective action preventative action - an action plan established if quality assurance data identifies a problem or opportunity for improvement

Civil actions

Legal actions in which the alleged injured party sues for monetary damages

CLIAC

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee - technical/scientific advice to the appropriate people in the CMS who administer the regulations. Guidance on revising regulatory standards and the impact that proposed revisions will have on lab practice.

CLSI

Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute - global, nonprofit standards-developing organization with representatives from the profession, industry, and government. Uses a widespread agreement process to develop voluntary guidelines and standards for all areas of the lab.

CoW or CW

Certificate of Waiver - One of the 3 categories of testing based on complexity of testing (based on the difficulty involved in performing the test and degree of risk). Labs subject to CLIA ‘88 regulations must apply for a certificate from the CMS.

CQI

Continuous Quality Improvement - system put in place to improve quality by continuous monitoring and analyzing all processes and identifying processes that need improvement

Defendant

In a lawsuit, a person or persons against whom a complaint is filed

Delta check

Comparison of current results of a lab test with previous results for the same test on the same patient.

Deposition

A process in which one party questions another under oath while a court reporter records every word

Discovery

Formal process in litigation that involves taking depositions and interrogating the parties involved.

Due care

The level of care that a person of ordinary intelligence and good sense would exercise under the given circumstances

Fraud

Deceitful practice or false portrayal of facts by either words or conduct

GLPs

Good laboratory Practices - one of the educational tools that CLIAC has developed for CoW labs. List of 10 recommendations that emphasize QA in collecting and performing blood work using waived testing kits. Intended to inform and are not mandatory.

IHI

Institute for Healthcare Improvement - nonprofit organization focused on the pt safety agenda. Builds safety into every system of care in order to ensure that pts receive the safest, most reliable care throughout the healthcare industry.

Implied consent

The patient’s actions or circumstances imply consent without a verbal or written expression of consent

Informed consent

Implies voluntary and competent permission for a medical procedure, test, or medication

Invasion of privacy

Violation of one’s right to be left alone

IQCP

Individualized Quality Control Plan - risk-based, objective approach to quality control tailored to the testing in use, pt population, and other aspects unique to the lab. Individualized approach allows labs to use whatever process improvement tools are deemed necessary to manage risks.

EP-23A

Laboratory Quality Control Based on Risk Management - guideline published by CLSI, used by labs to create a customized QC plan based on risk management.

ISO

International Organization for Standardization - independent, nongovernmental international organization comprising experts from all over the world. Create standards that businesses use to ensure their products and services are safe, reliable, and of good quality. Experts are part of larger groups called technical committees, whose members share knowledge and develop voluntary international standards that cover many industries.

Malpractice

A type of negligence committed by a professional

Negligence

Failure to exercise due care

NPSGs

National Patient Safety Goals - part of the overall continuous quality improvement requirements for accreditation that promote and enforce major changes related to patient safety. Include specific requirements for protecting pts and play a significant role in advancing quality care. Annually update the goals to address critical areas of safety concerns and describe solutions.

• Identify pts correctly

• Improve staff communication

• Prevent infection

2023 NPSGs for the clinical laboratory

Plaintiff

Injured party in the litigation process

QA

Quality assurance - processes used to create standardization for quality service and prevention of problems. Managerial tool for lab supervisors.

QC

Quality control - specific activities and techniques that are performed to fulfill the requirements for a quality service or product. Corrective tool for lab personnel.

Quality indicators

Guides used as monitors of all areas of patient care

res ipsa loquitur

A Latin phrase meaning “the thing speaks for itself”

Respondeat superior

A Latin phrase meaning “let the master respond.” Employers must answer for damages their employees cause within the scope of their practice

Risk management

An internal process focused on identifying and minimizing situations that pose risk to patients and employees

SAFER

Survey Analysis for Evaluating Risk - a method created by The Joint Commission to identify and communicate risk levels connected with deficiencies found during site surveys

SE

Sentinel event - unfavorable/unexpected event resulting in death or injury.

Standard of care

The normal level of skill and care that a healthcare practitioner would be expected to practice to provide due care for patients

Statute of limitations

A law setting the length of time after an alleged injury in which the injured person is permitted to file a lawsuit

Threshold value

The level of acceptable practice beyond which quality patient care cannot be assured

TJC

The Joint Commission - the oldest and largest standards-setting body in health care in the US. An independent, nonprofit organization charged with establishing standards for the operation of hospitals and other health-related facilities and services, and accrediting and certifying these organizations.

Tort

A wrongful act other than breach of contract committed against one’s person, property, reputation, or other legally protected right

Vicarious liability

Liability imposed by law on one person for acts committed by another

Waived tests

Category of tests that are simple and have a low risk of errors