pmls 2

• Quality: Degree of excellence of something
• Quality Assurance: Includes all activities related to satisfying relevant quality standards for a project
• Continuous Quality Improvement: A system to improve quality by continuous monitoring and analyzing all processes
• The Joint Commission: Oldest and largest standards-setting body in healthcare in the United States
• The Gold Seal of Approval: Given to organizations by TJC after passing on-site evaluation
• TJC survey time usually does quality checking every three years, two years for labs
• Survey Analysis for Evaluating Risk (SAFER): TJC method used to identify and communicate deficiency risk levels found during site surveys
• Sentinel Event: Any unexpected unfavorable event resulting in death or serious injury
• National Patient Safety Goals: TJC's program part of overall CQI requirements for accreditation promoting and enforcing major changes related to patient safety
• The Institute for Healthcare Improvement: Non-profit organization focused on the patient safety agenda
• Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988: Administered by CMS; establish quality standards in human testing
• Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee: Provides technical and scientific advice and guidance to CMS administrators
• College of American Pathologists: Influences quality care through standards for the laboratory and phlebotomy
• Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute: Establishes operational standards specifically for laboratory testing
• National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Science: Authority on quality clinical laboratory education
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO): Independent organization comprising experts from different industries worldwide
• Quality Indicators: Measurements providing information on effectiveness or quality of processes
• Threshold Value: Level of acceptable practice beyond which quality patient care cannot be assured
• Corrective Action Preventative Action: Established if data identify a problem or opportunity for improvement
• Quality Control: Checks and controls to assure quality; used by the laboratory to prevent problems before results are released
• Identification: Most critical step in specimen collection
• Procedure Manual: States policies and procedures for each test or practice in the laboratory
• Safety Manual: Explains safety guidelines for various procedures
• Infection Prevention and Control Manual: Manages all aspects of infection control
• Risk: The chance of loss from an event that cannot be entirely controlled
• Risk Management: Focused on identifying and minimizing situations
• Sexual Harassment: Conduct related to a person's sex that negatively affects a reasonable person's job
• Tort: Wrongful act leading to civil legal liability
• Assault: Act or threat causing another to fear immediate battery
• Battery: Intentional harmful or offensive touching of another person without consent
• Breach of Confidentiality: Disclosure of information without proper authorization
• Fraud: Deliberate deception intended to secure an unfair gain
• Invasion of Privacy: Violation of one's right to be left alone
• Malpractice: Negligence by a professional person
• Negligence: Failure to exercise due care
• Res Ipsa Loquitur: Latin term meaning "the thing speaks for itself"
• Malpractice Insurance: Compensates insured in event of malpractice liability
• Expressed Consent: Patient gives express authorization for surgery, high-risk procedures, genetic testing, etc
• Statute of Limitations: Law restricting the period within which an action may be brought to court
• Standard of Care: Normal level of skill expected from a healthcare practitioner to provide due care for patients