Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Manitoba laboratories do poorly in inspection
Concerns raised over ability to meet expectations
Eighty-five per cent of Manitoba labs inspected between 2008 and 2009 fell below provincial standards, raising concerns they aren't able to meet expectations amid increased workloads and staff shortages.
The College of Physician and Surgeons of Manitoba's latest lab inspection report reveals that only nine out of the 63 laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound and blood work sites surveyed between 2008 and 2009 were fully accredited. Fifty-three others were granted conditional status, which means the site is safe to operate but doesn't comply with all the provincial standards. One diagnostic imagine site was shut down prior to inspection "due to staff shortages."
The report said annual workloads continue to grow and staff are working very hard to meet the "increased demands in laboratory testing." Inspectors flagged problems with equipment maintenance at some sites, and raised concerns over outdated X-ray machines and inconsistencies in training new staff at other sites.
The body that regulates Manitoba's diagnostic services acknowledges staff shortages are a challenge, but maintains the quality of patient tests isn't at risk. Diagnostic Services Manitoba CEO Dr. Jim Dalton said officials beefed up external reviews of tests to be sure the quality isn't suffering.
He said tougher provincial lab standards were introduced in 2004, and it will take time before all labs are up to snuff with the highest national and international standards.
But laboratory professionals allege the shortcomings point to a bigger problem -- technologists don't have time to bring their sites up to higher standards due to increased demand for tests and chronic staff shortages.
Adam Chrobak, registrar of the College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Manitoba, said the province is facing a looming laboratory staff crisis, since about half the workforce is approaching retirement age and there aren't enough new graduates to fill the vacancies. At the same time, doctors continue to order more blood tests to screen for things such as heart disease, Chrobak said, as the population ages.
He said technologists are doing the best job they can, but the situation increases the potential for error and puts patient safety at risk.
"The added workload increases the stress on the technologists and lab assistants doing the work," he said. "Just like any work site if you're under added pressure, it increases the risk of errors, which is not very safe for either the lab personnel or the patient."
Chrobak estimates up to 80 per cent of treatment decisions are based on test results done in Manitoba labs and diagnostic imaging sites. He said he hasn't heard of any plans to rectify the current problems, and doesn't know how staff will be able to manage the load in the coming years.
"If you don't have appropriate staffing you're not going to be able to do all that quality assurance activities because you're concentrating on getting the (test) results in a timely fashion," he said. "I can see it potentially getting worse."
Dalton said officials now require every lab and diagnostic site to submit external reviews of their test results, and evidence shows the quality and accuracy is actually improving, not deteriorating.
Dalton couldn't confirm which site closed due to staffing issues, or how many current staff vacancies exist.
DSM's website has 22 current job postings for technologists, technicians, pathologists and laboratory managers across Manitoba.
Dalton said any sites that aren't safe to operate are shut down right away, and that officials would consider suspending services if staff shortages endangered the quality of patient test results.
History
Updated on Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 8:04 AM CDT:
The story has been updated to correct errors caused by irregular use of spaces.
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