ART and Science: ASCP at the Center of the Laboratory Capacity Building in Resource-Limited Countries Ian R Lemieux, RN, MPH, MLS(ASCP) CM ASCP Consultant.

ART and Science:ASCP at the Center of the Laboratory Capacity Building

in Resource-Limited Countries

Ian R Lemieux, RN, MPH, MLS(ASCP)CM

ASCP ConsultantClinical Project Manager, Fenway Institute

• Founded in 1922• Leader in pathology and laboratory medicine in the United States• Inclusive membership unites pathologists and laboratory

professionals to advance the profession– 130,000 members include:

• Pathologists• Doctoral-level laboratory scientists• Laboratory professionals, including:

– Pathologists’ assistants– Medical technologists– Cytotechnologists– Histotechnologists– Histologic technicians– Phlebotomists– Medical laboratory technicians

ASCP• Sponsors hundreds of workshops, symposia,

teleconferences, e-courses, and self-study programs annually

• Publishes of medical textbooks, reference manuals, slide atlases, audiovisual materials, and computer software, Critical Values, a quarterly newsmagazine, and two prestigious journals, the American Journal of Clinical Pathology and LABMEDICINE

Global Outreach• Cooperative Agreement with the CDC since

2005• Scope of work: build laboratory capacity and

support laboratory training and quality improvement– In-service – Laboratory Accreditation– Pre-service curriculum development

In-Service Training• Fill an immediate

knowledge gap for practicing lab professionals

• Provide material resources for on-going education in-country

• Subject specific trainings in – Basic laboratory operations– CD4– Clinical chemistry– Hematology– Laboratory management– Phlebotomy

ASCP Pre-Service Programs• Provide teaching tools serve

to strengthen the institutions of learning and increase the knowledge and core competencies of the next generation of lab professionals

• Goal is accomplished through the following activities – Revise or develop new

curriculum– Improve faculty teaching and

training skills– Develop new course content

• ASCP Pre-Service program by the numbers– 11 countries– 38 MLS programs

engaged– 28 MLS programs

teaching finalized curricula

– 2 countries graduating students educated entirely by new curricula

Laboratory Accreditation• One of two laboratory

indicators for PEPFAR

• Proves quality of laboratory results

• Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA)– Strengthen laboratory

management– Achieve immediate

laboratory improvement– Accelerate the process

of accreditation

Thank you

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA

Laboratory Work Force Development In Africa:

ASLM-ASCP collaboration

ASLM MISSIONTo advance professional laboratory medicine practice, science, systems and networks in Africa needed to support preventive medicine, quality care of patients and disease control through partnership with governments and relevant organizations.

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION & NETWORK IN AFRICA

Laboratory-Clinic Interface

TechnicalAssistance

Research Capacityand Publication

Laboratory WorkforceDevelopment

Laboratory Standards and

Accreditation

Laboratory Networks & Strategies

Laboratory Policy Development

Advocacy and Communication

8 Strategic objectives

ASLM

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION & NETWORK IN AFRICA

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA

Human resource challenges in Africa

Shortage of qualified

laboratory workforce

High turnover

Absence of standards

Absence of rewarding

system

Absence of recognition

Absence of career

structure

Job dissatisfacti

on

The shortage of qualified staff is a critical bottleneck to service provision,

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA

•Develop the laboratory workforce in a comprehensive manner,

•Laboratory workforce standards & norms,

•Assessment of labs workforce gaps

•Database development

•Policy framework & country guidance,

•Work with ASLM collaborating centers to build partnerships with universities to integrate internships and fellowships for continuing education for laboratory trainees and professionals.

Laboratory workforce development is one of the important pillars of ASLM

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA

Career Development

Laboratory standard and accreditation

Technical assistance

Laboratory and network and strategy

Laboratory policy development

Advocacy and communication

Research capacity and publication

Laboratory-clinic interface

Laboratory workforce development

All ASLM strategic objectives contribute to lab workforce development

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA

ASLM co organized the first Lab work force consultation with WHO-Afro and CDC (March 2012. Recommendations from the meeting:

Promote the establishment of national Laboratory Professional Regulatory Councils, which will:

-Define the code of conduct - Minimum standards for training (pre- and in-service) -Approving curriculum -Accreditation of training institutes -Licensing of lab professionals -Define standard cadres and minimal qualifications for lab track

ASLM in collaboration with ASCP

-To conduct systematic needs assessment for lab HRH in African countries

To develop laboratory HRH development strategy including the establishment of Lab professional levels (CLA, MLT, MLS, etc), Minimum competenciesEligibility routes, Exams .. etc

ADVANCING THE LABORATORY PROFESSION AND NETWORKS IN AFRICA

Thank you

www.aslm.orgCareer Development

ART and Science:ASCP at the Center of the Laboratory Capacity Building

in Resource-Limited Countries

Dr Charles G MassambuAssistant Director, Diagnostic Services, MOHSW, Tanzania

Project Director, Laboratory Services Strengthening Program

The Tanzania experience

Geographic location of Tanzania

National Health Labs (2)

Zonal Hosp Labs (8)

Regional Hosp Labs (30)

District Hosp Labs (>100)

Health Centre Labs (>500)

Dispensary Labs (>5000)

Lab Services in Tanzania

Organizational framework

HLPC Lab Services PHLB

Public sector Lab Support Program(CDC, WHO, GF, WB)

Private sector

NHLQATC

HCTSLIS LQS Training

Dept of Curative Services

Diagnostic Services Section

• In-service– Inadequate lab personnel– Brain Drain– Lack of career path for lab personnel to advanced degree– Inadequate competence in QMS, biosafety/biosecurity and

modern diagnostic technologies– Varying level of knowledge, competences and confidences

from one lab professional to another– Inadequate field exposure to lab QMS implementation and

biorisk management and biosurveillance– Lack of accredited clinical laboratory

Challenges

• Pre service– Questionable quality of lab school training– Inadequate number and capacity of lab schools– Critical shortage of faculty– Inadequate and non-standardized lab school curricula– Inadequate training materials and equipment– Inadequate infrastructure (Library, laboratory, computer

lab)– Rapid changes in technologies and new emerging

technologies

Challenges… 2

• In-service– Improve lab personnel competences in QMS,

biosurveillance, and biorisk management and modern diagnostic technologies through hands-on training, teach back, lab mentorship

– Introduce mentorship and couching programs to regional and District hosp labs

– Improve and strengthen field exposure and practical training

– Introduce regional and district labs to WHO Afro Stepwise Accreditation using SLMTA/SLIPTA approach

Strategic objectives

• Pre service– Improve quality of lab school training through supportive

supervision, mentorship and sensitizing regulatory bodies on QMS and Quality Standards

– Expand the number and capacity of lab schools– Increase the number of qualified lab school tutors– Review/develop and standardize lab school curricula– Improve the number and quality of lab school training materials

and equipment– Improve lab school infrastructure (Library, laboratory, computer

lab)– Review/update training curricula and SOPs

Strategic objectives… 2

• Capacity building– Laboratory Management– Lab School Assessment– Lab School Curricular Development– Lab Training Programs M&E– SLMTA ToT Training

• Material support– Lab Equipment and Training

Materials• Technical support

– Lab School Mentorship– SLMTA Implementation

Strategic objectives… 2

Thank you