CRI® Conference to Help Labs Improve Quality, Transition to New CMS Guidelines
COLUMBIA, MD, September 23, 2014 – The educational subsidiary of COLA, COLA Resources Inc.,® (CRI) will sponsor a Symposium for Clinical Laboratories October 15-18 at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel and Spa, Orlando, FL. The conference is expected to draw professionals from every area of laboratory medicine — including physicians operating an office laboratory, diagnostic laboratory staff, physician assistants, nurses and other medical personnel — for a series of educational and networking opportunities.
The CRI symposium will feature keynote speakers from leading healthcare facilities, speaking on a variety of topics of interest to the physician office and hospital laboratory, such as laboratory director responsibilities; preparing for laboratory inspections; regulatory compliance; the business of laboratory medicine; phlebotomy and/or other medical assistant aspects of patient care; and practical tools such as improving processes and procedures and preventing errors.
The conference will also highlight the impact of national healthcare reform on laboratories, and update attendees on federal regulatory issues, including workshops on the new Individualized Quality Control Plan (IQCP) guidelines recently introduced by CMS.
Among the many speakers are:
• Karen W. Dyer, MT (ASCP), Deputy Director of the Division of Laboratory Services, Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services, CLIA Update, 2014
• Edward J. Peterson, Jr., MBA, MT (ASCP), Director of Laboratories for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, Patient-Centered Care and Laboratory Medicine • Jeanne Mumford, MT(ASCP,) Laboratory Quality Assurance Specialist, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, Internal Lab Inspections: How We Stay CLIA- Ready at Our Physician Office Laboratories
• Rose Mary Casados, President, COLA Resources, Inc., ICQP Education and Transition Period: Tools for Success
• Verlin Janzen, MD, FAAFP, Hutchinson Clinic and Hutchinson Hospital, Hutchinson, KS, Quality Assessment of PT: Proficiency Testing Problem Resolution
The symposium (formerly known as the Physician Office Laboratory Symposium) is designed to meet the education needs of physicians and healthcare professionals in the office laboratory industry. Participants can earn up to 20 Continuing Medical Education (CME) or P.A.C.E. ® credits, network with healthcare professionals and visit the exhibit hall featuring the latest laboratory technology, equipment and supplies.
“CRI Symposia are key educational events, promoting ongoing development in healthcare quality systems and lab accreditation,” said Rose Mary Casados, President of CRI. “We encourage laboratory professionals at all levels, from physicians who manage office laboratories to clinical laboratory personnel, nurses and other personnel who perform quality control procedures, to take advantage of this major educational opportunity. They also can experience a getaway at one of Orlando’s finest resorts, including exclusive discounts on admission tickets to the nearby Walt Disney World® Resort and Downtown Disney®.”
For more information or to register for the CRI Symposium for Clinical Laboratories, visit www.criedu.org/symposia or www.labuniversity.org.
About COLA Resources, Inc. (CRI)
CRI is a leader in online continuing education for physicians, laboratory personnel and allied health professionals. CRI offers continuing education through online courses, informational products in both electronic and hard copy form, webinars on cutting-edge technology and regulatory issues, and CRI on-site Symposia for Clinical Laboratories, providing live educational sessions and interactive workshops with leading industry organizations. For more information, visit their website at www.labuniversity.org, or call 1-800-981-9883.