Setting up a structured laboratory mentoring programme

Maruta, Talkmore; Rotz, Philip D.; Peter, Trevor

doi:10.4102/ajlm.v2i1.77

Cited by 16 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…The standard mentorship model is described in detail elsewhere 14 and is based on mentors spending periods of time in laboratories to guide and oversee the quality systems improvement process. Six in-country, practising laboratory professionals were trained as mentors and completed the SLMTA Training-of-Trainers curriculum.…”

Section: Research Methods and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using standard and institutional mentorship models to implement SLMTA in Kenya

et al. 2014

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BackgroundKenya is home to several high-performing internationally-accredited research laboratories, whilst most public sector laboratories have historically lacked functioning quality management systems. In 2010, Kenya enrolled an initial eight regional and four national laboratories into the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme. To address the challenge of a lack of mentors for the regional laboratories, three were paired, or ‘twinned’, with nearby accredited research laboratories to provide institutional mentorship, whilst the other five received standard mentorship.ObjectivesThis study examines results from the eight regional laboratories in the initial SLMTA group, with a focus on mentorship models.MethodsThree SLMTA workshops were interspersed with three-month periods of improvement project implementation and mentorship. Progress was evaluated at baseline, mid-term, and exit using the Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) audit checklist and scores were converted into a zero- to five-star scale.ResultsAt baseline, the mean score for the eight laboratories was 32%; all laboratories were below the one-star level. At mid-term, all laboratories had measured improvements. However, the three twinned laboratories had increased an average of 32 percentage points and reached one to three stars; whilst the five non-twinned laboratories increased an average of 10 percentage points and remained at zero stars. At exit, twinned laboratories had increased an average 12 additional percentage points (44 total), reaching two to four stars; non-twinned laboratories increased an average of 28 additional percentage points (38 total), reaching one to three stars.ConclusionThe partnership used by the twinning model holds promise for future collaborations between ministries of health and state-of-the-art research laboratories in their regions for laboratory quality improvement. Where they exist, such laboratories may be valuable resources to be used judiciously so as to accelerate sustainable quality improvement initiated through SLMTA.

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Section: Research Methods and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using standard and institutional mentorship models to implement SLMTA in Kenya

et al. 2014

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“…Our LQSI approach using a full-time staff of embedded quality improvement mentors has proven highly effective in implementing a quality management system in a large number of hospital laboratories in a relatively short period. Others have demonstrated that mentorship assists laboratories to implement quality improvement activities 23 , 24 , 31 . However, we have shown how the regular presence of fully dedicated mentors and a detailed quality management system action plan in the local language improves the rate of quality management system implementation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Implementation research: a mentoring programme to improve laboratory quality in Cambodia

Perrone

Voeurng

Sek

et al. 2016

Bull. World Health Organ.

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ObjectiveTo implement a mentored laboratory quality stepwise implementation (LQSI) programme to strengthen the quality and capacity of Cambodian hospital laboratories.MethodsWe recruited four laboratory technicians to be mentors and trained them in mentoring skills, laboratory quality management practices and international standard organization (ISO) 15189 requirements for medical laboratories. Separately, we trained staff from 12 referral hospital laboratories in laboratory quality management systems followed by tri-weekly in-person mentoring on quality management systems implementation using the LQSI tool, which is aligned with the ISO 15189 standard. The tool was adapted from a web-based resource into a software-based spreadsheet checklist, which includes a detailed action plan and can be used to qualitatively monitor each laboratory’s progress. The tool – translated into Khmer – included a set of quality improvement activities grouped into four phases for implementation with increasing complexity. Project staff reviewed the laboratories’ progress and challenges in weekly conference calls and bi-monthly meetings with focal points of the health ministry, participating laboratories and local partners. We present the achievements in implementation from September 2014 to March 2016.FindingsAs of March 2016, the 12 laboratories have completed 74–90% of the 104 activities in phase 1, 53–78% of the 178 activities in phase 2, and 18–26% of the 129 activities in phase 3.ConclusionRegular on-site mentoring of laboratories using a detailed action plan in the local language allows staff to learn concepts of quality management system and learn on the job without disruption to laboratory service provision.

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“…The structured peer-to-peer, side-by-side mentorship approach was used to impart knowledge and expertise from the mentor to the laboratory staff following set guidelines. 13,14 Two additional mentors were assigned to BRHL, alternating supervisory visits and working with all staff members to implement a change in culture and address gaps. ISO 15189, the SLIPTA checklist and the SLMTA toolkit were the primary tools used for follow-up.…”

Section: Research Methods and Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

From grass to grace: How SLMTA revolutionised the Bamenda Regional Hospital Laboratory in Cameroon

et al. 2014

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BackgroundPublic health laboratories form the foundation on which today’s clinical laboratory practice in Cameroon is built. The advent of the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme in 2009 empowered the Bamenda Regional Hospital Laboratory (BRHL) to improve its working culture, practices and management.ObjectivesTo evaluate the results of SLMTA implementation at BRHL and discuss lessons learned.MethodIn 2010, the SLMTA programme was rolled out in Cameroon to improve laboratory quality management systems in five laboratories, including BRHL. Three workshops were conducted (the first centralised, the remaining two on-site at each laboratory) and improvement projects were implemented after each workshop with the assistance of mentors. Audits were used in order to evaluate performance and to identify areas for further improvement.ResultsBRHL had the lowest score (18%) amongst the cohort at the baseline audit and the highest (81%) at the official Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA) audit conducted in August 2013 by the African Society for Laboratory Medicine. Improvements were observed in each of the 12 Quality System Essentials; improvement was especially noteworthy in the areas of facilities and safety, and purchasing and inventory. Staff investment and pride in the quality of laboratory services increased.ConclusionBRHL’s remarkable improvement was achieved with a combination of SLMTA training activities, intensive on-site mentorship and the collective focus of all laboratory staff. The experience at Bamenda Hospital illustrates what can be achieved when a laboratory successfully harnesses the energy of its staff and implements changes to improve the quality of services in a transformation taking them from grass to grace.

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Setting up a structured laboratory mentoring programme

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

Using standard and institutional mentorship models to implement SLMTA in Kenya

Using standard and institutional mentorship models to implement SLMTA in Kenya

Implementation research: a mentoring programme to improve laboratory quality in Cambodia

From grass to grace: How SLMTA revolutionised the Bamenda Regional Hospital Laboratory in Cameroon

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