Healthcare Course Library for Continuing Education

Apexus: 340B University OnDemand Courses

These 19 courses are intended to help learners gain a general understanding of the 340B Program before they can take in-person trainings or virtual offerings. Learners must take all 19 courses plus the final course evaluation to get a statement of completion in Apexus Education Portal.

Preventative Maintenance: Benefits of Ongoing PM

Maintaining laboratory equipment is critical to ensuring laboratory success and correct results. It is not sufficient to perform maintenance when instruments break down; preventative maintenance on a regular schedule is also necessary so that issues can be prevented and identified before they affect patient results and cause delays.

CLIA regulations set standards for regular maintenance of instruments and test systems as well as for more frequent function checks that can help staff identify an issue. In this course, we will define preventative maintenance and discuss its value in the clinical laboratory. We will discuss CLIA regulations, how and when preventative maintenance should occur, and documentation requirements.

Normal Ranges Spelled Out

The reference range, also known as the normal range, is the range within which most healthy individuals in a specific population who do not have a specific disease will fall. Physical environment, reagent manufacturer, employee training, and patient population are some of the influences that can affect test results and thus the reference range that should be used in a particular laboratory.

Under CLIA, laboratories must either validate the reference range given by a manufacturer or perform verification studies to determine a reference range, depending on the circumstances. In this course, we will go over CLIA requirements and the recommendations of other bodies for verification and validation of reference range.

Manufacturer Reference Ranges vs. Reportable Ranges

The purpose of the course is to understand the difference between a manufacturer reference range and a reportable range. The effective use of reference ranges and reportable ranges is imperative to ensure the appropriate care of patients. This course will describe both ranges, their uses, and benefits.

Performing Normal Patient Population Studies (Normal Range Studies)

Population studies are the analysis of various population statistics. This analysis is beneficial for identifying problems in particular regions and understanding patterns of change. These studies also help researchers learn how different factors are related, find solutions, and engage in efficient planning for the future. Population studies cover a wide range of topics such as demographic determinants, different theories of population change and fertility, and factors related to migration and policy matters. These studies cannot be ignored by planners, policymakers, administrators, academicians, and politicians. Population studies provide the foundational support for those professionals work and have become an integral part of the socio-economic and political systems, as well as economic development planning. This course discusses the background, methods, advantages, and disadvantages of population studies.

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Pipette Calibration and Frequency

Pipettes fail more frequently than most other laboratory equipment, potentially leading to compromised test results. CLIA regulations set standards for pipette calibration procedures, frequency, record keeping, and corrective action in the event that a pipette does not perform as expected.

In this course, we will cover the most important aspects of pipette calibration in a clinical laboratory. We will discuss how and when pipette calibration needs to be performed. We will also discuss record keeping and what must be done when calibration shows that a pipette has been performing outside of acceptable ranges.

Incident Management: Reporting and Best Practices for Follow-up

The question of what is incident management requires an answer with at least two parts. First, define incident. Second, define incident management. The answers, of course, will vary by industry.

This course will present an overview of the types of incidents likely to occur in a clinical laboratory setting and talk about the process of incident management and reporting. It will also present a brief overview of the types of laws and organizations that regulate incident management.

Quality Assessment Basics and Performance Improvement in the Lab

Laboratory error is defined as any defect from ordering tests to reporting and interpretation of results. Laboratory errors have a reported frequency of 0.012-0.6% of all test results which in turn has a huge impact on the diagnosis management of patients, because 60-70% of all diagnosis are made on-the-basis of laboratory tests.

The total testing process within a clinical laboratory is divided into three separate phases: preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical. Assessments can work to improve the quality and performance within a laboratory. This course describes the assessments and process that can lower the likelihood of error, and subsequently raise the effectiveness of treatment and patient care.