Questions to ask a consultant:
(Responses from KRP Accreditation Specialists, Inc. are in
italics.)
Q. How long have
you been a consultant?
A. 16 years (October, 1994)
Q. How many laboratories have
you successfully completed?
A. Over 800 vascular and echo laboratories.
Q. Do you offer the preparation
of laboratory-specific policies and procedures?
A.Yes, we provide examples of policies
and procedures that have been designed to be in compliance
with the Standards from ICAVL/ICAEL. We can customize
these policies to conform to your laboratory specific operations.
This is considered to be the most time saving benefit to
hiring a consultant. Upon completion of the accreditation
process, every lab receives a complete copy of submitted
documentation in binder form. CD's with all policies designed for the
laboratory during this process are included in this material.
Q. Do you provide assistance in developing internal
programs with areas such as quality assurance, peer review,
CME, and case study generation?
A. Yes, this is a much more efficient
process when the data is well organized and developed to
comply with operational demands. Most labs don't know where
to begin when developing these programs and become easily
overwhelmed. Many times the procedure becomes too complex
for daily operations and fails. With reaccreditation due
every three years, a long term program that will ensure
commitment to these policies is imperative. We can assist
you in developing streamlined procedures to ensure that
these tasks get done.
Q. If the online accreditation application is so easy, why do we need a consultant?
A. Despite the ease of completing the new online application, you will still need laboratory specific policies and procedures, QA data and reports, and selection of your best case studies. By serving as your project coordinator, we provide support to complete these tasks with optimal outcome; hence saving more time in the lab for operational responsibilities.
Q. If our lab is delayed, will
you help us with the resubmission of materials until our
lab is accredited?
A. Absolutely! Our goal is to assist
you through the entire process, from start to successful
accreditation. If, for any reason, your lab is delayed, we
will continue working with you to resolve the issues without
additional fees.
Q. What are the most common issues
that cause delays?
A. Lack of adherence to the laboratory specific protocols when generating case studies and reporting are the most common causes of delays. Although we discuss the importance of compliance with these issues, it is sometimes difficult to adhere to details. In these situations, additional cases and/or reports are requested by the IAC to rectify the lack of compliance. All of our labs have been granted accreditation with submission of additional material(s).
Q. Why is reaccreditation so complex?
A. Reaccreditation should not be so
difficult. When you complete the initial accreditation, you
agree to conform to the Standards of IAC. If you continue
with the proposed policies, the data collection and ongoing
QA should be concurrent. Changes are required for new staff
members, CME's, volume numbers and updated QA statistical
data. Case study selection can be acquired in the month prior
to reaccreditation submission. The new online application is very efficient and allows for ongoing updates, keeping the application current and submission ready.