Role of Information Technology and Laboratory Automation

Details

Title

Role of Information Technology and Laboratory Automation

Type

Stage One

Module code

HLS059

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period with respect to the role of information technology (IT) and laboratory automation the trainee will be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, critically evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, critically evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• the standards required of transfusion laboratory automation and laboratory information management systems with reference to BCSH specifications on the use of information technology systems in blood transfusion practice
• requirements of a national system for the management of donors, donations, integration of test results from linked automated analysers and traceability of products
• the integrity of patient records
• The range of diagnostic platforms for blood grouping, antibody screening and crossmatching
• the advantages of full automation/electronic data transfer in reducing manual error
• IT systems for the ordering of blood and for stock management
• the concept and practice of ‘vein to vein’ traceability, including blood tracking systems and the use of ‘smart’ fridges
• uses of and requirements for electronic issue and remote issue
• IT and patient specific requirements for electronic issue
• electronic systems for the ordering, monitoring and reporting of tests
• IT systems to capture and record fate of blood and wastage
• IT systems for reporting to haemo-vigilance schemes
• how a hospital computer system supports patient identification and the integration of laboratory results with the patient record
• how the component parts and modules of IT systems for managing laboratory data, stock and patients
• the standards required of IT systems

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to technical procedures and laboratory skills and will be able to:

• compare the technical and performance characteristics of different laboratory platforms for pre-transfusion testing
• use laboratory IT systems for:
  • ordering blood, including the need for special requirements, such as CMV-, irradiated.
  • stock management
  • electronic and remote issue
  • tracking units
  • reporting haemo-vigilance incidents
• configure IT system settings and algorithms to best support the safety, quality and traceability of laboratory operations including the use of flags, warnings and data entry checking and validation

By the end of the training period with respect to the role of information technology and laboratory automation trainees will be able to:

• evaluate service contingency plans in the event of failures in IT systems and in automated testing and make recommendations
• provide advice in the event of failures in IT systems and in automated testing