IQMH Launches Interactive Online Education Series for ISO 15189

Decoding ISO 15189(TM) helps medical laboratories understand and implement the ISO 15189 standard

TORONTO, March 23 /CNW/ - The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) today announced the availability of the first nine modules of its interactive online education series, Decoding ISO 15189(TM). The series is designed to help medical laboratories understand and implement the ISO 15189 standard.

The International Organization for Standardization's ISO 15189:2007 Medical laboratories - Particular requirements for quality and competence is an internationally-recognized standard being adopted by medical labs around the world in order to improve the reliability and accuracy of test results. Labs that adopt ISO 15189 use the principles of quality management in order to increase efficiencies and reduce errors.

Decoding ISO 15189(TM) will include 15 interactive online educational modules which translate the ISO 15189 standard into easy-to-understand requirements. The series will help labs understand quality management systems, map out all their processes and procedures and implement occurrence management guidelines.

The modules draw on the knowledge and experience gained by IQMH's partner, the Quality Management Program-Laboratory Services (QMP-LS), in accrediting 230 labs to the OLA 15189Plus(TM) standard, which is based on ISO 15189.

"Labs both here and abroad have begun adopting that standard in order to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and improve patient safety. IQMH is dedicated to helping them in their efforts," said Dr. Gregory Flynn, the CEO of IQMH and the Managing Director of QMP-LS. "Decoding ISO 15189(TM) takes a very complex standard and distils it into easy-to-understand requirements. It provides medical laboratories with the knowledge and skills they need to prepare for accreditation."

As an online tool, laboratory professionals can use the series at their own convenience in order to learn at their own pace. The series will include video coaching tips from experts, a library of reference materials, dozens of downloadable PDFs, a glossary of terms and tools.

"By offering the program in an innovative online format, IQMH is helping to 'flatten the earth' and we will be able to benefit labs not only in the Americas, but in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India," Dr. Flynn said.

The entire series will be available by June 2010.

About IQMH

The Institute for Quality Management in Healthcare (IQMH) is a global leader in developing quality management solutions for healthcare organizations. IQMH helps medical laboratories and other healthcare organizations improve their quality through accreditation, proficiency testing, education, guideline development and innovation. As a partner with the world-renowned Quality Management Program-Laboratory Services (QMP-LS), IQMH has more than 30 years of experience in designing and implementing quality management programs for healthcare. For more information on IQMH products and services, please visit us at www.IQMH.org.

For further information: Contact Poonam Khanna, Media & Marketing Specialist, [email protected], 1-800-323-9540 x 229, [phone] x 229