Concerns of A Health Professional in Biomedical Science - Assignment Example

 Health Professional Council The (HPC) Health Professional Council is regulating body covering thirteen professions. Registration with the HPC is incumbent for professionals employed in these categories. Six guidelines have been chalked out for the working body of the HPC. Safeguard of the public Cognizability (Public representation in the council) Interaction with the public and their awareness High standards of service. Good value for money Collaboration with other professional workforce. The Institute of biomedical science (IBMS) is a collaborating group for bio-medical scientists. They aim for quality and high standards in the practicing, training and maintaining a public record of registered and qualified members, and to look into complaints for the safeguarding of public interest if the standard is not met. IBMS Standards have ‘fit for practice’ criteria. This includes character assessments, physical fitness (according to Health Professions Order 2001) and Continual Professional Development. Education and training on approved conduct, ethical standards, and proficiency are all professionally related, and are established by the HPC, and in order to remain registered with the HPC, these standards are necessary. IBMS has its own publication entitled ‘Good Professional Practice for Biomedical Scientists’. 1. Primary registration in the case of biomedical scientists requires the completion of a co-terminus degree, which should be HPC approved, alternately, a certificate of competence portfolio should be issued by the BMS, involving learning based on in-house work, in BMS approved laboratory, for a stretch covering 1,000 hours, where the initial HPC requirements are met. 2. In this case the portfolio will require verification from an external source to ensure that HPC standard of proficiency is up to the mark. 1a.1b What is the CPA (UK) Ltd? What is the purpose of laboratory accreditation? CPA stands for Clinical Pathology Accreditation that lays down rules for accreditation of medical laboratories. CPA’s “Standards for the Medical Laboratory” (1c) in connection with the international standards including ISO 17011 & ISO 9001:2000. In addition to the CPA another body in the UK namely the United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) that is the only body recognized by the government to evaluate whether medical laboratories meet the international standards. Both bodies CPA and UKAS entered into a partnership in order to assists companies to achieve best practices and meet the international standards of quality and service. All medical laboratories need to enrol for the accreditation program. The accreditation program requires compliance with guidelines that are used for assessment as published in the CPA’s ‘The Conduct of CPA (UK) Ltd Medical Laboratory Assessments’ (3). These guidelines set out the standards for efficient conduct of the laboratory services and its management. These standards cover different aspects of laboratory operations and are segregated into eight categories as follows. 1) Organisation and Quality Management – These are related to the organizational structure, quality policies and procedures, controls and management, and documentation of procedures for effective and efficient laboratory operations. 2) Personnel – These are related to the employment conditions and other issues related to hiring of staff. 3) Premises & Environment – These are related to ensuring that patients are provided comfortable arrangements and hygienic conditions are well maintained along with safety issues. 4) Equipment, Information Systems and Materials – These are related to the requirements of equipment, recording systems and management of inventory. Furthermore, it also covers the confidentiality of documents. 5) Pre- Examination Process – These are related to procedures laboratories need to follow when providing information to patients, collecting and handling samples and allocating each sample according to the test. 6) Examination Process – These cover the procedures for carrying out examination and ensuring that all aspects of safety and quality testing are followed. 7) Post-Examination Phase – They relate to the compilation, interpretation and presentation of test results. 8) Evaluation and Quality Assurance – The final set of standards are concerned with the evaluation of policies, procedures, controls and quality by both internal and external audit and role of the management for improvement. The accreditation of medical laboratories is carried out at the assessment stage of evaluation which involves checking of the above standards within the organization (3). References: (1) www.cpa-uk.co.uk (2) www.ukas.com (3) The Conduct of CPA (UK) Ltd Medical Laboratory Assessments Enclosed References: (1c) CPA – Standards for the Medical Laboratory 1a.1c Describe how the laboratory stores and disposes of human samples Once the laboratory receives samples of urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and faeces they are categorically stored according to the risk status. The procedures for both storage and disposal of these samples are usually prescribed according to the nature of sample. The Standard Operating Protocols (1) (2) have laid out the local policies and guidelines for laboratories to store and dispose samples collected for testing. These guidelines are highlighted according to the type of sample in the following: Urine Urine samples that are collected by laboratories are initially stored in “5 litre” urine bottles that are thoroughly acidified according to the test performed. Samples from these are then poured into 20ml universal tube while the remaining is disposed-off following into human waste drainage area allocated in the histology department. The samples collected in 20ml tubes are stored in racks for a week till examination is complete at either 4ºC or -20ºC as in the case of organic acids and amino acids in situations where analysis is immediate. Blood Blood sampling and storage varies depending upon the test requirements. Bloodspots are collected on Guthrie cards that are used by the Regional Newborn Screening Service (RNSS). These cards should be marked numerically and they should be kept dry and in a sleeve that is then placed in boxes. The storage could be for 18 months at room temperature however if required they could placed on an off-site location for up to 21 years. When blood is drawn from the patient’s body it is collected in VautainersTM (3). They are usually of two types – one with coagulants and the other ones with anticoagulant additives. If the testing is not immediate then blood collected in tubes has to be store in refrigerator while certain tests may even require storage at -20ºC. Post analysis they could be stored at 4-8ºC for one week. Faeces Faeces collected from patients for testing are initially collected into faecal collection tubes that are placed inside a clear plastic bag. Post testing storage depends on the analysis report and they are frozen at 4ºC for a short period of two days. And in some case they need to be frozen between testing. High Risk & CSF Samples Such samples are taken from individuals with proven infection belonging to a hazard group 3 including diseases such as HIV and Tuberculosis and therefore such CSF are considered as high risk samples. Such samples are designated with label marked as “Danger of Infection”. These samples require careful procedure for their safety and isolation. Pre-analysis therefore requires storage within clear plastic bags and once testing is carried out they need to be placed inside a universal tube if it is a VautainersTM or a sealable plastic bag if not. Once secured then they are filed into racks with labels for seven days at a temperature between 4-8ºC. The disposal of these samples requires more attentive and careful approach. Initially they are put in strong cardboard box double bagged with the yellow waste bags. Once box are old then they are sealed with sticker marking clinical waste and they are tied with a red tape to designate the waste as contagious and its requirement for incineration. Incineration is carried out after these samples are put in sharp bins which are then secured properly (2). References: (1) Department SOP: Sample Storage “SLOCing” – SH.OP.CHEM357 (2) Department SOP: Sample Storage & Disposal – SH.OP.CROU157 (3) www.bd.com 1a.2 With reference to local policies and national legislation, what do you understand by “Equal Opportunities”? For obtaining and maintaining HPC registration it is necessary to ensure fulfilment of one of its major criteria that is adherence to the “Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics”. This document not only provides guidance for generally accepted behaviour and professionalism that staff needs to maintain towards handling patients but at the same time provides guidelines for employers and staff for their due rights. The document highlights the characteristics of good character and competency (1d). Within these standards the fair treatment of employees and applicants is laid out as “Equal Opportunity and Diversity”. The “Equal opportunity and Diversity” governs rules for providing suitable conditions for both working and non-working life of employee. These include assuring conditions which prevent unlawful and unfair treatment of employees related to the discrimination on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, nationality, sexuality, religion, marital status, social class and medical status. The policies also ensure that ethnic diversity is achieved by implementation of equal policies for all backgrounds. This is necessary to ensure better working environment. Employers need to consider requirements of different legal documents such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Gender Recognition Act 2004 for ensuring equality and diversity in the working setup. With reference to the local and national legislation it is understood that equal opportunities is about giving equal chance to all individuals irrespective of their present condition and background. Individuals holding similar qualifications and skills but with different background must not be discriminated and employer needs to be unbiased in progress evaluation and promotion. The employee rights under employment contract needs to be given consideration for equal treatment of employees and their protection. Any cases of discrimination against an individual reported within the organization needs to be addressed and dealt with provided guidelines under different laws. References: (1) Trust Policy: Equal Opportunities and Managing Diversity. Enclosed References: (1d) HPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics 1a.3a What is the purpose of the Data Protection Act? The information related to patients and their medical conditions are strictly confidential and it may not be revealed to any unauthorized source. Individuals working in the profession are required to comply with the NHS code of practice on confidentiality and also to other local policies that are governed by Caldicott. Furthermore there are data protection policies that prescribe the code of practice related to confidentiality of information and requirement of consent before disclosing any medical information. The data protection policies document covers different sections related to privacy protection and confidentiality under the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Data Protection Act 1998. The Data Protection Act is a universal piece of legislation that is based on eight principles (3): 1. The information may only be used for its declared purpose. 2. The information should be presented fairly and legally. 3. The information should be checked for accuracy and completeness. 4. The information collected should be relevant and sufficient but no excessive. 5. The information should only be kept for required period of time. 6. The information should be processed after informing individuals their rights. 7. The information should be kept in secure place. 8. The information should not be provided to sources stationed outside one country. The Data Protection Act and its implications for patients suggest that any party inquiring patients’ information needs to provide their own relevant details. If they fail to provide satisfactory information then no information should be disclosed. The Data Protection Act gives individuals right to access their information held by any data collection agency. Such report needs to be furnished to the individual within 20 days of the receipt of request. References: (1) Trust Policy: Confidentiality of Personal information and PC Software (2) NHS Code of Practice: Confidentiality (3) www.ico.gov.uk/Home/for_organisations/data_protection_guide.aspx. Enclosed References: (1e) Trust Core Policy: Data Protection 1a.3b Where in the training laboratory is there access to confidential patient information? The issues pertaining to the confidentially of data are covered by the trust core policy on information security (1f) that entails a list of legislations and guidance for those associated with such sensitive data. The confidential patient information is typically found and stored in different locations: 1 Record file of test request forms. 2 Front end and back end computer terminals. 3 Area where patient test samples are and where reports are written. 4 Individual work lists and results folders. 5 Waste disposal areas. Enclosed References: (1f) Trust Core Policy FI-3: Information Security (EXCERPTS) 1a.3c What would you do if an unauthorised person asked for their results? The disclosure of laboratory results and other clinical information is only made according to the set guidelines and procedures. It is an integral part of these guidelines that the test results of a patient are only provided to the patient’s doctor who has prescribed the tests and patients can ask their doctors for their reports. In situations where the patient or his close friend or family asks directly for the test results then excuse must be made and I will explain to them the policy of the laboratory regarding issuance of reports and clarifying to them the requirements of upholding the standards and need to comply with the policies and procedures. For a biomedical scientist it is imperative to avoid any circumstances where personal relationships can cause an obstruction of compliance with the laboratory policies. In this way the unauthorised access to private information can be curtailed. 1a.4a What is the purpose of a professional code of conduct? Every profession has a set of codes that must prescribe the minimum standards of services drawn upon practices and experiences and compliance to them is essential that and same could be upheld in issues pertaining to the profession and its conduct. The standards guideline values, ethics, decision making and procedures aimed at providing a high standard of professional competence, thus shedding a positive character on the profession. This document provides guidance to those who are associated with the profession when they are confronted with difficult situations. These code of conduct are included in separate documents namely the HPC’s “Standards of Conduct, Performance & Ethics” and the IBMS’s “Good Professional Practice for Biomedical Scientists”. The HPC document focuses on issues like autonomy, accountability and common sense that needs to used for ensuring safe and effective implementation of processes whereas the IBMS provides further clarification of the previous document for ensuring better adaptability and meeting the requirements of the biomedical scientist profession. The application of both documents is not limited to individual guidance but covers the entire laboratory environment. Overall, they deal with establishment of standards and compliance with them, development of employees and ensuring good working relationships. References: (1) IBMS’ “Good Professional Practice for Biomedical Scientists” Enclosed References: (1d) HPC “Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics”. Read More