Westgard Workshops 2008

Quality Control 2008: Final Rules, Emerging Guidelines, Evolving Practices

These workshops will be held on June 2nd and 3rd, 2008. Early registration is strongly recommended. (Please inquire about private workshops.)

Should You Attend? What You will Learn Program Travel & Hotel Download
Brochure Hear Dr. Westgard Register now!

Quality Control 2008
Juen 2-3, 2008
8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Registration:
$595.00

Additional participants from the same organization register at a further discount. Call for details.

Each Participant Receives:

Workshop handouts for all presentations, plus supplementary material
Internet access to reference material at Westgard Web

Workshop Location:
Doubletree Hotel,
525 West Johnson Street,
Madison WI 53703
608-251-5511 or 1-800-222-TREE
reservations

Instructors:

James O. Westgard, PhD

Sharon Ehrmeyer, PhD, UW

Ron Laessig, Phd, UW

Teresa Darcy, MD, UW

Curtis Parvin, PhD, Washington University

Jan Krouwer, PhD, Krouwer Consulting

Invited speakers from CAP, COLA, and Joint Commission

Quality Control 2008

Final Rules, Emerging Guidelines, Evolving Practices

June 2nd and 3rd, 2008, Madison, Wisconsin

2008 brings an end to "educational" letters on EQC violations. EQC is now the law, despite its nonexistent scientific validity. Making matters even more confusing, there is considerable variation in how EQC is being enforced by CMS, Joint Commission, CAP, COLA and the state agencies.

The laboratory landscape, as always, is a sea of uncertainty.

EQC is just one of the major changes in regulations that you will learn about in Westgard's two day intensive workshop. Not only will you get a comprehensive review of the latest rules, requirements, checklists and standards, you'll gain the insight necessary to move beyond compliance toward an analytical management system that delivers excellence.

Dr. James O. Westgard, quality expert and author of the popularly-known "Westgard Rules", leads an "all star" cast of regulatory and scientific experts who will assess current practices, preview upcoming CLSI guidelines for QC, Risk Management, and Alternate QC (AQC).

After previewing future CLSI guidelines and prospective regulatory changes. the workshop faculty will provide guidance on how to mitigate future risks as QC evolves.

Finally, Dr. Westgard will advise you on how to customize and optimize an analytical quality management system for your laboratory.

Workshop Instructors:

Dr. James O. Westgard will be joined by a group of speakers with unique expertise and outstanding experience.

Teresa P. Darcy, MD, MMM, FASCP, FCAP, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical Director, Clinical Laboratories, University of Wisconsin Hospitals & Clinics, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI.

Sharon S. Ehmeyer, PhD, MT(ASCP), Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Director, CLS Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI.

Jan S. Krouwer, PhD, President, Krouwer Consulting, Sherborn, MA. www.krouwerconsulting.com

Ronald L. Laessig, PhD, Professor, Department of Population Health Sciences, Former Director, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin, Madison WI.

Curtis A. Parvin, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO.

Kathleen Steffens, MT(ASCP), MBA, Associate Director for Laboratory Accreditation, Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Chicago IL.

James O. Westgard, PhD, FACB, Emeritus Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin, President, Westgard QC Inc., Madison WI.

Nancy Yeransian, MT(ASCP), SC, Manager of Accreditation Services, Laboratory Accreditation Program, College of American Pathologists, Chicago IL.

This workshop topic and mix of speakers will make for trenchant, lively discussions and will provide valuable advice and recommendations for you and your laboratory.

What you will learn

In a relaxed, retreat-style setting, you will learn how to:

Assess the "latest" Final CLIA regulations
Master the changes to accreditation requirements of JC, CAP, and COLA
Learn about CLSI guidelines and soon-to-be-guidelines
Identify the best tools for Quality Management, including Six Sigma, Risk Management, ISO, FMEA, FMECA, FRACAS, and more
Assess Risk Information provided my manufacturers
Mitigate Risks identified by manufacturers
Benchmark your laboratory against the quality being achieved in laboratories nationwide and worldwide
Improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and profitability of your laboratory

Workshop Program:

June 2, Day 1:

morning coffee
Update on Regulations and Accreditation Guidelines
CLIA 2008 QC Regulations
CAP 2008 Accreditation Guidelines
break
Joint Commission 2008 Accreditation Guidelines
COLA 2008 Accreditation Guidelines
Panel Discussion
lunch
CLSI Guidelines for QC, Risk Management and Alternate QC
CLSI C24-A3 Guidance for Statistical QC
CLSI EP18 Guidelines for Risk Assessment
break
CLSI EP22 Guidelines for Manufacturer's Risk Information
CLSI EP23 Guidelines for using Risk Information to Customize QC
Panel Discussion: Q & A

June 3, Day 2:

morning coffee
Mitigating the Risks of EQC and Alternate QC
A better QC Validation Protocol
Efficacy of Internal vs. External Controls
break
Factors influencing Run length and Frequency of QC
Responsibilities of a Laboratory Director
Panel Discussion
lunch
Optimizing an Analytical QC System

Download the Workshop Brochure

Listen to Dr. Westgard discuss the workshop (mp3)

Reserve your Seat at the Workshop!

Should YOU Attend?

Do you have to deal with CLIA Final Rules, ISO standards, CLSI guidelines, and/or inspection and accreditation?

Are you responsible for assuring the quality of the processes you perform?

Will you be offering services or products to someone who does?

The Westgard Workshops are a unique opportunity for you to gain insights into the New Laboratory Economy. Every laboratory professional can gain something from these training sessions:

HOSPITAL AND HEALTH SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS: gain insight into the regulatory climate/chaos and learn what options you have to manage quality in your institution
CLINICAL LABORATORY ADMINISTRATORS, PATHOLOGISTS, and PH.DS.: develop new skills and comprehension of quality management systems.
SECTION SUPERVISORS, COMPLIANCE SPECIALISTS and REGULATORY AFFAIRS MANAGERS: acquire new practical tools to streamline your quality improvement efforts.

DIAGNOSTIC MANUFACTURERS, R&D, TECHNICAL SUPPORT, and FIELD REPS: understand the environment of your customers and identify areas where you can deliver truly-valued solutions.

See what previous participants have said about our workshops

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Travel and Hotel Information:

The Doubletree Hotel in Madison will have special room rates for participants.

Please mention the Westgard workshop when placing your reservation.

Doubletree Hotel - Madison
525 West Johnson Street,
Madison WI 53703
608-251-5511

The workshop will take place in downtown Madison, walking distance from
restaurants, museums, shops, and architectual landmarks. You can learn more at
http://www.visitmadison.com

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About James O. Westgard, Ph.D.:

James O. Westgard, Ph.D., is the internationally recognized QC expert, originator of multirule QC (popularly known as the "Westgard Rules"), and the primary instructor for these workshops.

Dr. Westgard is the Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. For over forty years, Dr. Westgard has lectured and given workshops on five continents, in dozens of cities; published hundreds of abstracts, papers, chapters, and numerous books; provided QC consulting and advice to manufacturers, hospitals, and government agencies; received awards and honors from the AACC, ASCLS, NACB, the British Association of Clinical Biochemists, and the Australian Association of Clinical Biochemists. Most recently, he received the 2004 Laboratory Public Service National Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Washington G2 Lab Institute, and the 2005 Improved Quality Processes Award from the Institute for Quality in Laboratory Medicine.

For Dr. Westgard's complete biography, click here.

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