What's New on Westgard Web: April 2019

Posted by Sten Westgard, MS

Seven Lessons for Six Sigma Metrics
Our training in Six Sigma Metrics, finally available online. In seven concise lessons, you will learn the foundation, the metrics, and the application of tools like the Method Decision Chart, OPSpecs chart, and also Westgard Sigma Rules. Even new tools to quantitatively determine QC Frequency are covered.

Register and Enroll directly at the Westgard Course Portal

Or register through the Westgard.com online store
 

Three Books to Make you Think Twice

We're living in an age of rapidly proliferating metrics, where we're trying to measure everything that can be measured, in the hopes that we could measure our way out of the current healthcare problems.
At some point, however, we need to be skeptical about adding each new measurement to our array. Three new books help us get a better handle on when and why measurements and indicators may or may not help.

When is a new measurement not worth the effort?
 

Happy Medical Lab Week After-Party

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week was the last week of April.

A week is not enough to thank laboratories for all the critical work they do, so we at Westgard QC always like to embrace the "Lab Week After-Party" (or if you prefer, the Lab Week Hangover).

So don't let the fun end, keep it up here at Westgard Web.

We're grateful for all the professional who get our tests - and all patient tests - right the first time.
 

Q&A: Should you panic about new CLIA goals?

The 2019 proposed changes for CLIA proficiency testing acceptability criteria have significant consequences for laboratories that adopt them as analytical performance specifications.

But do we need to panic about it yet?
 

Announcing a new Partnership:
Technopath Clinical Diagnostics and Westgard QC

The Next QC Revolution: training and education worldwide

Join me in June at ASCLS:
7 Things about 6 Sigma

Join me at the ASCLS/AGT annual meeting in Charlotte, NC, on Wednesday June 26, 2:00-3:00 pm.
This session will provide a rapid introduction to the Six Sigma Metric for laboratory testing, a practical quality management technique you can master without having to join a management cult. No green belts, black belts, or master black belts required. Just the tools to help you assess quality, optimize QC, redefine how many rules you use, how many controls you run, and how often you must run QC.

Register for this session at the ASCLS website

CLMA Tidewater Workshop: A One Day Workshop on Six Sigma
Join me June 28 in Virginia Beach for a full day workshop on Six Sigma.
Learn the following:

1. Assess lab processes across the total testing cycle on the Six Sigma scale.
2. Calculate the sigma metric of your analytical methods.
3. Streamline the number rules and number of controls implemented in tests.
4. Optimize QC frequency based on patient risk sigma metric.
5. Confirm fitness for purpose of new instruments and methods.

The only full day Six Sigma Westgard workshop in the US this year