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Time
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Session
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Details
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07:30 - 8:30
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Welcome and workshop registration
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Attendee check-in and light refreshments
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8:30 - 8:45
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Opening Remarks
Debra Padgett
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Welcome and overview by the host
- What are your expectations of the day?
- What are you hoping to achieve?
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8:45 - 9:30
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Keynote Address
Debra Padgett
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Why Quality Improvement Matters in Pathology
- Underscore the value of quality to our patients, teams, organisations
- Establish the strategic importance of QI in modern pathology and its cost mitigation potential.
- Show how QI enhances diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and patient safety.
- Connect QI to institutional goals like cost savings, accreditation, and value-based care.
- Why Pathology must focus on value
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09:30 - 09:50
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Session 1
Debra Padgett
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The Role of Quality Improvement in Achieving Value - What does Quality mean to you?
- Quality Improvement (QI) is a continuous, data-driven approach to improving lab processes and outcomes.
- QI is distinct from QA and QC - it focuses on proactive system change, not just compliance or test-level checks.
- Frameworks like PDSA, Lean, and Six Sigma help structure and guide improvement efforts.
- Practical tools such as Root Cause Analysis and Process Mapping enable teams to identify and address the root causes of problems.
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9:50 - 10:30
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Session 2
Dr Mairiead MacLennan
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Training & Competence in Maintaining Quality
- Understand how structured training and competency assessment ensure consistency and reliability in pathology services.
- Recognize methods for monitoring, documenting, and sustaining staff competence over time.
- Apply strategies to embed continuous learning and quality standards into daily laboratory practice.
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10:30 - 11:00
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Morning Break
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Tea/Coffee & networking
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11:00 - 11:45
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Session 2
Dr Mairiead MacLennan
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Value-Based & Risk-Based Thinking - Moving Beyond Accuracy
- Risk-based thinking helps pathology teams identify and prevent failures before they happen
- Moving beyond accuracy means considering the potential impact of any failure on patient care
- Every part of the lab process - pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical - carries different risks
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11:45 - 12:30
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Interactive Workshop 1
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Case Study session - work real life risk and issue examples on tables.
- Delegates invited to bring their own examples to work through
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12:30 - 13:30
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Lunch Break
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Buffet lunch provided
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13:30 - 14:00
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Session 3
Dr Mairiead MacLennan
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Root Cause Analysis in Real Pathology Cases
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA) helps identify underlying causes of lab problems, not just surface symptoms.
- Tools like the Fishbone Diagram and 5 Whys structure thinking and uncover process, system, or human factors.
- Effective RCA relies on clear problem definition, data collection, and team-based analysis.
- The goal of RCA is not to assign blame, but to implement sustainable, preventive solutions.
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14:00 - 14:30
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Interactive Workshop 2
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Case Study session - work real life RCA examples on tables.
Delegates invited to bring their own examples to work through
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14:30 - 15:00
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Session 3
Debra Padgett
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Leading and Managing Change in the Laboratory
- Understand key principles of effective change management and their application in laboratory settings.
- Develop practical strategies to engage and support staff through periods of change.
- Build confidence in leading change initiatives that improve quality, efficiency, and patient outcomes.
- Support Business Case development to deliver Value objectives
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15:00 - 15:30
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Afternoon Break
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Tea/Coffee with snacks
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15:30 - 16:15
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Session 4
Debra Padgett
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How to Lead and Sustain a QI Culture in Pathology
- A QI culture empowers all staff to identify, share, and act on improvement opportunities.
- Leaders at every level play a role in modeling, supporting, and sustaining continuous improvement.
- Sustained QI requires engagement, recognition, and simple systems for communication and feedback.
- Culture change happens through consistent habits - not just policies or projects.
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16:15 - 17:00
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Group Activity
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Design Your QI Project Plan
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17:00 - 17:30
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Wrap-Up & Evaluation
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Feedback, certificates, and closing remarks
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