Cola Offers Clients Free Web Tool For Laboratory Management

COLA OFFERS CLIENTS FREE WEB TOOL FOR LABORATORY MANAGEMENT

Portal Eliminates Paperwork, Provides Compliance Status and Other Resources At a Glance

COLUMBIA, MD, April 22, 2010 – COLA, an internationally respected clinical laboratory accreditation organization, today announced that it is making a new laboratory management desktop tool available at no charge to clients. 

Called ”COLAcentral,” the web portal (www.colacentral.org) provides a variety of helpful electronic tools, giving laboratory personnel the ability to manage regulatory compliance requirements electronically instead of having to rely on manual processes.  From their desktop, managers can now update their laboratory’s profile with the click of a few buttons instead of having to fill out, fax and file paper records.  They also can use the tool to view news alerts and survey results, prepare for upcoming compliance surveys and receive support for a wide range of laboratory needs.

 “Laboratory managers are constantly challenged to act in accordance with Quality Systems, meet federal CLIA and state regulatory requirements and provide the best possible patient care,” said Douglas Beigel, COLA Chief Executive Officer.  “Our new desktop tool lets them manage regulatory compliance, access educational resources, store and update records, receive industry alerts and talk online to their COLA surveyor from one convenient location.  It’s an exciting, new approach to laboratory management, designed to save time and make managers’ jobs easier.”

Key features include an easy-to-follow dashboard wheel which displays compliance status information at a glance; a self-assessment wizard allowing managers to monitor their laboratory’s quality; and a dedicated section for waived laboratories.   The new tool also permits laboratory managers to:

·         File up to two gigabytes of information in an electronic document repository

·         Maintain electronic logs for required data such as temperature and humidity, equipment and maintenance and quality control

·         View biographical information and photos of COLA laboratory surveyors

·         View current COLA account balance, and make payments

·         Register for COLA symposia and special programs

·         Schedule surveyor visits

Non-COLA clients, such as laboratories with Certificates of Waiver, can also access the site for a small monthly fee.  “Studies have shown that a noticeable percentage of waived sites are not meeting minimal requirements and are not aware of recommended practices to help ensure quality testing,” said Beigel.  “COLAcentral provides an easy-to-use and affordable solution to this problem, by allowing waived laboratories to access our growing library of more than 60 online courses as well as a variety of other resources that help them improve performance.” 

About COLA

COLA accredits almost 8,000 medical laboratories and provides the clinical laboratory with a program of education, consultation, and accreditation. The organization is an independent, non-profit accreditor whose education and standards enable clinical laboratories and staff to meet U.S. CLIA and other regulatory requirements. For more information about COLA accreditation services and educational products, and online educational opportunities please call 800-981-9883 or visit COLA's web site at www.cola.org.