Implementing Risk-Based Quality Control In The Surgical Pathology Laboratory: A Concise Review And The Formulation Of Personalized Quality Control Strategies

Abstract

One of the most crucial tools for mitigating or preventing diagnostic errors in the surgical pathology laboratory is the establishment of a comprehensive quality management system. Within this system, risk analysis and quality assurance serve as pivotal components to ensure the sustained effectiveness of the quality management program. Quality assurance involves the essential aspects of program design, encompassing closely linked activities of quality control and quality monitoring-evaluation initiatives.

The concept of risk-based thinking entails meticulous planning for potential risks and their systematic management. This involves the identification of conceivable hazards and risks that may hinder the realization of predefined objectives, leveraging the available information. Laboratories are tasked with a multitude of interconnected functions to operate effectively. To accomplish their objectives, they must exhibit the capacity to quantitatively assess and evaluate process performance, while concurrently validating the efficacy of prior decisions and enhancing operational efficiency. The implementation of a robust quality management process holds the potential to heighten the dependability of laboratory results.

This study endeavors to chart a course for the detection, vigilant monitoring, and reduction of diagnostic errors in the surgical pathology laboratory, in alignment with the recommendations of international regulatory bodies. It seeks to develop a quality plan rooted in risk management that encompasses the entirety of the analytical process. Acknowledging the possibility of errors is a fundamental aspect of discussing laboratory quality control in surgical pathology. In this context, investments in ongoing medical education and patient safety, coupled with the nurturing of new pathologists equipped with a discerning perspective, are indispensable for enhancing the practice of pathology.