Profile: Rachael Kelly
This Call Center Sales and Customer Service Representative puts her customers first
Profile: Robert French
COLA’s Chief Counsel believes in “getting it right” the first time
Profile: Terri Scott
The resident Med Tech in COLA’s Education Division experiences “the best of both worlds”
PT Referral Bill Becomes Law
On December 4, 2012, President Obama signed into law H. R. 6118 — the Taking Essential Steps for Testing (TEST) Act of 2012. The new law, which passed the U. S. House of Representatives in September and the Senate in November by voice vote, resolves a longstanding unresolved issue with respect to CLIA enforcement –…
Quality Assessment COLA Primer
In this resource you will learn how to develop and implement an effective Quality Assessment Plan which:
- Defines roles and responsibilities
- Identifies problems that might negatively affects patient care
- Meets standards of performance, and enables laboratory managers to immediately address noted deficiencies
- Creates a culture of quality in the laboratory
Questions About New Lab Test Access Rule Addressed
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) prepared the following FAQ sheet answering questions about a proposed new rule to allow patients direct access to their testing results from previously-exempted labs. To view the proposed regulation, click here. Frequently Asked Questions CMS-2319-P: Patients’ Access to Test Reports 1. What are the proposed changes to…
R.W. WATKINS, M.D., M.P.H. JOINS COLA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
COLA, a national laboratory accreditor and an advocate for quality in laboratory medicine and patient care, announced that Asheville Physician, R. W. “Chip” Watkins, M.D., M.P.H. has been appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Dr. Watkins serves as Medical Director of Community Care of Western…
Rule Would Rescind Physician Signature Rule for Lab Tests
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a proposed rule to retract the so-called physician signature requirement for clinical diagnostic lab testing. Originally part of the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule final rule, the policy would have required the signature of a physician or qualified non-physician practitioner on a requisition for tests paid…
Scholarships Available to Lab Students
In an effort to help address the workforce shortage which has plagued the medical laboratory profession, ASCP and Siemens will be awarding more than $125,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students during the 2011-2012 academic year. More than 100 scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,000 are available, The deadline for applications is November 15,…
Special COVID-19 Edition of COLA’s inSights
COLA, a national laboratory accreditor dedicated to quality in laboratory medicine and patient care, announces the release of its latest publication centered around the recent COVID-19 pandemic. COLA’s inSights is a publication containing specialized articles written by experts in the clinical laboratory field on topics carefully chosen to be of special interest to laboratorians. The latest inSights includes topics on…