Question

Marilyn is a supervisory medical technologist in the laboratory of a small clinic in the Midwest. Since the clinic does not employ phlebotomists to do blood draws, Marilyn performs this task, as well as all the analytical duties of a medical technologist. When asked the most frequent cause of analytical errors, she says preanalytical personnel practices, rather than equipment malfunction, are most often at fault. "For example, one day a technologist found that the instrument we use for analyzing urine dipsticks was consistently reporting positive for leukocytes on every patient. She asked me if the instrument needed to be checked, and I couldn’t find anything wrong with it, so I watched her do a couple of analyses. The manual for the instrument emphasizes cleaning the work table daily after each use, and the technologist admitted that this hadn't been done. In fact, the work table hadn’t been adequately cleaned for several days."

The technologist cleaned the work table before the next urine sample was tested, and no leukocytes were reported. "Apparently there was cross contamination from some previous urines with positive leukocyte readings. After that, the technologist made sure to clean the work table thoroughly and often. In the lab, we need to be especially careful about using the instruments according to manual instructions, and about preventing cross contamination of specimens."

From Marilyn's perspective as a laboratory supervisor, sloppy or inattentive work habits can cause inaccurate test results, which can alter a patient's course of medical treatment and cause unnecessary stress and sometimes legal action. Therefore, she generally observes the work habits of employees she supervises before assuming equipment malfunction.

From the technologist's perspective, she realized that urinalyses results were probably incorrect, and asked her supervisor for help. She was eager to correct any errors in preanalytical technique, and took steps to ensure her test results were accurate.

From the perspective of the patients who provided specimens for analysis and the physicians who ordered the tests, employees who are vigilant and eager to improve job performance are the first line of defense against errors in medical diagnosis and treatment.

Answer the following questions: (worth 2 points each)

1. In your opinion, how might the technologist have prevented the problem with urinalyses test results from occurring in the first place?
2. Why is it important for health care practitioners to constantly check work habits and equipment—perhaps more so than in other occupations?
3. What OSHA standard and CDC guideline would apply in the above scenario? Name both.
4. Wonder if the technologist did not notify her supervisor that the dipsticks were coming back with a high leukocyte count because he/she was just too busy? Would the technologist have acted ethically in this case? Explain.

Answer 1

Ans:1. From my opinion the technologist completely prevent this type of preanalytical error and this caused false results and also can prevent cross contamination from previous urines with leukocytes readings by cleaning the table thoroughly after each urine test analysis.

2.It is important for health care practitioners to constantly check work habits and equipment because if it is incorrect or error in functioning of any equipment and that is very important for patient and if patient had some emergency and that time thar equipment is not functioning proper so that can cause patient emergencies more or may bhi death occur due to this error so that is why whole patient life depends on this occupation and that is why it's important for us regularly to check.

3.Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to help ensure these conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. ​​​​​​Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) consult with drug administration.

4.Yes ,obviously this is wrong act by technologist if he or she doesn't notice then.and tuis comes under ethical legal issues like malpractice and negligence.

The most distinctive difference between the two is intent. In simple terms, medical negligence is a mistake that resulted in causing a patient unintended harm. Medical malpractice, on the other hand, is when a medical professional knowingly didn't follow through with the proper standard of care.