Lab Teams Collaborate to Ease Workload, Speed Tests

Studying what other labs were doing and researching the latest technology
Collaborating on the purchase of new equipment and gaining support to fast-track the installation
Cross-training staff on use of new equipment and departmental processes

What can your team do to be more collaborative with departments you frequently work with? What else could your team do to cross-train staff?

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Act Now—Tools to Help Your Team

How to Sign Up for KP.org Help members sign up for kp.org with these easy steps.

Stages of Change From denial to commitment.

10 Essential Tips for Improving Screening Rates Inspire your team to increase patient screening rates.

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Instruct

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Inspire

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Have Some Fun

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Hank Libs: Help KP Grow Gain some ideas to help KP grow—and have some fun, too!

Icebreaker: Deserted Island Explore hidden treasures with groups large or small.

Content Goal

Entertain

Increased membership, changes in CDC guidelines and slow work processes were inhibiting two Colorado labs from processing widely used tests critical to preventive care. The teams researched other labs’ processes and the latest technology. They collaborated to purchase new equipment and fast-tracked installation. They cross-trained on the equipment and on the processes within the two departments. The labs significantly decreased processing time for the two tests. Processing HPV tests now takes half the time and the workload increase was absorbed with no extra staff.

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TTP Blurb

Processing HPV tests now takes less than half the time, so the workload increase has been absorbed with no extra staff.

Why This Matters

Colorado labs process two widely used tests central to Kaiser Permanente’s preventive care approach that detect disease early when treatment is highly effective.

Test of Change

Teams cross-trained each other on new equipment and on the processes within the two departments.

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Short Teaser

Strategies for teams to get all hands on deck.

Medium Teaser

Two lab teams—both of them frustrated by slow and inefficient processes—got together to research, buy and install new equipment. Together, members improved their performance and get tests

Long Teaser

Two lab teams—both of them frustrated by slow and inefficient processes—got together to research, buy and install new equipment. Together, members improved their performance and get tests done faster.

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Team-Tested Practices

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