Competency Assessment Overview

Competency Assessment

• Competency assessment is the evaluation of technicians' and technologists' ability to perform job duties correctly, following policies and procedures.
• It assesses an individual's continuous ability to apply knowledge and skills to achieve intended results.

Competency Assessment Frequency

• New employees: First assessment within seven months of starting, second assessment no later than 12 months after starting.
• All employees: Annually, or when performance issues arise, or after any new process training.

Six Elements of Competency Assessment

• Direct observation: Routine test performance, including patient/sample identification, preparation, specimen collection, handling, processing and testing.
• Monitoring and Reporting: Recording and reporting test results, especially critical results.
• Review: Of intermediate test results, worksheets, quality control records, proficiency testing results, and preventive maintenance records. Also, assessment of quality control results and instrument maintenance data. This is done during the monthly supervisory review process of these records.
• Instrument Maintenance and Function Checks: Direct observation of maintenance and function checks.
• Test Performance Assessment: Testing previously analyzed specimens (internal blind testing), or external proficiency testing specimens. Assess performance based on this.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Evaluate problem-solving from monthly reviews of corrective action logs (problems with quality control or instrument function).

Competency Assessment - Assessor Qualifications

• Assessors must have the education and experience needed to evaluate the complexity of the testing being assessed.
• Section heads assess technical supervisors and lab doctors within their sections.
• Section supervisors assess senior and lab staff within their sections.
• The Lab medical director assesses all responsibilities section heads have.

Competency Corrective Action

• Section heads or designee determine any additional training/retraining needed for employee performance to meet standards.
• Remediation actions:
  • Discussing the procedure with the employee.
  • Retraining the employee on the procedure.
  • Having the employee reread and discuss the procedure to understand it clearly.
  • Having the employee observe a trained staff member.
  • Having the employee practice the procedure with blind samples.
  • Documenting the remediation action on the competency form.

Review and Approval

• The lab director ensures sufficient staff with proper qualifications, documented training, experience, and the competency needed for the lab's needs.
• Assessors
• Head of section
• Lab medical director

Standards

• CAP: A list of specific standards (GEN.53400, GEN.53600, etc.) is provided.
• CBAHI: LB.5 -- a specific standard.

This quiz covers the essential components and procedures of competency assessment for technicians and technologists. Learn about the frequencies of assessment for new and existing employees, as well as the six key elements that ensure effective evaluation and monitoring in the workplace.