Feds want The Ohio State lab shut down without hearing!

[WEBB PINKERTON]

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http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/12/19/feds-want-lab-shut-without-hearing.html

The Feds must have a lot of michigan grads

 

[Enkidu]

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/12/19/feds-want-lab-shut-without-hearing.html

The Feds must have a lot of michigan grads

What effect will this have on the OSU pathology department?

Incidentally, is OSU considered a good program?

 

[mlw03]

Your location is listed as Columbus. Either you need to update that or you should have some knowledge of the program. I went there as an AP only resident and was pleased with my training.

 

[Enkidu]

Your location is listed as Columbus. Either you need to update that or you should have some knowledge of the program. I went there as an AP only resident and was pleased with my training.

Yeah, I am an OSU student. I have some knowledge of the program, obviously, but I don't have anything to compare it to. I'm predisposed to stay here for residency, for family reasons, but I don't want to join a program that is not well-regarded for an academic career. Thanks for posting your thoughts.

 

[pathstudent]

What effect will this have on the OSU pathology department?

Incidentally, is OSU considered a good program?

I don't know how broad the closure would be but if the "lab"is forced to shut down that would include chemistry, micro, heme, blood bank, Histo, flow, molecular, cytology, etc... It would cripple the hospital. A lot of tests can be sent out but anything stat would be impossible. It could be just certain sections or certain tests are being shut down.

When you go on a cap inspection there are certain violations that are so egregious that you are expected to call cap immediately and then cap can give an immediate cease and desist order.

Sending out proficiency testing is a big no no and whoever was doing it knows they aren't supposed to do that. It is printed in the instructions. Someone is going to get fired. It

 

[coomasie blue]

There was a time when Saul Suter, Paul Wakely, and Cynthia Magro, and Tibor Nadasdy were there. Do not know what it's like now.

 

[mlw03]

Wakely and Nadasdy are still there.

 

[Pathologee]

Maybe OSU can trade lab testing for tats. ZING!

 

[Path or bust]

Sending out proficiency testing is a big no no and whoever was doing it knows they aren't supposed to do that. It is printed in the instructions. Someone is going to get fired. It

Bingo, that's my understanding too.

There are not that many examples to go from, but from my understanding, and from knowing the CAP Greater lakes region commissioner, if you change all policies/manuals, AND medical director of all sections then you can keep the lab open. Essentially ALL medical directors are fired. They will be reinspected within 6 months. This is a very serious violation that CAP has no choice to follow (essentially they have a gun to their backs from CMS, if CAP doesn't do it, CMS will.)

 

[LADoc00]

Here is my idea of what happened: some idiot at likely a very low level was told "treat proficiency testing like you would the average specimen." This is true.

The problem probably came from a test they NORMALLY send out to Mayo, for whatever reason. The tech thinking "ok so I usually send this out", sent it out and WHAM!

This case is absurd and if that is what the government is spending their time on then God help us.

I can almost guarantee there is NO idiot conspiracy to trick the CAP proficiency testing service by sending out their samples to Mayo as this hack job of an article is trying to suggest. Think about it.

I do have many friends who are admin law judges...and yes they do often find the government unfortunately, so that is only part probably accurate.

 

[Enkidu]

The problem probably came from a test they NORMALLY send out to Mayo, for whatever reason. The tech thinking "ok so I usually send this out", sent it out and WHAM!

I asked some lab techs about the situation and this was precisely the story they told me.

 

[LADoc00]

I asked some lab techs about the situation and this was precisely the story they told me.

Figured.

 

[mlw03]

I don't have special knowledge of this, but I know the lab director. This was not a malicious thing. This is a woman of integrity and character. Agree this likely was lab tech just not realizing what the specimen was. If she loses job over this, it is central ohio's loss.

 

[pathstudent]

medical directors and supervisers usually sign off on all this stuff. Why would you do proficiency testing on send out tests?

I don't have special knowledge of this, but I know the lab director. This was not a malicious thing. This is a woman of integrity and character. Agree this likely was lab tech just not realizing what the specimen was. If she loses job over this, it is central ohio's loss.

 

[yaah]

I thought I had heard that the government had passed some rider to a bill that wrote in new exceptions and procedures for dealing with situations like this. Didn't think it was still a major serious issue for OSU. Don't know that much about it though.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

I don't have special knowledge of this, but I know the lab director. This was not a malicious thing. This is a woman of integrity and character. Agree this likely was lab tech just not realizing what the specimen was. If she loses job over this, it is central ohio's loss.

Isnt the lab director going to be banned from directing a lab for two years as punishment? The whole thing is ridiculous. Ohio state wont be allowed to own a lab for two years either.

 

[mlw03]

Again, don't know anything as I've not been there for a few years. Couldn't/wouldn't post if I did. Just saying that I know the lab director and she's not a shady human being by any stretch of the imagination. I do not believe this is anything malicious. I hope they get it sorted out for the sake of the hospital and the people it serves.

 

[yaah]

Here is what I was talking about: http://www.darkdaily.com/bill-to-fi...enate’s-return-in-november-1019#axzz2Fmsqq7lg

Clinical laboratories may have to wait at least another month before the U.S. Senate returns from recess to vote on a bill to remove severe penalties for labs that inadvertently violate certain CLIA proficiency testing (PT) requirements. A similar bill was passed in the House in September.

The bill, S. 3391: Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act, was ready for a Senate vote in mid-October. It was set aside so that senators could return home while the campaign season entered its final weeks.

Bill Would Lessen Penalties for Clinical Laboratories Under CLIA

A companion bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously on September 19. That house bill, H.R. 6118, has the same name.

According to the bill tracker, still hasn't come up for vote. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/s3391

This is what the bill says: The summary of that version is repeated here.) Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act or the TEST Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to revise sanctions for laboratories that intentionally refer proficiency testing samples required for certification to another laboratory for analysis by:
(1) giving the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretion to substitute intermediate sanctions for such violations instead of the two-year prohibition against ownership or operation which would otherwise apply, and
(2) making the one-year certificate revocation for such a laboratory optional rather than mandatory.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Nice discussion about what happened at The Ohio State. Sounds like it was nothing. That fine sure was something though.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/07/01/osu-lab-mishaps-detailed.html

 

[yaah]

$640,000 in legal fees! What was the original fine?