Workload Measurement in Subspecialty Placental Pathology in Canada

Background Workload measurement is important to help determine optimal staffing and workload distribution for pathology laboratories. The Level 4 Equivalent (L4E) System is the most widely used Anatomical Pathology (AP) workload measurement tool in Canada. However, it was initially not developed wit...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatric and developmental pathology 2022-11, Vol.25 (6), p.604-610
Main Authors: Wright, James R., Chan, Suzanne, Morgen, Eric K., Maung, Raymond T. A., Brundler, Marie-Anne, El Demellawy, Dina, Fraser, Robert B., Kurek, Kyle C., Magee, Fergall, Nizalik, Elizabeth, Oligny, Luc L., Somers, Gino R., Stefanovici, Camelia, Terry, Jefferson
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Canada
Child
Female
Humans
Pathology Department, Hospital
Placenta
Pregnancy
Workload
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background Workload measurement is important to help determine optimal staffing and workload distribution for pathology laboratories. The Level 4 Equivalent (L4E) System is the most widely used Anatomical Pathology (AP) workload measurement tool in Canada. However, it was initially not developed with subspecialties in mind. Methods In 2016, a Pan-Canadian Pediatric-Perinatal Pathology Workload Committee (PCPPPWC) was organized to adapt the L4E System to assess Pediatric-Perinatal Pathology workload. Four working groups were formed. The Placental Pathology Working Group was tasked to develop a scheme for fair valuation of placental specimens signed out by subspecialists in the context of the L4E System. Previous experience, informal time and motion studies, a survey of Canadian Pediatric-Perinatal Pathologists, and interviews of Pathologists’ Assistants (PA) informed the development of such scheme. Results A workload measurement scheme with average L4E workload values for examination and reporting of singleton and multiple gestation placentas was proposed. The proposal was approved by the Canadian Association of Pathologist - Association canadienne des pathologistes Workload and Human Resources Committee for adoption into the L4E System. Conclusion The development of a workload measurement model for placental specimens provides an average and fair valuation of these specimen types, enabling its use for resource planning and workload distribution.
ISSN:1093-5266
1615-5742
DOI:10.1177/10935266221118150