The Doctorate in Clinical Laboratory Science: Enhanced Quality for Healthcare

Elizabeth Kenimer Leibach

doi:10.29074/ascls.21.1.5

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Elizabeth Kenimer Leibach⇑
1. is chair and associate professor in the Department of Biomedical and Radiological Technologies, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta GA

Address for correspondence: Elizabeth Kenimer Leibach EdD MS CLS MT(SBB), chair and associate professor, Department of Biomedical and Radiological Technologies, EC 2437 Medical College of Georgia, Augusta GA 30912-0500. (706) 721-3046, (706) 721-7631 (fax).ekenimer{at}mcg.edu.

Extract

The position statement of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) regarding the doctorate in clinical laboratory science (DCLS) begins:

Missing within the continuity of healthcare are enough scientists and physicians within the clinical laboratory or elsewhere on the healthcare team who are totally dedicated to and who have the breadth of knowledge and assigned authority essential to the ordering of appropriate laboratory tests, the effective use of laboratory test information, effective consultation with other healthcare team members, direct communication with patients, review of patient records, and interpretation/application of laboratory-generated information in reference to clinical signs and symptoms. A clinical laboratory science professional holding a doctoral degree (DCLS) is needed to provide the critical interface across the healthcare system in order to assure improved patient outcomes and cost effective patient care.¹

This succinct introduction defines the practitioner needed to provide the knowledge required “to assure improved patient outcomes and cost effective patient care.” To identify, describe, measure, provide for, and improve the ordering, dissemination, and utilization of medically effective and cost-efficient clinical laboratory information defines the objectives of quality in clinical laboratory science as well as the focus of clinical laboratory science (CLS) evidence-based practice.

The Institute of Medicine (Crossing the Quality Chasm, http://www.iom.edu/CMS/8089.aspx) has challenged the healthcare delivery system to refocus on appropriate use of healthcare services. The clinical laboratory by every cost, revenue, and quality measure is foundational to any consideration of this directive given that as much as 93% of the objective data in the clinical…

ABBREVIATIONS: ASCLS = American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science; CLS = clinical laboratory science; DCLS = doctorate in clinical laboratory science.