Using Labs Wisely: Portal- old - Choosing Wisely Canada

Using Labs Wisely

Welcome

Deliverables

Additional Tools

Using Labs Wisely Recordings

Collaborators

External Website

Using Labs Wisely

Welcome to the national consortium that’s changing the lab utilization landscape in Canada.

This portal is intended for participating hospitals to learn about program updates, useful resources, and ways to interact with others in the Using Labs Wisely program.

Key Dates and Timing:

2024:

PROGRESS PRESENTATIONS: Tuesday, November 5th: 2-3:30pm EST
Tuesday, December 10th: 2-3:30pm EST

2025:

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 02:00 PM EST
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 02:00 PM EST
PROGRESS PRESENTATIONS: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 02:00 PM EST
Tuesday, June 24, 2025 02:00 PM EST

Participating hospitals should have the following documents completed throughout the program:

Deliverable Reminders

Next data submission is due December 19, 2024. Please refer to the new data submission templates (discussed in September 24th ULW session- please view video recording for more information). Please reach out to Gillian or GEMINI for any data specific questions (gemini.cwc@unityhealth.to)

Check out relevant tools and resources that can support your quality improvement efforts in the Using Labs Wisely program:

Expert Guidance Aims to Improve Appropriate Use of Lab Testing in Canada

New guidance from an expert panel offers recommendations on minimum retesting intervals for five lab tests commonly repeated in laboratories across the country.

Pause the Draws

A toolkit on reducing repetitive, “routine” blood tests in hospitals.

Understand the Gland

A toolkit for appropriate ordering practices of free thyroid hormone testing.

Low-Value Lab Tests

A tool focused on appropriate use of specific laboratory tests and evidence-based interventions that have reduced unnecessary use of the test or practice.

Lab Recommendations

A collection of Choosing Wisely Canada recommendations related to lab utilization.

CADTH Cost Calculator

Provides insights on potential resource savings associated with the reduction of five low-value laboratory tests.

Members Database

A list of Using Labs Wisely participating members.

Shared ULW Site Resources

Check out recordings from the Using Labs Wisely learning collaborative sessions.

Using Labs Wisely: Orientation

Lab Target Considerations and Example:

This video on lab target considerations provides a framework for selecting a lab target that your site may want to focus on. Please see the corresponding PowerPoint for the specific framework and the example for a real application to lab target selection.

QI Diagnostics and Stakeholder Engagement:

This video on QI diagnostics provides a review of three common QI tools used to diagnose the problem to target: process mapping, cause-and-effect analysis, and the Pareto diagram. Please see the corresponding PowerPoint for more information and relevant resources to support the use of these tools. stakeholder engagement provides a review of the hierarchy of effectiveness for different types of QI intervention as well as a framework for stakeholder engagement. Please see the corresponding PowerPoint to learn more as well as the relevant resources to carry out stakeholder mapping for your project.

Relevant Resources: Relevant Resources:
Pareto Chart Template. Stakeholder Engagement
Cause and Effect Analysis Handout

Lab Change Ideas:

This video on lab change ideas covers the family of measures and highlights its linkage to lab interventions. It also explores some different types of lab interventions (e.g., education initiatives, ordering initiatives), and where it is situated on the hierarchy of effectiveness. Please see the corresponding PowerPoint to learn more.

Baseline Data:

This video on baseline data demonstrates how data can help further inform lab target selection lab change ideas as well as highlights some successful changes implemented and the need for ongoing data to be part of change strategy. Please see the corresponding PowerPoint to learn more.