Our Committees

​​Laboratory Systems and Standards (LSS) Committee

The Laboratory Systems and Standards (LSS) Committee strengthens quality management systems by promoting the sustainability of public health laboratory systems and supporting the improvement of accuracy and reliability of laboratory results and services in member laboratories.  The Committee identifies and develops tools and resources to optimize the performance quality of member laboratories and their system.

Priorities

• Support national, state, local and regional public health laboratory system models

• Develop a mechanism for measuring the two Healthy People 2030 developmental objectives on laboratory services

• Support continuous quality improvement in member laboratories by providing tools, training, evaluation and consultation to meet regulatory requirements

• Function as a liaison between public health laboratories, regulatory agencies, professional organizations and other stakeholders, i.e. CMS and PHAB

LSS Committee Quality Systems Publications

• APHL Guide for CLIA Internal Audits Related to High Complexity Testing

• Public Health Laboratory Model Practices for QMS11-A: Nonconforming Events

• Crosswalk of Regulations and Guidance Affecting Laboratories- Sorted by QSE​

• How to Write a Laboratory Quality Manual

• Laboratory Internal Audit Plan

• After the Assessment: Examples of L-SIP Quality Improvement Activities

For more information, contact Tina Su, MPH, manager, Quality Systems and Analytics, 240.485.2729, bertina.su@aphl.org.

Knowledge Management Committee

Knowledge management is "the process of capturing, developing, sharing and effectively using organizational knowledge."* The Knowledge Management Committee (KMC) provides guidance on effective management and use of APHL information resources for members to improve laboratory processes, procedures and systems. The committee adapts, develops, collects, organizes, and disseminates tools to promote public health practice.

Priorities

• Collect, develop, and introduce Knowledge Management (KM) practices and tools to improve laboratory management

• Guide and support the Quality Systems & Analytics (QSA) program on the ​interpretation of findings from analyzing different APHL surveys

• Promote the use of APHL resources including tools and data-driven dashboards

Resources

Databases & Collaboration Platforms

• Public Health Laboratories System Database (PHLSD)
  
• Member Resource Center (MRC)
• ColLABorate (Communities of Practice)
  

Toolkits

• APHL Toolkits
  
• Knowledge Retention Toolkit
• Knowledge Retention Toolkit Webinar Recording - July 13, 2022​

Informational Resources & Reports

• Understanding Effective Public Health Laboratory Practices Across Generations
  
• Public Health Laboratory Experiences Addressing Workforce Compensation Gaps
  
• Understanding the Recruitment and Retention Needs of the Next Generation
  

Promotional Resources

Paraody video commercials that promote APHL Knowldege Management Resources:

• APHL Resources
  
• Becoming Your Manager
  
• We Share Knowledge
  
• May Leave
  

For more information, contact Abby Raymer, specialist, Quality Systems and Analytics, abigail.raymer@aphl.org.

Footnotes

* Davenport, Thomas H. (1994). "Saving IT's Soul: Human Centered Information Management." Harvard Business Review 72 (2): 119–131​