ABSTRACT
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.
Subject(s)
Pathology Department, Hospital , Placenta , Female , Pregnancy , Humans , Child , Canada , WorkloadABSTRACT
Health care resources in Canada are limited, and there is tremendous pressure to reduce laboratory budgets. It is almost impossible to acquire new pathologist positions to adequately meet service demands. There is a need to determine objectively the appropriate pathologist workload. I looked at multiple indicators (total accessioned cases, number of specimens, slides, blocks, Royal College of Pathologists [London, England] model, population served, and level 4 equivalent [L4E]) that might reflect the pathologist's work and determine which indicators are the best. L4E is a calculated weighted value based on complexity levels of individual anatomic pathology consultation. Of all indicators analyzed, L4E is the best reflection of a pathologist's anatomic pathology work because it has the best statistical values, is a direct output measurement of pathologist consultations, and uses data routinely collected in many North American laboratories.
