Outcome of Orientation Exercise for Medical Laboratory Scientist Interns in a North Central Tertiary Health Institution in Nigeria (Published)
Implementation of quality management system (QMS) is important for quality practices, error detection and client satisfaction in medical laboratories. In order to achieve this objective, young practitioners coming to service needs the new knowledge to meet standard (ISO 15189). A three days practical posting orientation was done for 250 Intern Medical Laboratory Scientists posted to the Histopathology Laboratory for one-year mandatory internship to create QMS awareness, leadership and good laboratory practice skills. Data were generated using feedback forms. Result showed that 32.9% gained new knowledge, 18.2% got new insight, 9.2% experience professional self-awareness, 12.1% had better QMS awareness, 7.3% gained motivation and inspiration, 8.5% gained new leadership knowledge, 8.5% satisfactory comment and 2.4% recommended that the exercise should be sustained. Memorable implemented QMS components were process control (35%), organisation (32%), documents and records (32%), personnel (28%), customer service (21%), occurrence management (13%), logistics and inventory (13%), facility and safety (12%), equipment (11%), process improvement (10%), information management (8%), and audit/assessment (5%). It was concluded that QMS awareness was achieved, professional self-awareness boosted and good laboratory practice skills acquired. Orientation for young professionals was recommended in medical laboratories.
Keywords: Internship, QMS, histopathology laboratory, orientation