About OLA

Organizational Structure

QMP–LS has three operating divisions:

1.  External Quality Assessment (EQA)
2.  Ontario Laboratory Accreditation (OLA)
3.   Knowledge Transfer and Business Development

These divisions are supported by a Corporate Services division that includes: Information Services (IS), Communications, Financial and Support Services, Expediting, and Office Administration (Figure 1).

Management and Staff Responsibility

The Managing Director has overall responsibility for QMP–LS, and is supported by a Director, EQA, a Director, OLA, a Director, Corporate Services, a Director, Research & Program Development, a Director, Research and Program Development, and a Quality Manager in accordance with OMA Human Resources policies. Staff includes medical technologists dedicated to EQA or OLA, and administrative, secretarial and clerical staff who are multi-tasked across the divisions. A current listing of staff names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses is available at http://www.qmpls.org/about/about_staff.html.

Operations and Subcontracting

QMP–LS provides its own EQA and accreditation services. QMP–LS conducts its OLA accreditation assessments using its own trained and certified assessors.

Confidentiality and Impartiality (Conflict of Interest)

QMP–LS does not disclose confidential information about a particular laboratory to outside parties without written consent from the laboratory, except where the law requires such information to be disclosed without such consent. 

Impartiality is ensured with the self-declaration of any conflicts of interest by all staff, assessors, consultants and advisors. Advisors consist of laboratory professionals of stature who have broad knowledge of laboratory operations, quality assurance practices, management skills, and who represent a cross-section of practitioners. No single party predominates.

On an ongoing basis, key communications are sent to stakeholder groups, and they are encouraged to provide advice and counsel. A stakeholder committee called the QMP–LS Advisory Council exists to advise QMP–LS on policies and operations from a stakeholder perspective (see “Accreditation Program Stakeholders”).

Impartiality is ensured with the self-declaration of any conflicts of interest by all staff, assessors, consultants and advisors.

QMP–LS Committees

QMP–LS selects the best available consultant expertise to support credibility and excellence of its programs (Figure 2).

The terms of reference, nomination process, terms and conditions of appointments, membership, roles and responsibilities of committees and members are in a Committee Handbook that is readily available through QMP–LS staff. OLA has an Advisory Panel and utilizes the expertise of the EQA Scientific Committees (Figure 2).