About OLA

Organizational Structure

QMP–LS has two operating divisions:

1.  External Quality Assessment (EQA)
2.  Ontario Laboratory Accreditation (OLA)

These divisions are supported by a shared support division that includes: Information Services (IS), Education, Communications and Documents, Business Development 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, Information Services, a Manager of Business Development and Education, a Supervisor of Communications and Documents, and a Coordinator, Financial and Support Services in accordance with OMA Human Resources policies. Staff includes medical technologists dedicated to EQA or OLA, and 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 does not sub-contract any aspect of its accreditation assessment.

Confidentiality and Impartiality (Conflict of Interest)

Official correspondence between participating laboratories and QMP–LS is considered confidential and is conducted in writing. The individual named by the laboratory as designated correspondent receives all official communication, although technical correspondence may be delegated to the laboratory director(s), regional consultant, and/or site coordinator. Summarized performance data is presented to committees and in publications with laboratory identification removed. When this is not possible (as is the case for accreditation assessment teams and corrective action review), all parties receiving the information are bound by confidentiality agreements to maintain confidentiality of information. 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.

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