Ryan Cooper Histopathology Tweets

Day One

Hi, I’m Ryan Cooper & I’m a Senior Biomedical Scientist, welcome to a week in the Pathology Department.

Setup dissection benches for Pathologist & Biomedical scientist.

Triaged & accessioned samples from Western Isles, Caithness, Belford, Broadford & Raigmore.

Loaded samples onto tissue processor to allow same day reporting, ensuring continuous flow of work &avoid any unnecessary peaks & troughs

Help lab assistants pack orders from theatres other outlying users with request forms formalin- package, give to porters for delivery.

Discussion with senior staff regarding risks of Formalin in the department other areas of the hospital using it.

Day two

Dealt with urgent fresh tissue from theatre inside 15 mins. Patient still in operating room under anaesthetic.

Clinician to decide surgical procedure from the microscopic analysis of the fresh tissue

Using the Cryostat to cut fresh tissue & allow a fast result direct to theatre. Dissection at -23 degrees C!

Weekly lab meeting to cover matters arising workload issues, feedback from staff in new Quality Control process in main lab

Attending Area Clinical Forum as a representative from the NHSH healthcare science forum, usually really informative and inspirational meeting.

Day three

Early start this morning due to a mortuary call out in the middle of the night. #tired.com

Day out of lab to catch up with Quality work needs done for CPA inspection in June 2013 also from internal audits within lab directorate.

Doing an audit in blood sciences today on diabetic Point of Care Testing equipment - glucose meters as per CPA standards

Following a previous internal audit have reviewed two major standard operating procedures. Always improving quality.

Just printed out the department’sturnaround time as per Royal Collegeof Path KPIs we are the best performing Pathology lab in Scotland

Day Four

Writing advanced dissection systemprotocols,specialist Histology BMS staff extending through to pathologist areas of dissection #newground

Supervising one of the BMS staff dissecting a gallbladder appendix specimens via new advanced dissection protocols #nervousmuch

Sorted details on two specimen request forms. Fed back importance of key information for swift processing #locumwho

Discussed contingency plans for embedding centre as we must avoid impacting on the service

Day 5

Writing up report for audit on day 3 with non compliances and dates for completion.

Attended directorate quality group meeting to discuss each department progress make decisions re new quality management system iPassport.

Discussion with senior staff regarding reducing routine staining protocol in line with other advancements through the department.

Mapping out the laboratory process to display on the department wall in current state with a view to progressing to a LEAN future state map

Taking photo of the routine laboratory stats for the week so we can monitor progress of LEAN efficiency changes.

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