Goals and Objectives
At the end of training in chemistry, residents will display the following competencies:
-
Patient Care
Provide prompt and reliable consultation for clinicians contacting the Chemistry Laboratory for information.
Medical Knowledge
Have a working knowledge of chemical analyses such as electrolytes and acid-base balance, calcium and phosphate, enzyme analyses, lipids and lipoproteins, carbohydrates and liver function, amino acids and proteins, nitrogen metabolites and renal function, gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal function, therapeutic drug monitoring and toxicology, lead/trace metals, maternal/fetal monitoring, tumor markers, viral markers, immunology/serology and anemia/porphyria assays.
Understand assay methods, including: photometry, fluorometry, nephelometry, turbidimetry, electrophoresis, osmometry, chromatography, immunometric and automated systems.
Know the usefulness and limitations of assays, including quality control, reference values and predictive value for a given test.
Know differential diagnosis of a test result and the major clinical or laboratory factors that affect test results.
Know laboratory operations including management, personnel and regulatory issues.
Instrumentation, automation and laboratory information systems used in clinical chemistry, their evaluation, selection and use.
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Master quality assurance and quality control as it applies to the clinical laboratory by participating in quality assurance and quality control activities.
Be able to assist in troubleshooting common laboratory tests
Perform quality assurance investigations as necessary to evaluate laboratory errors.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Understand clinician concerns to be able to communicate effective consultative information in a timely fashion.
Professionalism
Maintain a dignified demeanor toward clinicians, patients and laboratory personnel.
Be prompt and reliable with commitments.
Admit and learn from shortcomings.
Systems-Based Practice
Know laboratory operations including management, personnel and regulatory issues.
Understand the availability, uses and results of "send-out" tests.
Become familiar with the use of computer resources including the laboratory, hospital and health system information systems.
Duration
The Chemistry rotation is completed in three one-month blocks.
Duties and Responsibilities by Year
In this brief rotation, there is no graded responsibility by year.
Respond to telephone calls from clinicians forwarded from the Client Services desk weekdays and otherwise according to call schedule.
Attend and participate in weekly QC review with attending and lead technologists
During three months, rotate through each laboratory bench (virology, ANA, CE, H & P1, H & P2) and observe performance of each test with technologist. Maintain log of benches/tests completed.
Attend daily walk through with attending and/or lead technologist to troubleshoot technical problems and discuss interesting cases at each bench.
Attend weekly Lab Rounds with other CP residents to discuss night calls from Chemistry and to give one presentation about chemistry material during the rotation.
Teaching Staff
Joseph E. Willis, MD - Acting Director of Chemistry Laboratory
Clive R. Hamlin, PhD - Interim Educational Director
Mary Jane Larson, MT, ASCP, Technical Coordinator
Sherry Tighe, MT, ASCP, Technical Coordinator
Diane Schell, MT, ASCP, Technical Coordinator
Supervision and Evaluation
Residents on the Clinical Chemistry rotation are under the supervision of the laboratory director for all matters related to clinical consultations. Residents receive didactic training from Educational Director with assistance of laboratory personnel. Evaluation of competencies is completed by Educational Director each month.