From Checking Boxes to Changing Outcomes: The Power of Quality-Focused Thinking

Course overview

This webinar emphasizes shifting from a mindset of meeting minimum compliance requirements to actively leveraging quality management and improvement tools for meaningful impact in the cytopathology laboratory. Participants will learn how to go beyond checking the box by applying these tools to identify inefficiencies, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and strengthen overall laboratory performance. Through practical examples, the session demonstrates how quality initiatives can drive staff engagement, streamline operations, and ultimately improve patient outcomes, transforming regulatory obligations into opportunities for true laboratory excellence. Target Audience This educational activity is designed for pathologists, cytopathologists, cytotechnologists, students and other members of the cytopathology community. Learning Objectives Describe key quality management and improvement tools applicable to cytopathology laboratories beyond basic compliance requirements. Demonstrate how to use data-driven approaches to identify workflow inefficiencies and enhance diagnostic accuracy. Apply strategies to integrate quality initiatives into daily laboratory practices to improve system performance and patient care outcomes. Vanda F. Torous, MD Associate Professor of Pathology Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, Massachusetts