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While
the ICANL Board of Directors has taken steps in recent years
to streamline the application process for laboratories that
have been previously granted accreditation, the expectations
for laboratories seeking reaccreditation are high. When it comes
to areas such as compliance with CME standards, the use of current
testing protocols, documentation of quality assurance measures,
quality, content and consistency among final reports, and adherence
to diagnostic criteria - laboratories that have already been
through the accreditation process at least once are expected
to demonstrate continual improvement, particularly in these
crucial areas.
Currently
there are approximately 790 nuclear laboratory sites in the
United States and Canada accredited by the ICANL. Some of these
laboratories have been granted accreditation as many as three
times by the ICANL. Each quarter there are between 60 and 80
laboratories that submit applications for accreditation. Of
these applicants, just over 20% are applying for reaccreditation
of their laboratory. Each quarter, approximately 10% of the
laboratories applying for reaccreditation receive a delayed
accreditation and an additional 30% receive a provisional
grant decision due to a lack of adherence to one or more
of the ICANL Standards. A delay decision allows
the laboratory only 60 days to respond and correct the delay
issues before they lose their accreditation status; a provisional
grant bestows a one-year accreditation in order to allow
time to correct minor deficiencies, such as less significant
items missing from protocols, policies, or reports, and/or deficient
CME.
The
ICANL Standards are reviewed and revised by the Board
of Directors every two to three years. All laboratories that
have purchased the accreditation materials are notified of the
standard revisions, and are encouraged to read the revisions
and make any necessary changes to their laboratory policies
and procedures at that time. It is the responsibility of each
laboratory to stay current with updated and revised guidelines
from NRC and Agreement States, HIPAA, OSHA, ASNC, SNM, and JCAHO,
where applicable. Below is a summary of the most common errors
or exclusions noted in applications submitted for reaccreditation,
and ways to potentially avoid a delay or lapse in your laboratory's
accreditation status.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
The
ICANL application deadlines do not change and are as follows:
January 2, April 1, July 1, and October
1.
- The
ICANL attempts to assist labs in avoiding a lapse in their
accreditation status by reminding applicants of the application
deadline they must meet through two pieces of correspondence.
The reaccreditation reminder letter is sent twelve
to fourteen months prior to the application deadline, followed
by a reminder postcard approximately six months before
the required submission date. Keep in mind that the review
process takes four months to complete. Therefore, the reaccreditation
application must be submitted at the deadline that falls on
the first of the month, four months prior to the expiration
date listed on the laboratory's current accreditation certificates.
The accreditation will not be extended under any circumstance
and failure to meet the required deadline will result in expiration
of the accreditation.
ACCREDITATION AGREEMENT
A
substantial number of applicant laboratories experience a delay
in receipt of their accreditation decisions rendered by the
Board of Directors due to problems with the Accreditation
Agreement. The Accreditation Agreement is a legal contract
between the applicant laboratory and the ICANL, and a new Agreement
must be completed and sent at the time of every application
submission.
- The
most current Accreditation Agreement and Business Associate
Agreement can be completed and printed from the ICANL website
at www.intersocietal.org/icanl/apply/agreements.htm.
When completing these documents, be certain to answer all
questions as they pertain to your laboratory and to obtain
the appropriate signatures. The original document must be
sent to the ICANL and after final review of the text, the
ICANL will return a copy to the laboratory. As well, be aware
that any changes to the content of the Agreement must have
prior approval by the ICANL.
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