A-197 Enhancing Patient Safety and Workforce Sustainability Through ASCP BOC Credentials
Authors: Baker J B , Spiczka A 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
The global healthcare system faces a critical shortage of medical and public health laboratory professionals, hindering patient care with diagnosis and treatment delays. The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Board of Certification (BOC) credentials are recognized as a key solution to uphold excellence in lab medicine and pathology, delivering precise test results crucial for 70% of medical decisions. This study investigates how ASCP BOC credentials enhance lab management, bolster patient safety, tackle workforce issues, and foster professional growth amidst evolving healthcare needs.

Methods
This investigation analyzed the impact of BOC credentials via a comprehensive review of BOC records, certification of over 625,000 professionals, and credential attainment in 117 countries. It evaluated the credentials' effectiveness in ensuring competency, regulatory compliance, and professional development. Additionally, it assessed the BOC’s contribution to mitigating workforce shortages, referencing the 2021 ASCP Wage Survey, 2022 ASCPi Survey, and Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts, and examined their role in promoting inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) within the laboratory profession.

Results
BOC credentials have significantly contributed to the competence and professionalism of the global laboratory workforce. They are recognized and endorsed by various international accreditation entities like ANAB, the Dubai Health Authority, and others, promoting competency-based examinations worldwide. BOC credentials are being embraced in various regions, including the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East & North Africa, helping to standardize laboratory practices to meet international safety and accuracy benchmarks such as ISO 15189 as prescribed by JCI and CAP. Furthermore, BOC credentials are now recognized in hundreds of countries around the world. In the Philippines, for instance, 35% of respondents to the 2022 BOC ASCPi Survey found employment outside of the Philippines, and 51% attributed their hiring to their BOC credential. Credentialing enhances test reliability, builds trust, and ensures regulatory compliance. BOC credentials and the Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) help public health lab workers meet the CDC's 15 domain areas. They also improve workforce dynamics by providing career advancement and professional development opportunities, attracting and retaining talent. In fact, a 2020 ASCP cross-sectional survey revealed that successful laboratories are characterized by their implementation of strategies including ongoing professional development (such as CMP), and the establishment of career advancement routes tied to credentials.

Conclusions
BOC credentials play a crucial role in improving the standards of laboratory medicine and pathology, significantly affecting laboratory functionality and patient safety. They help alleviate global workforce shortages by certifying laboratory professionals' expertise and practical skills as a reliable foundation, enhancing workplace culture, and encouraging ongoing professional growth. Furthermore, BOC credentials are essential in promoting IDEA within the lab workforce. The importance of these credentials is underscored by the variety of disciplines covered in the ASCP BOC examination catalog, contributing to a sustainable, robust, and diverse global healthcare system. Future efforts should aim to expand these credentialing programs and use them to further enhance patient care quality, laboratory efficiency, and the durability of the workforce amidst changing healthcare demands.