Pathology (2015) 47(S1), p.
S3
Innovations – Plenaries
DAVID ROTHFIELD MEMORIAL ORATION: DEFINING
ANALYTICAL PERFORMANCE GOALS
Callum G. Fraser
Centre for Research into Cancer Prevention and Screening,
University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School,
Dundee, Scotland
Since 1999, the ‘Consensus Agreement’ from the Stockholm
Conference has provided professionally accepted guidance as to
a hierarchical approach to setting analytical performance goals.
However, many aspects of laboratory medicine have changed since
then. In consequence, the 1st EFLM Strategic Conference on
‘Defining analytical performance goals 15 years after the Stock-
holm Conference on Quality Specifications in Laboratory Medi-
cine’ was held on 24–25 November, 2014. The conference
developed a proposal for a modified and updated consensus state-
ment. There was general agreement that three different models,
again set in a hierarchy, should be used to set analytical perform-
ance goals. The proposal is simple. Model 1 is based on the effect
of analytical performance on clinical consequences, which can be
assessed using different approaches including outcome studies,
simulations of uses of test results, and surveys of clinicians’ and/or
experts’ opinions investigating clinical settings. Model 2 is the
widely used strategy based on components of biological variation.
Model 3 is founded on state of the art, but that should be based on
the highest level technically achievable or, alternatively, could be
defined as the analytical quality achieved by a certain percentage of
laboratories. Whether this new approach becomes widely adopted
remains to be assessed.
A PATHOLOGIST HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE
TO INFORMATICS
Michael Legg, Lawrence Bott, Glenn Edwards, David Ellis and
Ken Sikaris
RCPA Informatics Committee
The contemporary practice of pathology is heavily reliant upon
information systems. These systems are becoming increasingly
sophisticated and College Fellows are frequently required to have
input on their design, selection, implementation and evaluation.
Laboratories are adopting decision support technologies to support
workflow management and clinical interpretation of pathology
tests. The computationally intensive field of bioinformatics is
growing rapidly especially in genomics laboratories while stat-
istics, another informatics discipline, has always been an important
part of Fellowship training. College Fellows have a professional
duty of care, and also carry ethical and medico-legal responsibility,
for the efficacy, reliability, safety and security of such systems.
Significantly, the development of Health Informatics also proceeds
Print ISSN 0031-3025/Online ISSN 1465-3931 # 2015 Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia
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apace in the wider medical community. Data mining tools, social
media and decision support are expected to improve health
resource utilisation, evidence-based practice, and clinical effec-
tiveness. These tools will also become widely deployed as patients
and health consumers have more control over health service
delivery and expect an improved experience in their contact with
the health system.
POINT OF CARE TESTING AND GOVERNANCE: A SHIFT
IN PARADIGM
Samarina M. A. Musaad
Department of Chemical Pathology, Labtests, Auckland, New
Zealand
Point of care testing (POCT) has changed dramatically since its
earliest applications in ancient civilisations. An increase in popu-
lation density, health inequity and an increase in the prevalence of
chronic diseases associated with longevity, disasters both man-
made and natural, and the resurgence of critical infectious diseases,
together with advances in technology and a competing market
place have made POCT an integral part of modern healthcare
delivery.
While POCT is an essential part of the solution to some healthcare
delivery problems, if not appropriately governed and regulated it
can create problems of its own. The multiple tiers to providing a
POCT service need to be managed in alignment with best practice
guidelines and principles of clinical governance to ensure safe and
reliable processes providing clinically useful results.
Gaps in clinical governance of POCT can be filled by a progressive
and critical paradigm shift in healthcare delivery in the 21st century
hence providing the opportunity to maximise benefits from the
practice of POCT while mitigating associated risks. Raising
awareness within the profession is vital to this achievement.
DEALING WITH DIFFICULT PEOPLE
Donna Meredith
Managing Director, Keystone, and Principal, Interaction
Associates Australasia
Difficult people are everywhere; everyone is difficult during
certain moments of their life. Eventually all of us need to work
or compromise with a person that we think is difficult. In many
cases the first response is to ignore or avoid that individual, but that
seldom provides a sustainable, long term solution. Unaddressed,
necessary conflict simmers just below—and often erupts counter-
productively above—the surface at work. There are specific strat-
egies that can assist in dealing with this challenge; and that can be
used to create agreements among individuals that last.
 S4 PATHOLOGY 2015 ABSTRACT SUPPLEMENT Pathology (2015), 47(S1)

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