AACE / COLA Cooperative Alliance Fact Sheet

Tell Me About COLA

COLA, a nationally recognized not-for-profit healthcare organization, is a leader in providing an educational approach to laboratory accreditation with a fully developed on-line continuing educational program. COLA works to promote excellence in the healthcare industry through programs of voluntary education, consultation, and accreditation. Since 1988, COLA has found success with thousands of medical professionals nationwide by supplying quality products and outstanding customer service.

COLA's distinction in the marketplace lies in its unique approach to business that emphasizes education and partnership.

The AMA, the American College of Physicians, the American Academy of Family Practice, the American Osteopathic Association and the College of American Pathologists jointly sponsor COLA. COLA has deeming authority from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and currently accredits approximately 7,000 outpatient and hospital labs nationwide including the Veterans Administration, under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1988 (CLIA). CMS licenses these laboratories via independent state inspections, with charges being determined by the volume of tests performed. COLA accreditation offers expert assistance and guidance for outpatient labs in preparing for and obtaining CMS licensure. In fact, COLA accredited facilities boast a 1% variance from CMS compliance review (i.e., accreditation through COLA nearly guarantees a lab's compliance certification through CMS).

What are the benefits of COLA Laboratory Accreditation?

• Competitive Pricing:

  COLA can provide AACE members up to a 15% discount off of your state CMS inspection fees. COLA can provide you with a cost-comparison of what you are currently paying to give you a clear idea of the savings you will reap with COLA Accreditation. COLA will also cover the one-time fee associated with switching from a certificate of compliance to a certificate of accreditation

• Accessible Technical Support:

  COLA's toll-free number links you to our Information Resource Center staffed by medical technologists who can answer your laboratory-related questions in an efficient and timely manner.

• Comprehensive and Consistent Survey Process:

  COLA's Survey Process is consistent, comprehensive and focused. COLA surveyors are uniformly trained on COLA survey criteria and standard practices, helping to eliminate inconsistencies and specialty biases. COLA sends ONE surveyor to your laboratory so that the survey process will be minimally disruptive to your daily activities.

• The COLA Survey Provides an Educational Experience for Your Laboratory Staff and Immediate Feedback For Your Laboratory:

  COLA is proud to have completed over 33,000 laboratory surveys. Our surveyors have the experience necessary to ensure your laboratory benefits from our educational survey process. You will receive immediate feedback on your survey before the surveyor leaves your facility. COLA surveyors will review feedback with your staff to provide help and answers for ensuring the practice of quality testing in your laboratory. A written report of the survey results will be delivered to you within a week.

• COLA Laboratory Accreditation Manual:

  Provided to each laboratory site, this manual provides clear, concise guidelines on COLA's Laboratory Accreditation program. It includes all COLA program criteria with helpful explanations about implementing policies and procedures that meet COLA standards.

• Self Assessment:

  COLA's standards are reinforced through the use of its Self Assessment analysis, an educational tool that helps facilities evaluate the quality of their laboratory and assists them in meeting accreditation standards. COLA members have the opportunity to review their laboratory using the same questions that will be asked during the onsite survey. COLA reviews the Self Assessment and provides the laboratory with constructive feedback on items that are not in compliance before the on-site survey.

• Plan of Required Improvement/Performance Report:

  This letter, defining the Plan of Required Improvement (PRI), is sent to COLA laboratories following an on-site survey and gives the laboratory a specific set of instructions to follow in order to bring it into compliance with COLA standards. It's a customized action plan uniquely provided by COLA. The PRI letter provides the Laboratory Director and staff with a document based on COLA's evaluation of the on-site survey to ensure that the laboratory takes the corrective action necessary to achieve accreditation.

• Access to the COLA Member Web Site:

  On the internet, COLA is accessible at www.cola.org. Besides being a resource for information about the healthcare industry and source for information about COLA, the site assists members with the accreditation process by:
  • Allowing laboratories to view questions that were cited as non-compliant at their last survey
  • Viewing Proficiency Testing scores
  • Permitting laboratories to review their information in COLA's database such as instruments, tests performed, personnel, proficiency testing provider, and date of last on-site survey
  • Providing educational information such as CLIA Fact sheets, COLA Fast Facts, and COLA's Insights newsletter.
  • Allowing laboratories to complete the COLA Self Assessment on-line
  • Allowing laboratories to contact technical staff for assistance
  • Providing on-line training through COLA's LabUniversity

• Mentoring

  COLA Technical Advisors are available to give laboratories advice regarding unique or special issues concerning laboratory procedures. Besides making available COLA's extensive educational materials, COLA staff makes personal contact with the laboratory to offer advice and provide information to promote sound laboratory practices.

How can I enroll in COLA's Laboratory Accreditation program?

• Call the COLA Information Resource Center at 1-800-981-9883
• Provide your AACE member number

Tell me about COLA's Laboratory Director Program and Other E-Learning Opportunities with COLA.

COLA has initiated a Distance Learning Program in response to the learning needs of physicians and laboratory staff for easily accessible, benchmark training in quality laboratory practices.

COLA's on-line courses are designed to allow for asynchronous (any time) learning to take place at the convenience of the learner, and include self-paced activities and interactive exercises along with technical content. Courses are set up for easy access via Internet connection from a physician's office computer, from a home or library computer, or from a laptop-anywhere!

Whether its individual courses purchased separately or specially packaged together for the Laboratory Director program, LabUniversity (www.labuniversity.org) provides the flexibility you need. Course topics are arranged by learning modules, so the learner can control when, where, and how learning will take place. Physicians and laboratory staff can earn CMEs and CEUs towards professional certification and licensing requirements by completing the post-assessment quiz included in each course.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of University of Wisconsin Medical School, Office of Continuing Medical Education and COLA. The University of Wisconsin Medical School, Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

How many courses does COLA's LabUniversity offer? What are these courses?

There are currently nine courses offered as a complete package within the Laboratory Director Program. These courses are also available individually.

• LAB DIRECTOR PROGRAM
• Quality Control in the Clinical Laboratory, Part 1
• Quality Control in the Clinical Laboratory, Part 2
• Quality Control in the Clinical Laboratory, Part 3
• OSHA Safety Requirements for the Medical Laboratory
• CLIA '88 Requirements for the Physician Office Laboratory
• Laboratory Personnel Requirements for the POL
• Practical Proficiency Testing
• QA Part 1: Quality Assurance Practices for the POL
• QA Part 2: Creating and Implementing Your Quality Assurance Plan

How do I enroll in COLA e-learning courses?

1. Go online to www.labuniversity.org
2. Select Enrollment / Logon
3. Select New Student Enrollment
4. Choose your User ID and Password
5. Select your Organization / Affiliation (AACE)
6. Provide the appropriate Enrollment Key (AACE)
7. Complete the remainder of the enrollment form as prompted.

Tell me about COLA's Enduring Educational Products

COLA has a number of hard copy and downloadable products. Some of these include:

How do I purchase educational products?

1. Call the COLA Information Resource Center at 1-800-981-9883
2. Provide your AACE member number

COLA Laboratory Accreditation