Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science (대한임상검사과학회지)

Korean Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (대한임상검사과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

The Role and Focus Areas of Medical Technologists in the Field of Diagnostic Tests in the COVID-19 Era

COVID-19 시대 임상병리사의 역할 및 영역

  • Yang, Byoung Seon (Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Jinju Health College) ;
  • Choi, Se Mook (Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Jinju Health College) ;
  • Bae, Hyung Joon (Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Daejeon Institute of Science and Technology) ;
  • Kim, Yoon Sik (Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Donggang University) ;
  • Lim, Yong (Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Dong-eui University) ;
  • Kang, Hee Jung (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chungnam National University Hospital) ;
  • Bae, Do Hee (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Byoung Ho (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ajou University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Jae Suk (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Daegu Veterans Hospital) ;
  • Park, Ji Ae (Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Jinju Health College)
  • 양병선 (진주보건대학교 임상병리과) ;
  • 최세묵 (진주보건대학교 임상병리과) ;
  • 배형준 (대전과학기술대학교 임상병리과) ;
  • 김윤식 (동강대학교 임상병리과) ;
  • 임용 (동의대학교 임상병리학과) ;
  • 강희정 (충남대학교병원 진단검사의학과) ;
  • 배도희 (경상대학교병원 진단검사의학과) ;
  • 최병호 (아주대학교병원 진단검사의학과) ;
  • 이재숙 (대구보훈병원 진단검사의학과) ;
  • 박지애 (진주보건대학교 임상병리과)
  • Received : 2022.01.15
  • Accepted : 2022.02.26
  • Published : 2022.03.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study attempted to provide the basic data for developing a system to identify the role of medical technologists and ensure an efficient response for quick and accurate diagnostic tests in the COVID-19 era. The research method involved using focus group interviews for a survey and analysis of 15 medical institutions. Eleven sample collection institutions, 10.4 medical technologists, 2.1 minutes of collection time, 5.4 hours of test time, 9,670 tests, 6.2 member test workforce size, and 7 screening center operating institutions were surveyed. The results of the focus group interview analysis revealed that there were no standardized guidelines covering working hours, area, and environment to protect sample collectors and testers in relation to the COVID-19 tests. Also, legal protection measures were insufficient in the event of accidental infections and there were no personnel regulations related to COVID-19. In addition, the professional training of sample collectors and molecular diagnostic testers was required for reliable COVID-19 testing. In conclusion, it is necessary to provide professional education through special test short-term training institutions to cope with emergency infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Legal systems should be put in place to protect the workforce and ensure stability.

본 연구는 COVID-19 시대에서 빠르고 정확한 진단검사를 위해 임상병리사의 역할을 파악하고, 효율적으로 대응할 수 있는 체계적인 시스템 마련을 위한 기초자료를 제공하고자 하였다. 연구 방법은 15개 의료기관을 대상으로 설문조사 및 초점 집단 면담을 통한 분석을 하였다. 검체 채취 기관(11개)을 분석한 결과, 선별검사소 운영 기관은 7개, 임상병리사 10.4명, 채취 소요시간 2.1분, 검사소요시간 5.4시간, 검사건수 9,670건, 검사인력 6.2명으로 조사되었다. 초점 집단 면담 분석결과, COVID-19검사와 관련하여 검체 채취자 및 검사자를 보호하기 위한 근무시간, 근무장소, 근무환경이 포함된 표준화된 지침은 없었다. 그리고 감염사고 발생 시 법적인 보호 조치가 미흡하며, COVID-19와 관련한 인력에 관한 규정이 마련되어 있지 않았다. 또한, 신뢰도 있는 COVID-19 검사를 위해 검체 채취자 및 분자진단 검사자의 전문적인 교육이 요구되었다. 결론적으로 COVID-19와 같은 긴급상황 감염병 발생 시 대처할 수 있는 특수검사 단기수련기관 등을 통한 전문교육의 시행과 안정적인 인력공급 할 수 있는 법적인 체계마련이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This paper was supported by the Korean Association of Medical Technologist in 2021.

References

  1. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situational Report-51. [Internet]. New York: World Health Organization; 2020[cited 2021 December 28]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/331475
  2. World Health Organization. Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): situation report, 1. [Internet]. New York: World Health Organization; 2020[cited 2021 December 28]. Available from: https://apps.-who.int/iris/handle/10665/330760
  3. Kim EJ, Lee DS. Coronaviruses: SARS, MERS and COVID-19. Korean J Clin Lab Sci. 2020;52:297-309. https://doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2020.52.4.297
  4. Mattiuzzi C, Lippi G. Which lessons shall we learn from the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak? Ann Transl Med. 2020;8:48. https://doi.org/10.21037/atm.2020.02.06
  5. Wu Z, McGoogan JM. Characteristics of and important lessons from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in China: summary of a report of 72,314 cases from the Chinese center for disease control and prevention. JAMA. 2020;323: 1239-1242. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.2648
  6. Lippi G, Plebani M. The critical role of laboratory medicine during coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) and other viral outbreaks. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2020;58:1063-1069. https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm-2020-0240
  7. Yang BS, Lim Y, Kim YS, Oh YS, Bae DH, Choi SM. Calculation of human resources for medical technologist in diagnostic testing. Korean J Clin Lab Sci. 2020;52:158-163. https://doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2020.52.2.1583
  8. Schiff GD, Hasan O, Kim SJ, Abrams R, Cosby K, Lambert BL, et al. Diagnostic error in medicine: analysis of 583 physician-reported errors. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169:1881-1887. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.333
  9. Simundic AM, Lippi G. Preanalytical phase-a continuous challenge for laboratory professionals. Biochemia Medica. 2012;22: 145-149. https://doi.org/10.11613/bm.2012.017
  10. Oh YH, Lee SY. Mid- to long-term medical personnel estimation and policy tasks according to changes in the health care environment. Research report. Sejong: Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs; 2016 June. 1-289.
  11. Bae HJ, Kim DS, Lee Ok, Kim CS, Choi SY, An YH, et al. The study on the appropriate workforce estimation of clinical technologists for job creation in the field of ultrasonic inspection. Biomed Sci Lett. 2019;25:381-389. https://doi.org/10.15616/BSL.2019.25.4.381
  12. Choi SM, Yang BS, Kim YS, Lim Y, Oh YS, Bae DH, et al. A study on the appropriate manpower estimation according to the evaluation of the blood collection workload of medical technologists. Korean J Clin Lab Sci. 2019;51:495-503. https://doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2019.51.4.495
  13. Yang BS, Park SM, Bae HJ, Kim WS, Park HH, Lim Y, et al. Calculation of the quality additional rate of clinical laboratory test and review of application criteria. Korean J Clin Lab Sci. 2020;52:261-270. https://doi.org/10.15324/kjcls.2020.52.3.261
  14. Lippi G, Plebani M. The add value of laboratory diagnostics: the many reasons why decision-makers should actually care. J Lab Precis Med. 2017;2:100. https://doi.org/10.21037/jlpm.2017.12.07
  15. Lee WJ. Relationship of health care resources and cumulative proportion of COVID-19 cases. Korean Public Health Research. 2020;46:41-51. https://doi.org/10.22900/kphr.2020.46.4.004
  16. Kim MJ, Lee DH. Healthcare resources management for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic: a comparative and institutional study on the case of ROK and Japan. Health and Social Welfare Review. 2021;41:27-43. https://doi.org/10.15709/hswr.2021.41.2.27