In 2006 the CLMA head office developed a new bylaws template for Chapters to follow and required all chapters to revise their bylaws and submit the new set to head office for approval. Unfortunately there was a flaw in the first template. CLMA then convened an international committee of members to further revise the template. Mary Anne Cecutti, your Trillium Chapter secretary, represented Ontario and the other Canadian chapters on this committee. After numerous meetings involving complex and difficult negotiations a final template was approved. The Trillium Chapter has completed the template and we are now coming to the membership to ask for approval of the new bylaws.

Comments or questions about the content of the bylaws can be sent by email prior to the meeting to:

Trillium Chapter President Kathryn Snell - kasnell@cogeco.ca

or

Trillium Chapter Secretary Mary Anne Cecutti macecutti@rogers.com

GPS?
What’s it all about?

Laboratory Leaders sharing successes and addressing Patient Safety in an international forum. The Good Practices initiative is designed to encourage members to share their successful laboratory projects with their colleagues in an easily-accessible and well-organized database. Through the Good Practices project, we hope to build a robust database of projects that will help guide laboratory leaders embarking on new projects at their institution.

Right now, about 50 percent of the chapters have a Liaison. Bonnie Reib is the representative for the Trillium Chapter. Here are some facts about this program.

What is the role of the GPS Liaison?

The role and responsibility of the GPS Liaison will be to:
1. Promote the GPS program and submissions to chapter members;
2. Participate as a member of the GPS Network and provide input on patient safety and quality as it relates to laboratory medicine;
3. Act as a liaison between the chapter and the PSQC to facilitate input on patient safety and quality initiatives for CLMA;
4. With support, training, and tools provided by CLMA, conduct a patient safety training program annually (which will earn the Chapter a GOLD Standard).

What’s in it for the Chapter?

By appointing a Chapter GPS Liaison, the Chapter will:
1. Earn a SILVER Standard in the Chapter Success Standards.
2. Have the potential to earn a GOLD Standard if the Liaison conducts a patient safety training program annually as part of a Chapter education event (see below);
3. Have a hands-on “professional” to help chapter members with their submissions!

What’s in it for the Liaison?

Liaisons will be able to:
1. Access the latest information on the patient safety and quality initiatives by CLMA at a national and international level;
2. Share their own knowledge and help shape the future of patient safety and quality in laboratory medicine;
3. Provide a leadership role in their own chapter that will help them grow in their career;
4. Participate in the important promotion of CLMA as a resource for laboratory professionals;
5. Be recognized for their efforts;
6. Ultimately, help to save patient lives through improved safety and quality for healthcare.

The GPS Chapter Liaison's held their first two conference calls but it is not too late to join this Quality Network.