COLA vs CAP for Point of Care

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Hi All,

Our Laboratory is looking at switching from CAP to COLA for accrediation due to cost, has anyone made this conversion?  I have heard that COLA is more work than CAP for POC compliance (Full competency for waived test operators, Manufacturer recommendations being seen as requirements, etc...), is this true?

Thank you in advance for any input.

Max

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We have had both CAP and COLA for different sites. You don't state if you're doing this for a lab site or a site outside of the hospital lab. If your site is also TJC accredited, then you can't use COLA as an accrediting agency; TJC has ended this collaboration. So, we had some sites that were clinics attached to a TJC-accredited hospital, and we now have to switch from COLA to either CAP, CLIA, or TJC. We have another clinic that is not attached to a hospital; we can keep the COLA accreditation for that one. 
COLA does have some differences, for instance, you need to do 6 month competency for waived testing as well as non-waived. However, CAP does have many more checklist items than COLA. Good luck!

We had the opportunity to switch from CAP to COLA in two separate facilities; one a doctor's med group and the other, a free-standing surgical center. We have found the COLA inspectors more professional as well as educational-minded. The online site specific checklist of standards was very helpful. There is 
usually a few days ( or week ) lead time for the inspection date, which is helpful for scheduling staff, etc.

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Max Mauch
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