Erasmus MC: Optimization of audits through digitization

Audits: from seven weeks to three days

At the lab of the clinical chemistry division of Erasmus MC, yearly internal audits are held. Three years ago, clinical chemist Andrei Tintu started digitizing this audit process.

Carrying out these lab audits, which mainly check whether the lab conforms to ISO norms, was a time-consuming process, according to Tintu. ‘The various normative elements and their relevant questions were written out in an Excel file,’ he explains. ‘This would then be printed out so that auditors could carry out their audits. Quality management employees would then have to process those paper forms back into the system …’

‘This meant that the entire auditing process would take seven weeks. Thanks to Incontrol, the process has been reduced to three days: one day of preparation and two days of actual auditing. After the third day, we immediately have a digital report in hand. Our quality control employees can now focus on their actual job.’

Interested in the benefits Incontrol can offer your company? Try all features of Incontrol for free for 14 days with no obligation.

Support at crucial moments

In 2018, Erasmus MC chose to change the audit process. ISO standards were translated to the context of the lab, rather than completing the corresponding questionnaire. The audit now follows the moment material is collected from a patient until it leaves the lab again at Erasmus MC.

"This required a completely different interpretation of the audit," says Tintu. "But Incontrol helped us tremendously by building this form for us. We also had support via WhatsApp while conducting this new audit, which allowed us to switch quickly if we ran into anything."

Solve problems immediately

According to Tintu, they benefit greatly from Incontrol's support at the Erasmus MC laboratory. "Incontrol's team has not only digitized our audits, but also thinks along with us how we can further digitize our processes. The complicated thing about lab audits are the points that arise from them that require extra attention. These must be followed up and checked during the next audit. By creating cases with Incontrol, we can actually do this."

Interested in the benefits of Incontrol for your company? Try all the benefits of Incontrol for 14 days, completely free of charge and without obligation.