January 2010
PAP/NGC Programs Review

Barbara Blond, MBA, MT(ASCP)

Beginning this month, two enhancements are available to participants enrolled in CAP educational anatomic pathology programs: Individual result forms for anatomic pathology are online, and participants are able to claim their own CME/CE certificates.

These changes affect the following Surveys: Interlaboratory Improvement Programs in Gynecologic (Pap) and Nongynecologic (NGC) Cytopathology; Performance Improvement Program in Surgical Pathology (PIP/PIP1); Neuropathology (NP/NP1); Forensic Pathology (FR/FR1); Autopsy Pathology (AUCD/AUCD1); and Fine Needle Aspiration Glass (FNAG/FNAG1) slide program.

Pap and NGC participants can take advantage of online result forms through e-LAB Solutions at www.cap.org. Participants will enter slide interpretations on result forms that are similar in style to the current forms.

To keep result forms confidential within each laboratory, these security levels are in place:

• Pathologists will not be able to view other pathologist result forms.
• Pathologists will be able to view cytotechnologist result forms, similar to the workflow used in the laboratory.
• Cytotechnologists will not be able to view other cytotechnologist or pathologist result forms.
• Laboratory personnel will be able to view and confirm online that the CAP has received the result forms.

Paper result forms for the laboratory and individual participants still will be sent to labs with each slideset. The Pap and NGC consensus laboratory forms must be faxed to the CAP in order to receive the reference slide interpretations and evaluation. The lab form will not be available to fill out online. Faxed participant and lab result forms will not be viewable online, but a record of receipt will be visible.

The laboratory site administrator must opt in to the CAP Web site the first time a laboratory uses the online result form mode of submission. Then each person must register on the CAP Web site and request permission from his or her laboratory site administrator to enter results. The site administrator also must mark the profession of the user on the laboratory permissions page. Once this is set up, these administrative activities will not have to be repeated within a laboratory unless there is a personnel change.

Once a participant has claimed a result form on e-LAB Solutions, it will belong to that user. A result form can be edited until the participant approves it. Results must be submitted by the due date, which is based on the date the slideset is shipped.

To receive CME or CE credits earned by completing an educational course, participants are required to “self claim” CME or CE. This change to the system helps the CAP adhere to guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, which say the participant must declare the amount of time spent on the educational course up to a maximum total. Users will be able to claim CME/CE certificates after entering their answers online through a CME/CE icon that appears on the result form data entry screen. The CME/CE icon will appear when a course is complete to alert the participant that CME credits are available for printing. Participants can also use an “express” claim for credits and go directly to the Education tab on the CAP Web site to enter or print information.

The self-claim system offers these advantages: The participant can print CME certificates immediately after completing the course; the participant can reprint lost certificates at any time; participant name and credentials are populated from CAP registration information, allowing for unlimited customized credentials; and the course will appear on the participant’s CAP education transcript.

Details on how to use these enhancements will be in your kit instructions.