Laboratory Professional Specialty Group (LPSG)

Refer to: OCPS

1. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Laboratory Professional Specialty Group (LPSG) is to identify, define, prioritize, and advocate for the information resource management and technology needs of users of the clinical Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) in the Indian Health Service (IHS).
2. AUTHORITY. The LPSG functions under the guidance and authority of the National Laboratory Professionals Council (NLPC). The LPSG charter members will solely conduct laboratory informatics activities, whereas the NLPC charter members’ main focus is to establish, implement, and preserve the National Laboratory Services Program to achieve the IHS mission.
3. MEMBERSHIP.  The LPSG membership will consist of Federal IHS clinical laboratory scientists (CLS) or medical laboratory scientists (MLS), both of which qualify as medical laboratory health professionals formerly titled “Medical Technologists,” preferably those with knowledge of LIS at IHS. Membership will include representatives from a minimum of five IHS Areas using the LIS. Elected members will serve for a 2-year term and may be elected for a second term. Elected LPSG members will not hold any elected positions on the NLPC. If unavailable to attend a scheduled meeting, non-elected LPSG members are responsible for arranging for an alternate to attend on their behalf. Any member missing two or more meetings per year will be reviewed for replacement at the discretion of the LPSG Chair and/or LPSG Vice-Chair.
   1. Voting Membership includes:
      1. Chair
      2. Vice-Chair
      3. Area Member: One CLS or MLS member; ideally one from each Area, with a minimum of five Areas involved.
      4. Area CLS/Laboratory Informaticist(s), if in place.
4. ELECTIONS.
   1. Chair: Initial appointment is made by the NLPC. At the end of a two-year term, the Chair steps down and the Vice-Chair shall assume the role of LPSG Chair for a subsequent two-year term.
   2. Vice-Chair: At the end of a two-year term, the Vice-Chair becomes the Chair, and the Chair shall request nominations from current LPSG members to elect a new Vice-Chair by a simple majority (at least fifty percent) of voting LPSG members. If needed, the NLPC Chair will provide the tie-breaking vote in election matters. In the event the Vice-Chair is unable to assume the role of LPSG Chair, then the NLPC will appoint a Chair who will then follow the instructions in section 4. B.
   3. Area Members: When a vacancy in Area membership occurs, the Area Laboratory Consultant, Permanent or Acting, in that Area shall submit an Area-wide call for nominations.
   4. In the event that the Chair and/or Vice-Chair were to vacate, then the Area Laboratory Consultant, Permanent or Acting, in that Area shall submit an Area-wide call for nominations.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES. In all matters pertaining to Laboratory Accreditation regulatory requirements, determine and evaluate the information management and technology requirements needed to provide safe, efficient, economic, effective health care, and provide expertise and support for similar efforts. Laboratory Accreditation Agencies require clinical laboratories to provide and maintain laboratory test reliability, efficiency, and high quality in accordance with regulatory standards established by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act 1988.
   1. Chair. It is the Chair’s responsibility to:
      1. Preside over all meetings and conference calls.
      2. Establish and activate workgroups to research, take action, and report on specific LPSG Committee concerns.
      3. Coordinate tasks and reports among workgroups.
      4. Develop and present position statements and recommendations to the NLPC Executive Committee.
      5. Coordinate tasks and reports among members of the LPSG committee.
      6. Serve in any capacity as requested by the NLPC.
   2. Vice-Chair. It is the LPSG Vice-Chair’s responsibility to:
      1. Assume the duties of the LPSG Chair in the event of their absence.
      2. Coordinate the preparation of quarterly meeting agendas and meeting minutes, and communicate information to the NLPC Executive Committee.
   3. Area Members and Area CLS/Laboratory Informaticist(s). It is the Area Members’ and Area CLS/Laboratory Informaticists’ responsibility to:
      1. Represent the Laboratory Informatics concerns of IHS Federal programs and serve as a conduit to other groups by:
         1. Seeking input from all users at the local and regional levels (i.e., get hands-on feedback from daily LIS users).
         2. Sharing information with CLS/MLS at the local and regional levels.
         3. Communicating issues, concerns, and priorities of CLS/MLS.
         4. Identify technologies and services essential to laboratory practice.
      2. Develop short- and long-term goals for future laboratory application or system needs.
      3. Review laboratory computer-system needs and endorse future software developments.
      4. Identify requirements for developing or modifying LIS.
      5. Collaborate to develop and review appropriate training materials, user manuals, and tools.
      6. Endorse Alpha and Beta testing of new software releases.
      7. Respond to requests for information from sources, including the IHS Office of Information Technology (OIT) Laboratory Informaticist; NLPC; and the National Council of Informaticists.
6. VOTES.  
   1. Quorum. A quorum of 50 percent of the voting members will be required to conduct business. Suppose a quorum is not reached for two consecutive meetings. In that case, the Chair and Vice-Chair can still address critical items and come to an agreed proposed action. They will notify the membership through electronic meeting minutes to determine if they want to vote on the proposed action.
   2. Vote on Motions. A simple majority (more than fifty percent) of votes, collected electronically, will determine the acceptance or rejection of a given motion. In the event of a tie, the LPSG Chair will cast the deciding vote.
7. RELATIONSHIPS.  
   1. The LPSG communicates with CLS/MLS, NLPC, NCI, the Information Systems Advisory Council, Information Technology Support Center staff, Division of Information Resources staff, the Director’s Executive Council, and others in writing or conference calls.
   2. The LPSG works with the OIT Laboratory Informaticist to prioritize enhancement requests for future patch deployment, provides feedback on future LIS training needs, and identifies alpha and beta laboratory testers of future patch developments.
8. MEETINGS.  
   1. Scheduled Meetings. It is anticipated that the LPSG will convene quarterly as an in-person, virtual, or hybrid meeting. Other workgroup meetings will be scheduled as needed.
   2. Meeting Minutes. The LPSG Vice-Chair will be responsible for taking the meeting minutes and distributing them within 30 days. Minutes shall be available electronically for review and comment by any IHS CLS/MLS before the next scheduled meeting. The minutes will then be attached to the agenda of the next scheduled meeting. The first item of business for all meetings will be to review and approve the last meeting’s minutes.
9. WORKGROUPS.  
   
   The Chair of the LPSG shall appoint workgroups as needed to achieve the goals of the LPSG.
10. REPORTING.  
    
    The Chair of the LPSG is responsible for assigning and coordinating the drafting of reports, position statements, and other documents, in addition to representing the LPSG when requested by other relevant organizations.
11. EFFECTIVE DATE.  
    
    This charter is effective upon the date of approval.