Suzanne Celmer-Harter LDR 678 Practicum Instrumentation: PrepLink/Remisol/Inlet Upgrade August 11, 2015

Beaumont Health

Site Supervisor Jeffrey Plassins, MT(ASCP), Administrative Director, Laboratory Services for Beaumont Health-Dearborn and Oakwood (legacy) labs 30+ years of laboratory experience Worked for Beaumont Health- Dearborn for the past 5 years

Practicum Overview: Manage a project that will: Replace the inlet of the automation line with a dynamic inlet Replace the 13 year old automation line computer and software system with PrepLink automation line controller Replace the outdated and unsupported chemistry instrumentation middleware with Remisol and add Command Central workstations

Practicum Objectives: Review/signoff on CAD drawings for new inlet configuration of automation line Hold meetings regularly to disseminate project information to team members Meet weekly with Beckman Coulter (vendor) representatives Coordinate site visit to another laboratory to visualize new line configuration and obtain information for the project Meet regularly with BCI project manager

Practicum Objectives: Arrange for Urinalysis instrument to be removed from line and obtain new specimen loading inlet deck for offline capabilities Assess space and data needs for project Arrange for staging and assembly areas for inlet modules and materials needed Assist with computer configuration, testing, and validation of PrepLink line controller Supervise installation of inlet and line upgrade from custom to code

Practicum Objectives: Prepare staff for automation downtime and arrange for training on new line components Work with Remisol project planners to determine server configuration, preplanning needs, rules writing, and operational issues Supervise development of Remisol rules writing and configuration of Command Central workstations Arrange for training of staff on Remisol and Command Central

Update on Practicum Objectives: Inlet Upgrade-Old Configuration

Update on Practicum Objectives: Inlet Upgrade-new configuration

Update on Practicum Objectives: PrepLink Line Controller

Update on Practicum Objectives: New configuration of Outlets/Stockyards

Update on Practicum Objectives: Inlet/PrepLink/Remisol What has been completed? Next steps? Timeframe Remisol implementation?

Lessons Learned: To date: I have 328 hours documented for my practicum. Never assume anything will go as planned.  The best examples of things that were problematic even though I was prepared: Unplanned demise of the automation line computer 3 weeks before the plan go-live. Having to start over again with the new Beaumont IT to work on security issues for Remisol project. Waiting for others to respond.

Lessons Learned: Make sure you and your staff understands the workflow and process in both the current and proposed states. Education and training of the staff on new procedures is paramount to success of the project.

Lessons Learned: Plan, research, do your homework, and go on site visits to obtain as much information as possible prior to start of project.  It makes the planning phase and addressing problems easier. Talk to professional colleagues to learn best practices, inside information and create a network that you can use for collaboration.  This was especially useful when working out issues.  

Lessons Learned: Work with IT at every stage and make them your ally. Design data drops and locations of peripherals that work best with the workflow configuration.  Make sure you involve your staff in the decision-making process to gain buy-in and knowledgeable information. Validate and document every procedural change and testing stage.  This is especially important if you have to provide proof to an accreditation agency. 

Lessons Learned: Remember this is a process. Some weeks you make take two steps forward, one step back. Others may be just two steps backwards and still others, all forward movement. With patience and perseverance, you get to the end of the practicum.