All clinical and environmental specimens that are tested by the Hygienic Laboratory are accessioned and tracked by Client Services.
The Client Services section consists of the support services areas of the laboratory that relate to customer service. The 23 staff members work in the areas of data entry, customer service contact (price quotes, kit orders, results, billing), receptionists, and, in Ankeny, Central Services.
Client Services also includes Central Accessioning, which receives and processes every clinical and environmental sample that arrives at the laboratory; Glassware Wash, which cleans and sterilizes glass equipment; and Media Prep, which prepares the sterile material used to help identify bacteria and viruses.
Many staff members have direct contact with clients either in person, on the phone or through electronic contact such as e-mail.
The Client Services section completed data entry of 100,049 clinical samples and 64,686 environmental samples. Central Accessioning logged 164,735 laboratory tests into the database with verification by the Client Services staff.
- Combined the data entry and client services duties under one supervisor in Coralville, allowing data entry staff to be cross trained in all disciplines of both clinical and environmental data entry and verification.
- Hired a Support Services supervisor in Ankeny to provide oversight over the customer service needs.
- Assisted in the development of the clinical version of OpenELIS, which went live in March 2015.
- Provided oversight of all the Iowa DNR projects that occurred from March to October to ensure that kit orders and results were provided to DNR staff.
- Began scanning all collection forms to allow on-line access and eliminate paper copies. This will become a part of the OpenELIS system so staff may easily access and view collection forms while they are working on samples. It also will allow clients to view the collection form through our on-line web portal where they receive their test results.