[Corresponding to an investigation of the Japan Council for Quality Health Care].

The Japan Council for Quality Health Care (JCQHC) was established in 1995, to improve medical facilities in Japan. After 2001, the medical service of a medical facility could be remunerated. When its activity level is authorized of JCQHC, thereafter the medical facilities applying the authorization have been increasing. For the authorization of a medical laboratory section, two functions must be evaluated by JCQHC, i.e., (1) reliable quality control of laboratory data, and (2) effective cooperation with the other sections within the facility. Items included in the latter are participation in hospital operation, teamwork and personnel management within the section, education-training, quality control of materials and equipments, reasonable utilization of out-sourcing, etc. The application documents for the assessment by the JCQHC describe the organization of the medical facility, available guidelines and manuals, and operation records. The operation records should be itemized into programming, inspection-analysis of the procedures, measures of incidents-accidents, etc. It is recommended that self-assessment of these items be established within a facility.