Getting it (Exactly) Right

Annette Konsdorf

How long have you been working at Shepherd Center, and what is your role?

I’ve been here for a year and six months. I’m the laboratory manager. That means that I make sure the lab is compliant with all the regulations that it needs to be through The Joint Commission and CMS [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services].

What was your first day of work like?

It was very welcoming. This place has a very positive vibe, and I'm a very positive person, so I took to it like a duck to water. Everyone was so welcoming; everybody was happy to be here and happy to meet me. You don't see that a lot in hospitals. It's [usually] more corporate, and you don't get that feel here. This is not a corporation or a large hospital system where you can get lost in the weeds.

What happens in Shepherd’s lab?

Any test that the doctors order that we can provide in-house, we do. And we're also the central point for any labs we don't perform in-house, which we send out to other labs.

What does a typical day at work look like for you?

On typical days, I come in, and I have a game plan — and sometimes that game plan is executed! At the beginning of the month, I review all the records, including all the QC [quality control] records and maintenance records. Then, if I can, I'll review a procedure to make sure the procedure is following [the correct steps]. Then, I’ll go over the regulations to make sure that we don't have any major violations or things we need to do. We are one of the most highly regulated departments in the hospital. We’re inspected every two years. Quality is a big piece of [my role] — and managing my staff.

What does it mean to “review a procedure?”

Every blood test, every swab, everything we do in the lab has a procedure. It's not a policy, it's a procedure. So, when we do anything in the lab, there has to be a step-by-step way to do it. Here's how you collect the specimen, here’s how you process the specimen, and here’s how you perform that test on that specimen. It just can't be done how you think it should be — we all must do it the same way, and all the controls have to work. If the controls work, then your testing works, and that's how you guarantee you have a correct result to treat the patient.

What part of your job do you find most fulfilling?

Solving problems or finding a new way to do something. That’s sort of my jam.

How does your role impact patients and families?

Seventy percent of all decisions for the patient are based on lab results. If our lab results aren't accurate, then the treatment for our patients isn't going to be good. They’re not going to have their best day to go to rehab. My role is to make sure that everything that comes out of this lab is precise and correct so [patients] can have their best day for rehabilitation.

Responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Education

Wright State University, Bachelor of Science, Medical Technology

Saint Joseph’s University, Master of Health Administration

Fun Facts

Annette’s son is a big part of her life. He will turn 31 this year.

She enjoys playing golf, cross-stitching, and watching football, especially the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Originally from Ohio, Annette and her partner of 12 years, Kevin, enjoy traveling, including a trip to Oahu and Maui to visit her son. He served in the military and was stationed in Hawaii after being deployed to Afghanistan.

Interview by Ruth Underwood