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IPC case studies: developing skills

The provincial government has mandated the regulatory health Colleges via the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991 (RHPA), to promote interprofessional collaboration (IPC) among members and with other health profession regulatory Colleges.

Through IPC, MLTs may:

  • share their specialized knowledge with other members of the health care team
  • provide unique value in diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.

The CMLTO develops professional practice resources for MLTs to support and advance IPC in order to enhance patient care.

A series of eight case studies were developed to illustrate opportunities for IPC in various professional practice scenarios.

REVISED in 2019!

Case study #1: Responding to clinical needs with laboratory procedural changes

Case study #2: Simplification of laboratory processes for clinicians

Case study #3: In-sourcing diagnostic testing

Case study #4: Reducing specimen integrity issues

NEW for 2019!

Case study #5: Dealing with unprofessional communication
Case study #6: Misplaced specimen
Case study #7
: POCT quality
Case study #8
: Dealing with confrontation

NEW for 2023!

CMLTO has developed new case studies for MLTs to support and guide registrants who are working through ethically challenging situations. The case studies and guidelines encourage registrants to reflect on and to think critically about these ethical situations. The two case studies should be reviewed along with the Ethical Guidelines for Decision-Making which can be found here.

Case study 1: The Blood Shortage Dilemma / French (here)
Case study 2: Cytology Slide Reporting Error / French (here)


Reading through a case study, and reflecting upon the opportunities for improving professional practice, supports the development of effective strategies and skills for handling similar situations in the future. MLTs may not experience these exact scenarios in their workplace, but similar key themes may exist locally making the case studies useful in identifying barriers and enablers that are unique to their professional practice.

Case study discussions may be done individually or within groups. MLTs should reflect on the enablers and barriers to the professional practice on personal and organizational levels to identify individual opportunities for improving professional practice and organizational procedures.

After reading the IPC case studies, please take a few moments to tell us how useful you’ve found them. Click here to answer a brief online anonymous survey.