Document Control

This has been a really cost-effective way to organize our lab and maintain compliance.

Comments: This has helped us save an entire forest of trees. It has also improved tracking of our active documents in the lab.

Pros:

Prompts to log in and review documents are very helpful. It's also great to be able to see who has accessed specific documents and for how long.

Cons:

The UI feels really old and is very appealing. It is also not possible to approve items in bulk (as far as I can tell).

Easy, Practical and Customizable Electronic Document Management System at a Great Value

Comments: We have been transitioning from an older system using word documents kept in a secure drive. MediaLab has offered the ability to collaborate on document revisions, securely track document changes, and feel more assured that only the most current version of each document is in use. We can also see at-a-glance what documents exist as approved, in-review or needing update and can see usage reports to know which are most valuable. Feedback from custom quiz success rates allows us to improve how documents (or quizzes) are written. The system also allows for remote access, which is essential to making it available wherever you are that has internet connectivity.

Pros:

MediaLab is an easy-to-learn and robust, yet simple-to-use and maintain electronic document management system. It simplifies the document control process and allows users a variety of paths to manage their laboratory documents, including policies, processes and procedures, forms references and much more. The user interface is intuitive, and allows users to quickly access the information that they need through searchable documents. The software keeps track of previous document versions and actions, optionally allows the printing of controlled copies and makes document approval and review a snap. There is also an option to generate customizable quizzes that can be used to verify personnel have read the salient points of each new or revised document and this can double in its use as a part of competency assessment. Site management is also intuitive and comes with extensive accessible help for those with minimal background in website management. The downloadable back-ups are invaluable. The customer service has been outstanding! If you need an easy-to-use, practical and customizable electronic document management system at a great value, I highly recommend this product.

Cons:

Nothing! If I had one wish for this product, it would be to expand its functionality with portable tablet devices. That could make it even easier to keep at the testing bench.

MediaLab is easy to use & contacting MediaLab personnel is simple. It lacks additional functionality

Comments: Benefits include ability to easily pull reports, make changes quickly, assign training and enter documents for training without problems, and navigating the system with ease. However, because we are using the system for training only, it has its limitations.

Pros:

Note: Our company uses MediaLab for training only, not document control - Easy navigation of system (straightforward on how to train on documents) - Easy to input information (personnel information, documents) - Customer response is quick - Having the functionality to assign Group Supervisors and assign special employee signoffs - Great traceability within the system (change history for users and for permission changes)

Cons:

Note: Our company uses MediaLab for training only, not document control - Unable to customize reports (would like to pull reports within specific dates (not full list), list of personnel with their assigned manuals) -Unable to customize due dates for Performing Employee signoff (we have different requirements for PE - Assigned dates are incorrect (since we are using the software for training only, it has been problematic that when a document with a minor revision is signed off, the assigned date is changed to the signoff date - our metrics for training compliance is signoff date minus assigned date so we have inaccuracies in our data)

Very satisfied user!

Comments: I have used several Document Management systems. This is by far the easiest to use. I meets all our regulatory requirements. The support in both setting up the system and ongoing has been wonderful. Any requests have been quickly dealt with. Also, they are very open to suggested changes. We have been so pleased with the Document Management system and are now adding on additional programs, such as Compass and Inspection Proof

Pros:

You really can't make a mistake in using the system. I particularly like that you can assign users to review the documents and track their usage. Also, it's very easy to send comments back and for to users, for example if a change is requested or a typo is noted. We have staff that are not the best at using computers and this program has been very easy for them to use. We feel that for the first time that our documents are usable, accurate and great tool to train our staff to.

Cons:

No Cons at all. Just recommend taking the time to write and format your documents prior to checking them into the system. This will make the process much smoother.

MediaLab has been transformative. It has enabled me to better oversee document control.

Comments: Before using MediaLab we struggled constantly to manage the hundreds of policies and procedures in our lab. MediaLab has allowed me as the laboratory director to more easily review, edit, and approve all documents. It has also allowed me create more consistent documents in terms of formatting across all areas of the lab. Instead of using copies of copies of copies of forms or worksheets, we now have these in MediaLab, so there is no excuse not to have professional-appearing forms at all times.

Pros:

Ease of use with regard to using Microsoft Word to create and edit procedures and policies. Customer service has also been exceptional.

Cons:

There are some features I would like to see added, e.g., intradocument hyperlinks and the ability for me as a director to more easily convert from minor revision to major revision.

This web based version makes it so easy to assign training to a remote workforce.

Pros:

I especially like the feature to add our own company training programs and have it be easily assigned to employees.

Cons:

We can only grant access to a specific number of employees. We often have to delete termed employees so we can grant access to new employees. When we do this we lose their training completion records.

Excellent product

Pros:

We've used this in our laboratories for many years, and have found it to be very helpful and useful

Cons:

The price does seem to increase each year, and there is only one site administrator allowed per site, which is cumbersome

MediaLab Laboratory Document Control

Comments: It's great! It was nearly impossible to keep up with reviews and versions without a system like this. It really makes my job easier.

Pros:

You can assign your own policy numbers OR let the system assign them.

Cons:

Sometimes a bit confusing when trying to go back to a manual, but it is really straightforward, just need to get used to it. I never set up my new user call, but it is available at any time.

It's like switching from an analog watch to a digital watch. Great tool for any lab.

Pros:

The ability to digitally store, manage, and keep track of your manuals and forms is WAY better than the old method with paper. There are multiple options on editing and modifying a document. No more are the days where you need to hound your lab director, supervisor, or employees to sign a document. The software will remind that person daily and there is a comment box that will inform what changes have been made to the document. You can also link the CAP inspection checklist to the manual so inspectors have an easier time finding the checklist item in question.

Cons:

There is a learning curve to understanding and using the software. Still learning different functionalities of the software as I continually update my manual.

Media Lab has worked out well for our needs.

Comments: We are required to have document control and this serves our needs very well.

Pros:

It is easy to download, revise and upload procedures. Inspection Proof is an enormous help with our inspections. We can just sit the inspectors down with a computer and this covers most our inspection because it is very easy for them to go through their checklist from there.

Cons:

Sometimes the help tips do not cover what I need to know, even though it seems to me that it should be there.

Great for getting CAP compliant

Comments: Learning curve is there, but unavoidable. Features are improving with user input. Great support team.

Pros:

Provides for getting all documents in order and retrievable. Support is great and solved problems. Inspection proof allowed us to get through last 2 inspections in great shape.

Cons:

Initial document entry and conversion from paper to electronic formats was a bit painful, though I expect unavoidable.

Media Lab is very user friendly

Comments: We use the document control, continuing education, and inspection proof

Pros:

I like that it has a variety of functionality (i.e. document control, continuing education, competency, inspection proof).

Cons:

We are a healthcare system and some of the functionality with the document control process does not lend itself easily to a system approach. Multiple facilities with multiple medical directors with the same policies.

Makes meeting CAP standards easy

Comments: easier CAP inspections

Pros:

Ability to manage all lab documents, obtain electronic approvals, obtain electronic employee sign offs, maintain archived/retired documents, reminder for overdue policies, streamlines process for managing p/p for larger multi-hospital system

Cons:

it's not interfaced with out HR solution to sync passwords and usernames with what is used for all other systems we use.

MediaLab is not very user friendly. It's known throughout the company as kind of a pain to use.

Pros:

Software keeps SOPs and PRCs updated. I enjoy that I can edit my email settings and that I can add content and DOCLs to assignments.

Cons:

Not user friendly or intuitive, changes settings without alerting us often (switching people's permissions, etc), courses can get lost after creation. Reports are not always helpful to pull with courses that have multiple competencies/DOCLs associated with them (exporting the report in Excel does not show status of each portion of assignment, only how many activities have been completed)

Document control has been very easy to use and helpful

Pros:

I like most how easy and efficient the software is to use for controlling documents. I have easy access to all policies and procedures within the facility and eliminates a lot of paper documentation.

Cons:

I like least how notifications are delayed at times or repeated when activities have been made within the program such as approvals.

Great for inspections

Pros:

The inspection module for CAP inspections. It's great that we can answer all the checklist questions, link sops and supporting documents. Also it's great that we can upload the answer to previous inspections.

Cons:

Process is time consuming, editing a document can take a while. Wish the emails for updating was better structured.

Easy

Comments: a one stop shop for all things competency

Pros:

Very easy system to use, customer support has helped tremendously. I appreciate the quick feedback when an issue has arisen.

Cons:

I really do not have any cons about the software. I guess I wish that you could bridge the gap between compass being used for POC and general lab.

We use Document Control and Compass. DC works great in conjunction with Compass for training

Pros:

The ability to share documents throughout the lab is useful. It is also a benefit to keep common documents (ie., meeting minutes for lab review)

Cons:

The Help section is not as detailed as it could be. It can be frustrating to click on a help link a receive a message that the section is not completed.

It is easy to use and navigate. There is a lot of white space which helps with finding functions.

Comments: A program that finally has a quick turn around time for corrections in the standard operating procedures. It also, is very easy to load other attachments and only assign the attachments/supplements of a SOP to a group or individual.

Pros:

It has many functions that are specific to lab use like Medical Directors review of documents and procedures.

Cons:

The access to view other department/facilities menu has to be given instead of just having all document control items viewable to all locations.

The interface is fairly easy to use, and the response time is quick.

Pros:

I find the search function to be incredibly accurate and helpful. Uploading new and revised documents is easy.

Cons:

Lack of customization for reports. It would be nice if we were to be able to sort / rearrange the the document list when viewing user sign off for training.

Makes document organization easy.

Comments: organization and ease of use.

Pros:

The ability for employees to sign off that they read documents, and the reports that are kept for that.

Cons:

There are so many options, sometimes I feel like I am missing out on functionality I don't know about.

Medialab is a good tool to utilize in inspections to organize policies and competencies.

Pros:

The ability to have staff go into the software by assigning different programs, also the ability for upper management and physicians to sign off.

Cons:

It is not the easiest program to understand and it training or motivating people to begin the process is not the easiest.

media is ok. its gets the job done.

Comments: ease of use

Pros:

The software is user friendly and easy to navigate through. Its also very straight forward for new users. I personally like that alerts it sends out to remind employees of pending assignments

Cons:

I feel that the software is slow.The software takes a while to search for documents and employees . i think the search feature needs to be updated its hard to find certain SOPs , manuals, and other documents at a reasonable speed.

New for us, so we don't understand it all but so far eliminates work and increases efficiency.

Comments: Efficiency--I don't have to manage documents as much because of the approval processes and the continuity (after original setup).

Pros:

The automated approval process is nice. I like that we can link to other SOP's so easily. I also like the ability to customize quizzes and/or sign-offs for documents. So far it's been easy to manage--a bit time-consuming to set up, but it should be easier now that official setup is complete.

Cons:

Not sure yet. There's been a learning curve so I don't understand all of it yet, but there haven't been any major headaches that I can think of. Some users have complained about the blurriness of the text (it's not as clear as our former software)--I'm not sure if this was affected by the upload speed or what contributed to this.

Modern Lab software.

Comments: Document Control software has enabled us to efficiently manage lab procedures and edit documents without making costly errors.

Pros:

Availability of robust search engine features and customizable workflows.

Cons:

The software is limited to trained health technicians.