COLA vs CAP for Point of Care

We have had both CAP and COLA for different sites. You don't state if you're doing this for a lab site or a site outside of the hospital lab. If your site is also TJC accredited, then you can't use COLA as an accrediting agency; TJC has ended this collaboration. So, we had some sites that were clinics attached to a TJC-accredited hospital, and we now have to switch from COLA to either CAP, CLIA, or TJC. We have another clinic that is not attached to a hospital; we can keep the COLA accreditation for that one. 
COLA does have some differences, for instance, you need to do 6 month competency for waived testing as well as non-waived. However, CAP does have many more checklist items than COLA. Good luck!

We had the opportunity to switch from CAP to COLA in two separate facilities; one a doctor's med group and the other, a free-standing surgical center. We have found the COLA inspectors more professional as well as educational-minded. The online site specific checklist of standards was very helpful. There is 
usually a few days ( or week ) lead time for the inspection date, which is helpful for scheduling staff, etc.

Hi Kathleen and Keith, would you be able to share a quality assurance procedures/program for COLA?

Please send your email and I'll send you our quality assurance program for COLA.