Hawai'i DOH Launches Enhanced Online Licensing For Clinical Laboratory Professionals

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 04 Jan 2009 - 1:00 PST

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Renewing Hawai'i state clinical laboratory personnel licenses just got easier. The Hawai'i State Department of Health (DOH) State Laboratories Division (SLD) now allows clinical laboratory professionals to update their profiles and pay license renewal fees online. The website is a collaboration between SLD and Apusys LLC, which developed the database and web interface, and the Hawai'i Information Consortium, which managed the payment transactions. This electronic system is part of the Lingle-Aiona Administration's ongoing initiative to expand online government services.

The DOH SLD currently reviews and approves over 1,200 renewals every two years, and processes almost 100 new applications annually. The SLD encourages clinical laboratory directors, cytotechnologists, medical technologists, medical laboratory technicians, and specialists to renew online for real-time payment, receipt, and delivery of the license renewal card.

The online service makes renewing licenses more convenient for clinical laboratory professionals, especially those on the neighbor islands. Renewing online is also environmentally friendly because all communications for processing renewals can be handled through the web site and e-mail, eliminating the need for paper. In addition, the State saves money and time that would normally be spent on postage and processing checks. There are no additional surcharges or fees for renewing online. "We've had a tremendous response to our online renewal service," said SLD Chief Dr. Chris Whelen. "Since the launch on Monday, December 15, 2008, 91percent of the individuals that visited the payment page paid online."

It only takes a few minutes for licensed clinical laboratory professionals to review their current profile and pay the license fee online. New applicants can and do build their profiles online, but SLD still requires submission from third parties of educational transcripts and proof of national certification. "I really like the system enhancements because I don't have to worry about misplaced checks and can easily verify licensing status," said Kent Kitagawa, MT (ASCP), quality management technologist for SLD. "The system we rolled out two years ago was pretty good, but the new version has greatly enhanced capabilities that will make transactions and monitoring much more efficient." To build a profile and/or renew a license online click here.

DOH State Laboratories Division