Stanford University Researchers Finds Physician Burnout as Big a Threat to Patient Safety as Unsafe Hospital Conditions; Exhausted Providers Twice as Likely to Make Medical Errors

Aug 17, 2018 | Digital Pathology, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations

Pathologists might be able to help overburdened doctors by adding medical laboratory support services that assist providers in selecting the right tests and identifying the best therapeutic options for patients In a new Stanford University School of Medicine study published in the July 9, 2018, issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers indicate that physician burnout may be as big a cause of medical errors as unsafe healthcare environments. This highlights an opportunity for clinical...

Researchers in Two Separate Studies Discover Gut Microbiome Can Affect Efficacy of Certain Cancer Drugs; Will Findings Lead to a New Clinical Laboratory Test?

Dec 29, 2017 | Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing

If the link between certain types of gut bacteria and improved effectiveness of certain cancer treatments can be leveraged, then medical laboratories could soon have another diagnostic tool to use in supporting physicians with cancer care From improving treatments for chronic diseases to extending lives, gut microbiome (bacteria that is part of human microbiota) has been at the forefront of developing clinical laboratory testing and anatomic pathology diagnostic technologies in recent years....

Continuing Popularity of Employer Medical Clinics Brings New Opportunities for Medical Laboratory Outreach

Aug 12, 2016 | Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations

As the number of on-site and near-site clinics grow, medical laboratories and pathologists could find unique opportunities to bridge the information gap between traditional health systems and new employer-based offerings Employers have a big stake in lowering the cost of healthcare. That is one reason why more employers are incorporating employee wellness programs into their health benefit offerings. This is a favorable trend for medical laboratories, because such wellness programs often...

Physician Practice Management Companies Stage a Comeback; Anatomic Pathology Groups Remain Skeptical

Feb 24, 2016 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology

As reimbursement models shift, physician practice management companies (PPMCs) offer increased value and appeal for hospital-based physicians (HBPs) Are physician practice management companies (PPMCs)—a hot trend during the 1990s—poised to make a comeback in this decade? Whether this healthcare business model can gain traction during the 2010s remains to be seen, but, of all physician specialties, pathologists are likely to be among the most skeptical, just as they were during the 1994-2000...

Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups May See Fewer Fee-For-Service Payments as More Hospitals and Health Systems Become Self-Insured

Sep 28, 2015 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing

As national health insurers push more risk to hospital systems and medical groups, many hospital administrators become more interested in establishing their own health insurance companies New modes of provider reimbursement—such as bundled payments and budgeted payments—are motivating hospitals and health systems to reconsider their existing relationships with health insurers. Hospital administrators want to control the dollars they save by improving patient care, instead of allowing insurance...