Apr 1, 2013 | Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
As healthcare payers encourage providers to keep patients out of hospitals, health systems nationally are constructing a new generation of facilities with many fewer beds
Here’s a trend that should catch the attention of every clinical laboratory manager and pathologist working in a hospital. New hospitals are being designed and built around a new treatment paradigm: that tomorrow’s patient will get sophisticated treatment, then mostly go home to sleep in their own beds! That means fewer inpatient beds in service and shorter hospital stays. (more…)
Mar 6, 2013 | Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
Innovative care management models offer potential opportunities to expand medical laboratory testing services
Reducing hospital readmissions is a major goal and Walgreen Co. (NYSE:WAG) wants to do its part using a new medication management program. The retail pharmacy giant has entered contracts with about a dozen providers to deliver prescriptions to hospitalized patients and manage their medications for the first 30 days after discharge.
Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers know that preventable hospital readmissions cost the U.S. healthcare system approximately $25 billion per year. That figure was provided by a Walgreen’s press release. Among Medicare patients, about 20% are re-hospitalized within 30 days of discharge, the release stated.
“When a patient leaves the hospital with a new medication regimen, it can be overwhelming for both the individual and a caregiver,” observed Kermit R. Crawford, President, Pharmacy, Health and Wellness Division at Walgreens, in the release. (more…)
Feb 4, 2013 | Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Management & Operations
Telemedicine allows U.S. pathologists and other specialists to boost revenue by consulting with international partners.
Pathology laboratories in the United States are among the first adopters of a trend toward international telemedicine.
Pathologists working at a handful of well-known healthcare organizations here in the United States are forming partnerships with other hospitals and health systems worldwide, particularly in China. (more…)
Jan 11, 2013 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations
State and federal investigations into possible antitrust violations arising from provider consolidation could have implications for the nation’s independent medical laboratories
Physician-practice acquisition deals are drawing increased scrutiny from federal and state investigators concerned about possible antitrust violations. Because ownership of medical groups can play a role in how the owners decide on a medical laboratory testing provider, these anti-trust reviews could inhibit concentration of ownership by large hospitals or health systems.
Hospitals, private equity firms, and even health insurers are racing to buy up independent physician practices. At the same time, physicians are open to selling their medical practice and working as employees after the sale is completed. (more…)
Oct 3, 2012 | Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
As they hire young pathologists, pathology groups and clinical laboratories will need to factor in the generational preferences of these Gen Y physicians
Generation Y doctors take a much different approach to the practice of medicine than the Gen X and Baby Boomer doctors who preceded them. It will be important for clinical laboratories and pathology groups serving Gen Y physicians to understand these important differences.
While Gen Y doctors remain just as dedicated to the high standards of medicine as their predecessors, the current crop of young doctors approach the practice of medicine with a much broader world-view than previous generations of physicians, according to a recent story in Modern Healthcare (MH). (more…)
