News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups
Hosted by Robert Michel

News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups
Hosted by Robert Michel
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Precision Medicine’s Most Successful Innovators to Speak in Nashville, including Vanderbilt Univ. Med. Center, Illumina, Geisinger Health, Northwell Health

Aug 23, 2018 | Digital Pathology, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations

Genetic testing, gene sequencing done by clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups underpin how first-mover hospitals, health networks are improving patient outcomes

In just a few weeks, an unprecedented gathering will bring together the nation’s most prominent first-mover health networks, hospitals, and companies operating programs that deliver precision medicine daily to patients in clinical care settings.

On Sept. 12-13, 2018, “Breakthroughs with Genetic and Precision Medicine: What All Health Network CEOs Need to Know,” will take place at the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. “What differentiates these sessions is the emphasis on each organization’s strategy, how it launched its precision medicine programs, what is improving in patient outcomes, and how payers are reimbursing for these services,” stated Robert L. Michel, Executive Director of the Precision Medicine Institute in Austin, Texas. “This is not about the science of precision medicine. Rather, it is about the practical elements required for any hospital, health system, or physician group to actually set up and deliver a precision medicine service to patients on a daily basis.”

Precision Medicine’s First-Mover Hospitals and Providers to Speak

Health systems and hospitals headlining this special conference are:

Companies scheduled to present include:

  • Illumina;
  • Humana;
  • Sonic Healthcare USA;
  • Genome Medical;
  • CQuentia, and,
  • S. HealthTek.

Exhibitors include the above, plus: Thermo Fisher, Philips, Sunquest, and MyGenetx.

“This meeting will give you the insider’s understanding about delivering precision medicine in real patient care settings that cannot be accessed at other venues,” noted Michel. “The goal is to have first-mover providers share their experiences, thus providing a road map that other hospitals, physician practices, and other providers at this conference can take back and follow with confidence.”

Michel said that sessions will be dedicated to precision medicine strategies, how it is being used in oncology, primary care, the role of pharmacogenomics, and use of healthcare big data. Speakers will describe the clever ways innovative health networks and hospitals are using healthcare big data to inform physicians in ways that improve outcomes, lower the cost of care and, in two real-world case studies, are generating seven-figure reimbursement from shared savings programs with certain health plans.

This year’s keynote address is by Jeffrey R. Balser, MD, PhD (above), President and CEO, Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, one of the most progressive and innovative health systems in the country. (Photo copyright: Vanderbilt University.)

Using Healthcare Big Data to Achieve Precision Medicine Success, Shared Savings

“Shared savings successes will be one of the breakthrough achievements reported at the Nashville event,” he explained. “We’ve invited two prominent provider organizations to share how they are using healthcare big data to support physicians in achieving improved patient outcomes while at the same time impressively reducing the overall cost of care. To my knowledge, this is the first time these precision medicine case studies have been presented at a national meeting.”

One such presentation will be delivered by Philip Chen, MD, PhD, Chief Healthcare Informatics Officer at Sonic Healthcare USA Austin, Texas. Their precision medicine goal was to use healthcare big data to help physicians better manage diabetes and other chronic conditions in their practices. This program involved a large primary care practice and a major health insurer. Now in its fourth year, Sonic Healthcare USA is earning six- and seven-figure payments as part of a shared savings arrangement with the insurer.

“Shared savings is definitely a Holy Grail for all large health networks and physician groups as payers drop fee-for-service and switch providers to value-based payments,” said Michel. “The experience of Sonic Healthcare in this innovative three-way collaboration with an insurer and a very large physician group demonstrates that a strong data analytics capability and engagement with physicians can simultaneously bend the cost-of-care-curve downward while improving patient outcomes, as measured year-by-year. This is a presentation every C-Suite executive should attend.

Strategic, Business, Operational, and Financial Aspects of Precision Medicine

“This conference—centered upon the strategic, business, operational, and financial aspects of a precision medicine program—came to be because it is the unmet need of every health network CEO and C-Suite administrator,” observed Michel. “Every healthcare leader tasked with developing an effective clinical and financial strategy for his or her institution knows that the real challenge in launching a precision medicine program for patient care is not the science.

“Rather, the true challenges come from how to support clinical needs with the availability of capital, recruiting experienced clinicians, and putting the right informatics capabilities in place,” he stated. “Most hospital and health network administrators recognize the risk of launching a precision medicine program too early. They know such programs can suck up huge amounts of resources without producing significant improvements in patient care. What adds to the risk is that payers may be slow to reimburse for precision medicine.”

Register today to guarantee your place at “Breakthroughs with Genetic and Precision Medicine: What All Health Network CEOs Need to Know,” (or copy and paste this URL in your browser: https://dark.regfox.com/precision-medicine-institute).

Register by September 1 and save $300 on tuition! Plus, take advantage of our special Team Discount Program, so you and your key team members can get the most out of the conference by attending together.

“Breakthroughs with Genetic and Precision Medicine: What All Health Network CEOs Need to Know” is the gold-standard summit for everyone active or interested in succeeding with precision medicine programs. Don’t miss out—register today!

—Michael McBride

Related Information:

Breakthroughs with Genetic and Precision Medicine: What All Health Network CEOs Need to Know—Full Agenda and Details

Breakthroughs with Genetic and Precision Medicine: What All Health Network CEOs Need to Know—Registration information

Ongoing Growth in Consumer Genetic Testing Pressures Hospitals, Healthcare Networks to Educate and Prepare Physicians

Syapse Creates Precision Medicine Council That Quickly Attracted 200 of the Biggest Hospitals and Health Networks as Members

When Ramping Up Genomic Programs, Health Network/Hospital CEOs and Executives Must Consider Emerging Technologies, Swiftly Rising Consumer Demand

Precision Medicine Success Hinges on Diagnostics’ Clinical Utility

Precision Medicine and Sharing Medical Data in Real Time: Opportunities and Barriers

Ongoing Growth in Volume of Clinical Laboratory Tests That Support Precision Medicine Due to Physician Acceptance; Payers Still Have Concerns

 

Community Paramedicine Brings Emergency Care into Patients’ Homes, Could Increase Clinical Laboratory Specimens Collected In These Settings

Apr 19, 2017 | Laboratory Hiring & Human Resources, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing, Management & Operations

Pathologists and clinical laboratories should be watching for the arrival of community paramedicine programs in their communities

Studies reveal that a sizeable proportion of 911 medical emergency calls result in an ambulance ride and emergency room visit for a medical condition that is relatively simple and not truly urgent. Recognizing this fact, some innovative health systems are creating a mobile “emergency room” service that can go to the patient’s home, provide appropriate care, and save the time and costs of the ambulance transport and emergency room (ER) visit.

This care model is being called “community paramedicine.” Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers should see this as a new example of how the traditional provision of healthcare services is being rethought. The goal is to combine modern workflow redesign techniques with new information technologies (IT) and medical laboratory tests to improve patient care while eliminating unnecessary cost.

The concept of bringing the ER to the patient’s home is consistent with the US medical industry’s shift toward offsite healthcare, which can include telehealth, to accommodate the growing population of geriatric, house-bound, and remote location patients. That is why programs are being created that allow patients to receive ER care in the comfort of their own homes. (more…)

Evolution and Revolution in Anatomic Pathology Discussed by Experts at Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory This Week

Dec 14, 2016 | Digital Pathology, Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Laboratory Testing

Because of ongoing advances in gene sequencing and the data analytics needed to interpret that information, new approaches to clinical care are becoming available to physicians and pathologists

COLD SPRING HARBOR, NEW YORK—Internationally-recognized as a leader in bringing together the brightest minds in genetics, the Banbury Center at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) produced a three-day conference here last week to explore the future state of anatomic pathology and identify opportunities in genetic medicine and image sciences that play to the strengths of the nation’s pathology laboratories.

“Evolution and Revolution in Anatomic Pathology: Automation, Machine-Assisted Diagnostics, Molecular Prognostics, and Theranostics” was the title, and the meeting’s organizers were CSHL and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Northwell Health.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Founded in 1890

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has a long history and an enviable reputation. It was founded in 1890 to train teachers in biology. However, by 1904, the laboratory’s mission had been expanded to include research in genetics. In 1924, the research mission was further enlarged to include quantitative biology—in particular, physiology and biophysics.

It was in 1968 that Nobel laureate James Watson, then a professor at Harvard University, accepted the directorship of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory while also keeping his professorship at Harvard University. Watson served at some level of leadership until 2008, when he became Chancellor Emeritus. Currently CSHL laboratory houses about 200 research-related personnel. (more…)

Lean-Six Sigma Medical Laboratories Begin to Innovate in Ways That Add Value to Physicians, Payers, and Patients

Oct 21, 2016 | Coding, Billing, and Collections, Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Management & Operations

With record attendance of 300 Lean-Six Sigma experts, this week’s conference was a high-energy event that provided medical lab professionals and pathologists with case studies of how to improve lab operations and contribute to better patient care

DATELINE: NEW ORLEANS—Yesterday was the conclusion of the 10th Annual Lab Quality Confab, which showcased innovators in clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups. Attendees traveled here from six different countries.

One new trend that emerged from this year’s presentations is that progressive medical labs are beginning to direct their Lean-Six Sigma, and process improvement efforts toward projects designed to add value to client physicians and hospitals. These projects include added-value features of benefit to patients and health insurers.

How Clinical Laboratories Are Succeeding with Lean Projects

This is a shift from prior years. At earlier Lab Quality Confabs, most speakers were describing how their labs were using Lean and quality management methods to improve workflow within their labs, increase the productivity of automation and staff, reduce errors, and cut costs. This was an “inside-the-lab” mindset.

That was not the case here in New Orleans this week. Yes, there were plenty of sessions where workflow redesign, productivity improvement, and cost reduction were discussed. But, at the same time, a significant number of labs doing presentations were describing projects that took the lab team outside of their laboratory to engage with physicians and nurses specifically to help them use clinical laboratory test data in ways that would improve patient care, reduce length-of-stay for hospital patients, and trigger worthwhile reductions of the cost of care. This is an “outside-the-lab” mindset. (more…)

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