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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Pathology Groups and Clinical Laboratories Should Prepare for Medicare RAC Auditors

2011 is the year that Medicare expands its Recovery Audit Program to include providers such as medical laboratories and pathology groups

During the next 12 months, many pathology groups and clinical laboratories will undergo their first audit as part of Medicare’s recently-expanded RAC (Recovery Audit Contractor) program. This is a big-dollar audit program. When Congress passed the enabling legislation, it was estimated that RAC would generate $10 billion in recoveries from hospitals, physicians, medical laboratories and other providers.
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Prices of Clinical Pathology Laboratories Are Rising Due to Buyer Demand

Conference on May 5 about clinical laboratory and pathology mergers and acquisitions

For owners and sellers of clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups in the United States, the past six months have been rosy times. That’s because buyers have stepped up and paid strong prices for the medical laboratory companies and pathology testing firms that came to market during this time.

Experts predict that merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the clinical laboratory industry will continue to be robust. Several factors reinforce this optimistic prediction.

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New “Best Practices” Turbocharge How Labs Use Lean and Six Sigma

Top labs are leveraging Lean Six Sigma to Boost Performance and Profits

Clinical laboratories and pathology groups using Lean Six Sigma methods are blowing right past the dismal economy and posting strong improvements in operations and financial performance. In fact, at their most innovative, these laboratories are developing new global “best practices” in how they use Lean and Six Sigma.

Both Sprick and Stegall will share the hottest developments in how labs are benefiting from Lean Six Sigma at a special audio conference.

Both Stegall and Sprick will share the hottest developments in how labs are benefiting from Lean Six Sigma.

“Laboratory professionals will be surprised at how fast Lean Six Sigma methods are transforming three areas of the lab,” stated Susan Stegall, Managing Partner at Sprick, Stegall and Associates,  a laboratory management consulting firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. “We see signs that the most proficient of these laboratories are performing at a ‘best practices’ level.

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Meet the Virtual Dermatopathology Lab, Doing Global Business From Boston

Second opinion dermpath business combines digital pathology, glass slides, and the Internet.

Telepathology, Federal Express, and internet technologies are the cornerstones of a flourishing second opinion business by dermatopathologists in Boston, Massachusetts. In just a few years, the practice has built a national and international clientele. This confirms that there is already overseas demand for access to expert pathologists with subspecialty skills.

Another unique twist to this pathology second opinion business is its use of a subscription arrangement. Referring pathology groups can pay sliding flat fee per case, based on a pre-agreed monthly volume. This arrangement has proved popular.

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Teaching “Best Practices” in Pathology Group Practice Management

Essential to protect pathology reimbursement with skilled management

Despite a slow economy, new technology continues to flood into anatomic pathology. These two contradictory forces make it essential for pathologist business leaders and their practice administrators to respond appropriately to preserve reimbursement and maximize the compensation of pathologists in the group.

Dollars are not flowing to labs as easily as before, and money left on the table can be the difference between a lab’s success and failure. Dark Daily recently caught up with Lance Beard, administrator at HistoPath, the largest provider of anatomic pathology services in South Texas, to talk about the challenges laboratories are facing in the current landscape.

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