Delaware HIE Teaming Up with iSpecimen to Turn Remnant Clinical Pathology Laboratory Specimens into Cash
‘Explosive growth’ of biomarker discovery and development fuels demand for biospecimens, thus creating a new revenue source for clinical laboratories and pathology groups
Are health information networks alive and well in the United States? This sector of healthcare has been quiet in recent years. However, there is one statewide health information exchange (HIE) that is doing innovative things with clinical laboratory specimens.
The Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN) has entered into a novel collaboration that may help address the medical research community’s growing need for clinical specimens. At the same time, this agreement will also provide a much-needed new revenue stream for participating medical laboratories and hospitals.
With Medicare and health insurers reducing reimbursements for laboratory tests, medical laboratories and pathology groups are facing uncertain financial times. However, DHIN’s new partnership with iSpecimen of Massachusetts highlights the potential value of remnant clinical specimens—samples that otherwise would be discarded once patient testing is complete.
“The value of digitizing medical data extends beyond the obvious value of supporting direct patient care,” DHIN Chief Executive Officer Jan Lee, MD, said in a news release. “With informed patient consent, digital data can also help match clinical specimens with very specific research criteria. DHIN is proud to play a role in supporting such efforts to find new breakthrough treatments and cures.” (more…)
