May 28, 2014 | Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology
Pathologists and clinical laboratory managers can expect that physicians will want to incorporate digital remote patient monitoring into their clinical practices
Swift advances in technology devoted to fitness-tracking devices used by consumers are creating opportunities for physicians to tap that data to remotely monitor their patients. These pioneering efforts show how even medical laboratory testing functions might eventually be incorporated in these fitness tracking products.
Of course, these devices were created for non-clinical functions. But they do allow doctors to get real-time looks at a patient’s vital signs outside of the traditional office visit. Using these consumer electronic devices for medical purposes is part of the larger trend of marshalling technology to produce better patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. (more…)
Apr 27, 2012 | Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Management & Operations
Trend from reductionism to holistic biomedicine means clinical laboratories and pathologists should expect increased multiplex testing
Systems biology (SB) is a rapidly-evolving area of research that, by itself, could greatly expand the need for multiplex testing performed by clinical laboratories. But systems biology has yet to catch the full attention of either the media or Wall Street.
That may soon change. Despite the complexity of human metabolic systems, experts in systems biology are making progress in identifying the myriad of metabolic channels that collectively can be used to diagnose disease and identify appropriate therapies. These are auspicious developments for medical laboratory managers and pathologists.
Probably no single individual has done more to advance the field of systems biology than Leroy Hood, M.D., Ph.D. In 2000, he co-founded the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) in Seattle, Washington and his colleagues engaged scientists across a number of fields to study the metabolic processes of humans and other organisms.
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Mar 30, 2012 | Laboratory Pathology
Now in its fifth year, Indiana’s CDHP now covers 90% of eligible state employees
Many pathologists and clinical laboratory managers are carefully watching for evidence that new healthcare delivery models can deliver improved patient outcomes at a lower cost. Now comes evidence that a consumer-directed health plan (CDHP) for Indiana state employees—that incentivizes consumers to manage their healthcare dollars more carefully—is saving money for both employees and the state.
According to a story in the Centre Daily Times (CDT), state officials in Indiana claim that the state’s CDHP has reduced the state’s overall health benefit costs and met with high subscriber satisfaction.
Governor Mitch Daniels and other Indiana officials claim that, since introducing the CDHP in 2006, the Hoosier state’s overall health benefit costs are down by more than 10%, with only 2% of subscribers switching back to a traditional plan, the CDT reporter wrote.
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