Jun 4, 2014 | Digital Pathology, Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations
Achievement at University of Chicago may help clinical laboratories analyze large quantities of genomic data much faster than ever before, thus shortening the time required to produce a diagnostic result
It’s a breakthrough in the time required to analyze data from whole human genome sequencing. Researchers at the University of Chicago have successfully demonstrated that genome analysis can be radically accelerated.
This could be a big deal for pathologists and clinical laboratory scientists. That’s because a faster time-to-answer from gene sequencing would increase its diagnostic and therapeutic value to clinicians.
Faster and more accurate analysis of genomic data holds the promise of advances in patient management and greater understanding of the genetic causes of risk and disease. This could mean expanded opportunities for pathologists to engage with clinicians in the use of genomic data to inform diagnosis, choice of treatment, and disease management. (more…)
Jun 2, 2014 | Digital Pathology, Instruments & Equipment, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Management & Operations
Real-time data feeds give managers a view on turnaround time, physician ordering patterns, staffing levels, workload, specimen quality, and instrument performance
Financial pressures are intensifying at the nation’s clinical laboratories. This is particularly true of the labs serving hospitals and health systems. Declining inpatient volume and less revenue per inpatient admission are reasons why hospital lab budgets are shrinking.
These trends mean clinical lab administrators and pathologists are being asked to do more with less. To meet this challenge, many lab organizations are acquiring real-time analysis tools and management dashboard systems to help managers identify opportunities to slash lab expenses, while boosting productivity and client satisfaction. (more…)
May 30, 2014 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Management & Operations
In the $5 billion a year Indian diagnostics laboratory industry, only 1% of laboratories are accredited
Pathology and clinical laboratory testing in India is growing at a double-digit pace. However, pathologists and medical laboratory scientists are raising the alarm about a disturbing lack of quality and accuracy that exposes patients to unnecessary harm.
In fact, there are loud voices within the pathology profession in India who are urging government officials to more actively regulate the country’s diagnostics industry, according to a story published by the Business Standard, a national newspaper in India. (more…)
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…)
May 23, 2014 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Managed Care Contracts & Payer Reimbursement, Management & Operations
For first time since launch of the Medicare program, CMS released data on Medicare payments to individual physicians
Once again, Medicare officials have stuck a blow for price transparency. On April 9, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released data on total payments made to individual physicians for the year 2012. In several states, pathologists were identified as among the highest-paid physicians.
Release of this information generated stories by the national and local media. There was also plenty of criticism from a number of prominent national physician associations, including the American Medical Association. It was just last year when CMS released data on what 3,000 hospitals charged Medicare for the 100 most-frequently billed discharges. (more…)
May 21, 2014 | Compliance, Legal, and Malpractice, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, Management & Operations
Other topics of keen interest at the meeting were digital pathology, whole-slide imaging, and the role of pathology informatics in healthcare ‘big data’
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA—During their annual meeting here last week, pathologists who are members of the Association for Pathology Informatics (API) made it clear that they are prepared to support fast and radical changes to anatomic pathology and clinical pathology.
Several speakers called attention to specific threats already disrupting the long-established model of the private pathology group practice. There was also no disagreement that cuts in fee-for-service reimbursement for key anatomic pathology CPT codes were already eroding the financial stability of many pathology practices and pathology lab companies. (more…)
