August 1999

California Assesses Fines After Needle Reuse by SBCL Employee

Laboratory Compliance / By Robert Michel

ONE CHAPTER HAS CONCLUDED in the story about the phlebotomist who was discovered last March to be reusing butterfly needles in Palo Alto, California. California’s Department of Health Services (DHS) fined SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories (SBCL) a total of $102,00 for its part in the episode. SBCL’s license could have been revoked or suspended. Phlebotomist Elaine …

California Assesses Fines After Needle Reuse by SBCL Employee Read More »

To access this post, you must purchase The Dark Report.

Ten Myths of Lab Management That Led the Clinical Lab Industry Astray

Laboratory Management / By Robert Michel

Part One of a Special Series CEO SUMMARY: One of our most popular series ever was the “13 Perilous Parallels” of laboratory management. This four-part story appeared in 1996 and chronicled similar management strategies used by various national laboratories during the ten years leading up to 1996. It was a revealing look at how commercial …

Ten Myths of Lab Management That Led the Clinical Lab Industry Astray Read More »

To access this post, you must purchase The Dark Report.

Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp Face an Evolving Marketplace

Clinical Laboratory Trends / By Robert Michel

TWO OF THE THREE BLOOD BROTHERS reported continued improvement in their financial condition as second quarter earnings reports were made public. This news, however, was overshadowed by speculation about the failure of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated to consummate its purchase of SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories (SBCL) during the month of July. Quest Diagnostics and Laboratory Corporation …

Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp Face an Evolving Marketplace Read More »

To access this post, you must purchase The Dark Report.

“August 9, 1999 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”

Late Breaking Lab News / By Robert Michel

Contrast the double digit premium increases demanded by HMOs for 1999 and 2000 with the recent Medicare announcement. Medicare will add 1.1% to hospital payments for overnight stays as this year’s inflation adjustment. With annual inflation under 2%, it certainly causes one to wonder what HMOs really do with their premium dollars. It seems to …

“August 9, 1999 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News” Read More »

To access this post, you must purchase The Dark Report.