Robert Michel
Until Robert L. Michel came along and founded The Dark Intelligence Group (DIG) two decades ago, the clinical laboratory industry and the anatomic pathology profession lacked a trustworthy source for information about the management and operations of medical laboratories. From its inception in 1995, The Dark Report quickly became the “go to” source of industry intelligence, innovations in lab management, and strategic market analysis.
This excellence in reporting has earned recognition from his peers. For example, twice Michel and The Dark Report have won national awards for best investigative reporting by the Specialty Information Publishers Association. In 2005, the award was for Michel’s coverage about how the anatomic pathology condominium laboratories (pod labs) operated by urologists and gastroenterologists came to be, who operated them, and how these owners marketed the AP condo labs to other physician groups. In 2009, Michel’s award for best investigative reporting resulted from his published interviews with Quest Diagnostics Incorporated when the company admitted that, for a period of 18 months, it had been reported inaccurate Vitamin 25(OH) D results because of problems with its laboratory-developed test methodology. The Dark Report’s story was picked up by The New York Times and was in the national news cycle for several days.
In his role as Editor-in-Chief, Michel brought unique capabilities to DIG and The Dark Report. His management training and diverse business experience—along with his skills as a concise writer and analyst—proved to be a winning combination for readers of The Dark Report. For that reason, Michel’s story has many intriguing elements.
Immediately prior to founding DIG, he had served in several executive positions for Nichols Institute based in Portland, Oregon, and San Juan Capistrano, California. This was during the time that Nichols Institute was an independent public lab company with annual revenues of about $280 million (prior to its acquisition by MetPath, Inc., now Quest Diagnostics Incorporated). He traveled extensively to many of the clinical lab business units owned by Nichols Institute in different regions of the United States and played a role in formulating effective market strategies in response to the emergence of closed-panel HMOs, capitated pricing, and full-risk managed care contracts, among other successful management initiatives.
Prior to his service at Nichols Institute, Michel served at three different Fortune 100 companies. These were Procter & Gamble, Centex Corporation, and Financial Corp. of America. Each was an opportunity to master new management techniques and apply them in different industries. Between these positions, he gained experience as an entrepreneur, having founded a real estate development firm and a general contracting company in the Southeastern United States.
Robert Michel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he played rugby, a sport he participated in for another 22 years. He is a native of California and grew up in Santa Ana.
Articles by Robert Michel
Brazil’s Lab Industry Gathers in Rio de Janeiro
CEO SUMMARY: Healthcare in Brazil remains a free market and thousands of clinical laboratories exist to fill the demand. However, there are early indications that commercial laboratories in Brazil may be on the verge of the same tidal wave of lab acquisitions and consolidation that was ex…
Healthcare Premiums Climb At Double-Digit Rate for 2004
EXPECTATIONS that health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 12% to 15% for 2004 have captured plenty of media attention recently. Employers and health insurers are currently negotiating premiums for 2004. There is consensus among healthcare experts that 2004 will be the fourth consecu…
“September 29, 2003 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
There was cautious optimism among lab industry leaders lobbying Congress to stop the proposed 20% co- payment for Part B laboratory testing services. It seems that, over the summer break, Iowa Senator Charles Grassley got a lesson in grass roots lobbying. At a number of town meetings, irate seniors s…
How “Lean” is Benefiting Early-Adopter Laboratories
CEO SUMMARY: First steps toward a radical change in clinical laboratory operations are under way in a handful of early-adopter laboratories. This movement is so new that little information about their successes can be published. But the early evidence is compelling. For those labs willing…
NY Labs Had Unique Problems During August Power Outage
WHEN THE POWER OUTAGE on August 14 hit states from New York to Michigan, the crisis plans of laboratories throughout the region were put to the test. For the most part, laboratories across this region were prepared and continued to deliver the most critical testing services. Even where operations we…
“Lean” Quality Methods Transform Core Lab In Florida Hospital
CEO SUMMARY: DSI Laboratories of Fort Myers, Florida became the nation’s first hospital laboratory to apply the “Lean” quality management system to a high volume core laboratory. In just 13 weeks, DSI’s Lean team created a work cell which performs 80% of the test volume in a 400-b…
IMPATH Delisted by Nasdaq, Under Investigation by SEC
EFFECTIVE AUGUST 27, Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. delisted the stock of IMPATH, Inc. Less than a week earlier, IMPATH had disclosed that it was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). IMPATH can truly be described as a comp…
20% Medicare Co-Pay A Blow to Regional Labs
CEO SUMMARY: Informed speculation indicates that private health insurers are likely to adopt some form of laboratory test co-payment if the proposed Medicare 20% lab test co-pay legislation becomes law. For hospital laboratory outreach programs, the resulting reduction of reimbursement an…
“September 8, 2003 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Early last week, Laboratory Corporation of America announced an out-of-court settlement in its lawsuit involving its subsidiary, DIANON Systems, Inc. As plaintiff, DIANON had sued five former DIANON employees and their new company, DiaPath LLC. The c…
National Lab Standards Coming For Patient Safety
CEO SUMMARY: Because lab test data plays such an important role in medical decision-making, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a national effort to evaluate the quality of clinical and public health laboratories. In forming a Quality Institute, the goal is t…
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXII, No. 13 – September 15, 2025
The Dark Report examines a new bill that would reform PAMA and avoid reimbursement rate cuts scheduled for January 2026. Clinical laboratory leaders are urged to make their voices heard in Congress. Also, an expert describes how labs can fix pre-analytical errors and avoid disaster.
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