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
LAB-Interlink Clients Experience Highs & Lows
CEO SUMMARY: It was right before Thanksgiving weekend when LAB-Interlink laid off most of its staff and was left with a skeleton crew. Since that date, at least one major laboratory customer was unable to get needed service and parts, causing a total shutdown of its automated line. Howeve…
Free of IMPATH, Tamtron Ready For A New Future
CEO SUMMARY: Tamtron’s fortunes look much brighter with its acquisition by IMPAC Medical Systems, Inc., a healthcare information vendor with existing products for radiation oncology, medical oncology, and urology. IMPAC’s strategy is to create a “total solution” for oncology. That…
Web Lab Test Ordering Market Is Increasing
CEO SUMMARY: In recent years, the market for browser-based laboratory test ordering and results reporting systems has grown at a steady rate. Second and third generation products are more robust, offer more features, and are easier to install and operate. To date, smaller start-up compani…
More Firms Now Offer Web Lab Info Products
CEO SUMMARY: Since our last vendor directory in winter 2001, the number of companies selling browser-based systems for laboratory testing ordering and results reporting has doubled! That’s a sign that laboratories recognize the need to have an Internet strategy and are taking steps to d…
“February 2, 2004 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Changes are afoot in the national market for anatomic pathology services. At AmeriPath, Inc., the search is on for a new CEO. Current Chairman and CEO, James C. New retired, effective February 1. The company has commenced the search for a new CEO. New had been with AmeriPath since it…
Is Healthcare Undergoing a Fundamental Shift?
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT RESPONSIBILITIES in laboratory management is deciding when to implement substantial change. Pathologists and lab administrators correctly understand that there are risks for acting too soon or too late when responding to changes in the healthcare marketplace. That’s why …
Anatomic Path Trends Portend Deep Changes
CEO SUMMARY: Our biannual review of trends shaping the anatomic pathology profession reveals that a wide range of influences are active. The nation’s healthcare system is undergoing fundamental changes in how it views the quality of health services and how it will favor top-performing p…
Offering Molecular Tests Has Surprises & Pitfalls
CEO SUMMARY: Laboratories that offer some of the new assays based on molecular technologies often find themselves facing significant financial risk. That’s because payers are skeptical about new lab tests which come at a high price, but don’t offer substantial clinical benefit. One ea…
RFP Secrets To Use When Buying Molecular Tests
CEO SUMMARY: It often takes two to four years before payer coverage and reimbursement become stable. During that time, NorDx Laboratories wants the vendors who sell it new molecular assays to have some “skin in the game.” It accomplishes this by negotiating contracts that link the con…
“January 12, 2004 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
There’s a new joint venture between a commercial laboratory and a multi-hospital group. On January 5, 2004, LabOne, Inc. of Lenexa, Kansas announced that it had completed negotiations with The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati. LabOne paid $38.5 millio…
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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